Does it work in Google Sheets?

Yes, by importing it. In Google Sheets, choose File → Import, select the downloaded .xlsx and pick “Replace spreadsheet” or “Create new spreadsheet”. The workbook only uses functions Google Sheets also supports, such as SUMIFS, INDEX, MATCH and EDATE. There isn't a separate Google Sheets copy link.

Can I change the funds and categories?

Yes. Rename funds and categories on the Setup tab, then pick them from the dropdowns on each budget line. For extra lines, use the spare rows at the bottom of the income and expense sections instead of inserting rows, because every tab shares the same row layout.

How does the budget vs. actual tracking work?

Monthly budget amounts start at one-twelfth of each annual line, and you can overwrite them for seasonal items. Type actual income and spending each month, then set how many months you've entered on the Setup tab. The workbook calculates year-to-date budget, actual, variance and variance % for every line, and the Board Summary lists the five largest variances.

What are the two sample budgets?

Two optional tabs show a filled-in budget for a hypothetical church of about 75 and about 300 weekly attendance. The figures are invented for illustration. They are not averages, recommendations or any real church's budget. Copy amounts as a starting point, or delete the tabs.

Finance & BudgetingFree Download

Church Budget Template

Free Excel workbook to plan your church budget by fund, track budget vs. actual every month, and give your board a one-page summary.

Microsoft Excel

42 KB

Google Sheets: File → Import

About This Template

A working church budget spreadsheet for budget season and the year that follows. Plan income and expenses line by line, by fund and category, on the Annual Budget tab. Each month, type your actual income and spending on Monthly Tracking to see year-to-date budget, actual and variance for every line. Year-over-Year sets last year's actuals beside this year's budget, Cash Flow projects month-end balances against a reserve target, and the Board Summary pulls it all onto one printable page. Two clearly labelled sample budgets, with invented figures, show what a filled-in budget can look like for a church of about 75 and about 300 weekly attendance.

What's Included

Setup tab for your church name, budget start date, opening cash, reserve target, funds and categories

Annual Budget with 8 income and 29 expense lines (plus spare rows) by fund and category

Monthly Tracking: budget vs. actual for all 12 months, with year-to-date variance and variance %

Year-over-Year: last year's actual vs. this year's budget, with change and change %

Cash Flow: 12-month projection with opening and closing balances and a reserve check

Board Summary: totals, surplus or deficit, spending by category and fund, and the 5 largest variances, all formulas

Two illustrative sample budgets (about 75 and about 300 weekly attendance) with invented figures

Dropdowns for funds and categories, and number checks on amount cells

Opens in Excel; import into Google Sheets with File → Import

Perfect For

Annual budget planningMonthly budget vs. actual reviewsBoard and finance committee meetingsCash flow planningNew church plant planning

How to Use

Download the .xlsx file, or import it into Google Sheets with File → Import

On the Setup tab, enter your church name, budget start date, opening cash and reserve target

Fill in the Annual Budget tab line by line, choosing a fund and category for each

Add last year's actuals on the Year-over-Year tab

Each month, type actuals on Monthly Tracking and update the months-entered count on Setup

Share the Board Summary tab at finance and board meetings

A reference point for personnel costs

When you fill in the personnel lines, a benchmark helps. Lifeway Research's 2026 Southern Baptist Church Compensation Study reports the median share of budget spent on personnel (employee compensation and benefits), by average weekly attendance:

1–49 attending: 42%
50–99 attending: 46%
100–249 attending: 47%
250+ attending: 50%

Southern Baptist churches only, so other traditions may differ. These are medians across churches, not targets, and they include benefits, not just salaries. The workbook's Board Summary shows your own personnel share.

Source: Lifeway Research, Southern Baptist Church Compensation Study 2026 (revised deck dated October 9, 2026), slide 11. Figures as of October 17, 2026.

Compare all your allocations in the budget planner

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FAQ

FAQs: Church Budget Template

Common questions about the Church Budget Template

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