Catalytic Effects ( 28 % of the total )
Congregational activities and resources leverage value in their communities in a number of ways :
Magnet Effect — Urban congregations attract visitors and volunteers to their neighborhoods , sometimes coming from suburbs or outlying neighborhoods and spending their money at local stores and other businesses . Out-of-town residents attending events such as weddings , funerals , family reunions , and cultural offerings spend money locally on hotels , food , and transportation . The average economic value of a congregation ’ s magnet effect was $ 375,944 ( with a low of $ 1,587 and a high of $ 2,765,410 ). As a whole the magnet effect accounted for a little over a fifth of a congregation ’ s total contribution to the local economy ( 22 %). In this area , worshipper ( including those attending weddings , funerals , baptisms , bar / bat mitzvahs ) spending accounted for 35.8 % of the total Magnet Effect impact ; event visitation accounted for 14.7 %; program spending accounted for 28 %; and resources leveraged from the suburbs or staff spending , 3.5 %.
, Chicago
Edgewater Presbyterian Church
11