#Church budget planning how to
#Church budget planning pdf

It may have similar areas to many churches, but it’s not going to be identical. It should be entirely unique to your organization. The budget you create is for your church, not a different one. Your Budget Is For Your Church Or Ministry Your budget reports, along with your Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and other reports, all contain valuable information about your church finances. Who reviews the financial reports for your church? Is it you, the elders, your board, a committee, a bank, etc.? What do they need to know? What questions are they likely to ask? The financial reports you generate should answer those questions. Know The Questions You Need To Answer On Your Reports Asking your staff for their input also helps empower them to own the process and be accountable for the funding and other resources that their ministries receive. You don’t want to find out later that you cut spending on areas that needed legitimate financial support. Not only will it help everyone be on the same page, but involving them can help you avoid conflicts in the long run. These staff members or volunteers can inform you of areas that lack funding as well as areas where your church can cut back on expenses, so it helps to involve them in the budgeting process. In most churches, the people who are actively leading church ministries are the people who understand the ins and outs of what is needed to run those ministries. Invite Feedback From Those Who Are Involved A church budget can help you by displaying your projected income and planned expenses clearly and accurately for your people to see. The funding you receive has a purpose, and your people expect you to use it to achieve your mission, so be transparent about how your church spends money and what it spends money on. Having a plan for how you will use the money you receive helps demonstrate transparency to your congregation and to your board or elders. You need to pay your staff and ministry expenses, and you likely need to pay for logistical expenses, such as insurance. Your church needs to wisely steward its finances, but stewarding the money God provides doesn’t mean you can’t spend it. Be Transparent About Your Church’s Finances Together, this information can give you insight into not only what you spend your money on but also why you choose to incur certain expenses to help accomplish your mission.

This may include reports on cash flow, building campaign updates, debt numbers and debt repayment plans, bank statements, and more. To get a clear picture of your church’s finances so you can be a good steward of the funds God provides, we recommend collecting as much information as you can. Tips For Creating Your Church Or Ministry Budget Compile All The Data You Can

#Church budget planning pdf

A Budgeting Checklist For Churches And MinistriesĬlick on the image to download a PDF version of the church budgeting checklist. But where should you begin? This checklist will assist you as you start to gather information and choose the type of budget that is best for your church or ministry.

#Church budget planning how to

A budget takes inventory of your expected income and expenses, and it helps you decide how to prioritize where you will allocate the tithes and offerings your church receives. But it is also important to use proper tools and processes as you wisely steward what God provides.

Having faith that God will provide everything your church or ministry needs is important. To prepare your church or ministry for financial health, you need a plan, also known as a budget.