Investing the Vision of Restoration Project
Moving from Vision
to Restoration
We believe every man is designed to reflect the strong and tender heart of God, bring life to the world around him, and transform family trees for generations to come. The past 13 years has been a wild adventure, one that has been made possible by the overwhelming generosity and investment of our Legacy Partners. Thank you!
_____________
Our vision is to see a world of restored men.
More and more men (and women too!) are asking Restoration Project to increase our offerings, develop new resources, and bolster our year-round engagement with the national community. As a result, we have identified five key initiatives that will bolster and leverage our capacity to provide additional restorative opportunities.
Would you prayerfully consider investing in Restoration Project?
2023-2024 initiatives
key initiative #1:
The Forge Collective
Men become better men through other men. As the number of men engaged in Restoration Project’s experiences and resources grows, we have identified a simultaneously growing need to galvanize and connect these men to ongoing restorative content AND to one another.
Therefore, we are developing the Forge Collective…
-
The FORGE COLLECTIVE is a hybrid in-person and virtual community where men can continue their growth as fathers, brothers, and sons together.
Currently, we are in the research and development stage of this initiative, and believe it will unlock transformation for thousands of men across the country (and the world!). As part of this strategy, we envision:
Multiple levels of restorative content available on-demand for men to engage their specific needs when and where they need them.
Forums and ongoing conversations amongst members, gathering the collective wisdom from guys everywhere.
A critical pathway to personal transformation and growth, inviting men to take the next step in their walks with God.
Opportunities for men to engage in live experiences throughout the year.
-
June 2023 through October 2023 - Research and Development Phase: Planning and development of critical path steps, and discovery of technological options.
October 2023 through January 2024 - Technology Development Phase: Selecting and implementing a technological platform to offer the highest user experience at the most reasonable cost.
January 2024 through March 2024 - Content Creation and Critical Pathway Development Phase: Utilizing already-existing RP content as well as developing new resources specifically designed for the Forge journey, we will put “meat on the skeleton” and prepare to deploy.
March 2024 through June 2024 - Launch
-
While we are still in the R&D phase of this project, we have not yet completed a full budget proposal. However, we anticipate the entire project (from concept to launch) to cost roughly $100k to $300k.
Once launched, we will be charging a nominal membership fee of ~$1/week ($52/annual) to members. Our goal is to grow membership to an initial 1,000 members, generating recurring revenue of $52,000/year to maintain and expand in 2024 and beyond.
-
We are seeking 1-5 investors who will provide an immediate $50,000 in seed funding to kickstart this project in the R&D phase.
Once we have a more complete picture and anticipated budget, additional investors will be needed to bring this project to completion.
key initiative #2:
THe FORGE Podcast
For years, we have dreamed of hosting our own Restoration Project podcast. More and more, we recognize how time is a man’s greatest commodity, and while sitting and reading books or watching videos is a fantastic way to invite transformation, most guys listen to podcasts…at the gym, in the car, on the plane, etc.
As a result, in tandem with the Forge Community, we are launching the free-to-listen Forge Podcast.
-
We want to invite all men everywhere to the journey of restoration, and a free value-add podcast is the way to go. Therefore, we are gathering equipment, staff, plans, and strategies to launch the first-ever public-facing Restoration Project Podcast.
The podcast is designed to broaden the impact of RP by inviting men everywhere to the journey of restoration.
-
March 2023 through July 2023 - Planning and Equipment: Gather the necessary equipment for a high-quality podcast whilst making a 1-year episode plan.
August 2023 through December 2023 - Season 1 and 2 pre-recording: Record 6 months of episodes, “banking” them for release in early 2024.
January 2024 - Launch
-
Equipment: $3,000
Software: $500/annual
Planning Phase: $5,000 (staff)
Recording Phase: $5,000 (staff)
Audio Editing/Mastering: $2,300
Total Budget: $15,800
Already Secured Funds: $3,000
Remaining Need: $12,800
-
We are seeking 1-2 individuals who invest $6k - $12k to bring this important project to launch.
Once the initial funding is raised, additional revenue generated by sponsors, new Forge Collective members, and new donors will cover the ongoing expenses of the podcast.
key initiative #3:
Sage audiobook
In 2022, Restoration Project released Chris Bruno’s new book, Sage: A Man’s Guide Into His Second Passage. In just a few months, we sold over 1,000 copies, and Chris has been featured on more than 30 podcasts.
Almost weekly, however, we hear this question: “Is there an audiobook version? I don’t read books, I listen to them!”
Therefore, we are producing the audiobook version of Sage.
-
The fact is, an increasing number of men are turning to audio versions of books. As time becomes an even greater commodity for guys, it is VITAL for us to provide Sage in audio format.
As the book is packed with personal stories, we’d prefer for Chris to be the one to read it for recording. We have researched local studios that can provide a beginning-to-end-product experience, and have found one that comes highly recommended by a Restoration Project friend.
Indeed, though the audio-version of Sage will be first, we are curious about the possibility of adding Man Maker Project and Brotherhood Primer to the list. But first things first.
-
June 2023 through August 2023 - Funding Phase: In order to outsource the recording, mastering, and uploading of the audiobook, we first need full funding before we can book the recording studio.
August 2023 through September 2023 - Studio Recording: Chris has committed to setting aside 4-5 days to record the book. Once recorded, the studio will master the files and prepare them for upload.
October 2023: Launch
-
All-Inclusive Studio Cost: $5,000
Recording (staff): $2,000
Total Budget: $7,000
-
We are looking for 1-2 investors of $3,500 - $7,000 to bring this project to completion.
key initiative #4:
church partnership
From our inception, Restoration Project has focused on providing men transformational resources and experiences directly. However, over the past several years, more and more we have heard from churches the deep desire to utilize Restoration Project’s expertise on a larger and broader scale.
In the past few years, we have increasingly partnered with churches and their ministry to men. We have led men’s retreats, provided men’s materials and group engagement roadmaps, and even offered specialized consultations. It has become clear — Restoration Project needs to develop a Church Partnership platform.
-
We have identified three main strategic areas of church engagement:
Speaking and Retreat Facilitation
Church Men’s Small Group Materials
Training and Coaching for Men’s Ministries
While we will develop additional resources, the bulk of this project is reformatting and repackaging already-existing RP resources and experiences with a “church” mindset rather than an “individual” one. The greatest need in this initiative is for a full-time staff person to give strategic leadership as well as be the primary relational contact for church leaders.
-
March 2023 through July 2023 - Staff Recruitment and Development: RP needs to find just the right person to represent RP to churches. [UPDATE! Staff position has been filled. Now in the support raising phase.]
August 2023 through December 2023 - Planning and Preparation: Once a staff member has been hired, we will create a strategy around our already-existing church relationships with the aim of duplicating these efforts for more churches in the future.
January 2024 through March 2024 - Deployment of Church Partnership Resources: Create and execute a deployment plan to bring RP experiences and resources to key churches. This will include facilitating retreats, as well as providing ongoing training for church leaders.
-
Church Partnership Manager: $85,000
Oversight and Leadership: $25,000
Total First-Year Budget: $110,000 — Already funded = $55,000 (via recurring monthly partners). Remaining Need: $55,000
Total Second Year Budget: $110,000 - Already Funded $55,000 (via recurring monthly partners). Remaining Need: $55,000
Total Third Year Budget: $55,000 - Already Funded $55,000 (via recurring monthly partners). Remaining Need: $0
We believe that after deploying the Church Partnership strategy for three years, sufficient revenue will be generated by the new products, services, and partnerships to fully sustain this position.
-
We are seeking 5 investors to partner with Restoration Project at $22,000 annually for three years, for a total investment of $330,000.
key initiative #5:
grove training experience
Shortly after officially launching Restoration Project, 11 hand-selected men gathered in the basement of a friend’s Wyoming ranch house in January for our first-ever “brotherhood gathering.” There, we dreamt, shared stories, asked questions, and played together, all while asking God, "what is Restoration Project supposed to become?”
Now, 13 years later, this small cadre of men has grown into what we call the “Grove,” a nation-wide movement of men who are trained by Restoration Project to lead, guide, and facilitate RP-style experiences. These men volunteer to lead our expeditions, write blogs, lead small groups, join our board, and advocate for RP in their spheres of influence.
-
In 2011 we had 11 men. By 2022, this number has grown to 150. Our goal is to exponentially grow the Grove to 500 men by December 2025. This is a BIG goal, and one that will require creative investment in recruiting, training, and expanding our Grove Training Experiences around the country.
-
July 2022 through June 2023 - Recruiting and Funding an RP Grove Chaplain and Strategist: Last year, we identified the perfect man to give leadership to the Grove initiative. Since then, he has been raising funds to support his position with RP.
July 2023 through October 2023 - Grove Chaplain’s “year zero,” where he learns the ropes, and prepares to lead the Grove Training Experience in Colorado in November 2023, while also helping support the Northwest Grove Training Experience (it’s second year running).
November 2023: Execute the Colorado and Northwest Grove Training Experiences. Moving from these two retreats, the Grove Chaplain will develop a small group of hand-selected Grove members to offer increased connection and care to the Grove members across the country.
December 2023 through May 2024 - Launch new Grove strategies to grow the number of Grove members to 500 by December 2024.
-
Grove Chaplain Position: $85,000
Oversight and Support: $25,000
Additional Grove Resources: $25,000
Total First Year Grove Budget: $135,000
Total Second Year Grove Budget: $135,000
Total Third Year Grove Budget: $135,000
After the third year of Grove Chaplain, we believe the revenue generated by new Grove members, donors, and experiences will make this aa sustainable position.
-
We are looking for 1 to 5 investors who will give between $5,000 - $50,000 annually for three years to provide the needed oversight/leadership as well as additional Grove resources to make this position and strategy viable.
For more information or to become a Legacy Investor, contact Restoration Project Co-Founder and CEO, Chris Bruno
What people are saying
Restoration Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed in 2010.
For detailed budget and/or financial reports, including the past several years of 990 Tax Returns, please contact Executive Director Jesse French at jesse@restorationproject.net