Research you can commission — without buying a conclusion
Denominations, ministries, and organisations can commission focused research from us.
Here’s how the process works, and how we price it fairly.
commissioning research from us does not mean commissioning a particular outcome. Every
project we accept is bound by the same commitment we hold ourselves to everywhere else —
the findings follow Scripture and sound method, not the preference of whoever is paying for
the work. We’re glad to turn down a commission where that isn’t the shared understanding
from the start.
The commission process
Enquiry & fit assessment
You reach out and describe the question you’d like researched. We have a conversation
to confirm it sits within our mission and can be pursued with full independence.
Scoping
Together we define the research question, the form of the deliverable, the timeframe,
and publication terms — including whether findings will join our public archive or
remain confidential to your organisation for an agreed period.
Proposal & costing
We send a written proposal: scope, timeline, milestones, and a cost estimate based on
our published pricing tiers below.
Contract & independence agreement
A signed agreement covering scope, payment schedule, IP and publication rights, and
confidentiality — including the clause that findings are never negotiable in exchange
for payment.
Research & check-ins
We work to the agreed timeline with regular milestone updates. Scope changes go
through a formal, costed change order; requested changes to conclusions do not.
Draft review
You review a draft for factual accuracy — not to negotiate the findings. This
distinction is written into the contract so it’s never ambiguous.
Final delivery & publication
The final report is delivered, the balance is paid, and — unless otherwise agreed —
the findings join our public archive after any agreed embargo period.
Cost recovery, not commercial pricing
As a non-profit, we do not price our research to generate a margin. Fees are set to
recover the real cost of researcher time and project overhead — nothing more — and are
adjusted on a sliding scale so that under-resourced ministries are never priced out of
research that directly serves them.
Three typical shapes a commission takes
| Tier | Scope | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Focused Briefing | A single research question, delivered as a short paper | 2–3 weeks |
| Standard Commission | A full research project, delivered as a formal report | 6–10 weeks |
| Major Commission | Multi-phase research, potentially including workshops or briefings to leadership | 3–6 months |
Fees adjusted to what an organisation can carry
Tier A — Full Cost Recovery
Denominations, seminaries, large ministries, and foundations. Fees cover the full, real cost of the project.
Tier B — Subsidized
Mid-size churches and ministries. A reduced rate, partly supported by Tier A commissions.
Tier C — Access Tier
Small congregations, individual pastors, and students. Heavily reduced, or waived through our Research Access Fund.
Our Research Access Fund — supported by Tier A fees and donations — exists
so that a small congregation with a genuine research need is never turned away for lack
of funds. If cost is a concern, say so in your enquiry.
Have a research question for us?
Start with a conversation — no proposal or cost until we’ve scoped it together.