Church Budget Planner
Plan your church budget with industry benchmarks. See typical allocations for personnel, facilities, ministries, and missions. Export to CSV or print when you're done.
?Quick Start Guide
Enter Total Budget
Type your church's annual budget in the field below
Adjust Categories
Modify each category amount. Watch the benchmark indicators!
Export & Share
Download CSV or print to share with your finance team
💡 Categories are pre-filled with industry-average percentages. Adjust to match your church's priorities!
Budget Categories
Personnel & Staffing
Salaries, benefits, payroll taxes for all staff
Facilities & Operations
Mortgage/rent, utilities, maintenance, insurance
Ministry Programs
Children, youth, adults, small groups, worship
Missions & Outreach
Local outreach, global missions, benevolence
Administration
Office supplies, software, professional services
Communications & Marketing
Website, social media, advertising, printing
Reserve & Contingency
Emergency fund, capital improvements, savings
Budget Breakdown
Export Budget
About Benchmarks
Benchmark ranges are based on data from church financial surveys. Your church's ideal allocations may vary based on size, location, ministry focus, and growth stage. Use these as guidelines, not rules.
Budget Tips
- Keep personnel costs under 55% to allow ministry flexibility
- Aim for at least 10% toward missions and outreach
- Build a reserve fund equal to 3 months of expenses
- Review and adjust budget quarterly
Why Use This Budget Planner?
Church-Specific Categories
Pre-built categories for personnel, facilities, ministries, missions, administration, and more - tailored for church finances.
Industry Benchmarks
See how your allocations compare to typical church budgets. Get warnings when you're outside normal ranges.
Export to CSV
Download your budget as a CSV file to import into Excel, Google Sheets, or your accounting software.
Visual Breakdown
See your budget allocations at a glance with visual charts and progress bars for each category.
How to Create a Church Budget
Review Last Year
Start by analyzing last year's actual spending. Identify what worked, what didn't, and where you over or underspent.
Project Income
Estimate your expected giving based on trends, membership changes, and any planned campaigns or capital drives.
Allocate by Priority
Distribute funds starting with fixed costs (staff, mortgage), then ministry priorities, then discretionary spending.
Understanding Church Budget Benchmarks
Our budget planner includes industry benchmarks based on data from church financial surveys. These benchmarks represent typical allocation ranges for churches of various sizes and help you understand if your budget is within normal parameters.
Personnel costs are typically the largest category at 40-55% of budget. This includes pastor salaries, staff wages, benefits, and payroll taxes. Smaller churches often have higher personnel percentages (because a full-time pastor is a larger portion of a small budget), while larger churches may be lower.
Facilities and operations (15-30%) covers your building costs: mortgage or rent, utilities, maintenance, insurance, and security. Churches that own their buildings outright may be on the lower end, while those with mortgages or expensive leases will be higher.
Ministry programs (8-18%) funds your actual ministry work: children's ministry, youth programs, adult education, worship resources, and small groups. This is where the "work of the church" happens beyond Sunday services.
Don't forget to allocate toward missions and outreach (5-15%) - supporting global missionaries, local community initiatives, and benevolence for those in need. Many churches target 10% as a "tithe" of their budget toward outward-focused ministry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage should a church spend on staff salaries?
Most churches allocate between 40-55% of their budget to personnel costs, including salaries, benefits, and payroll taxes. The average is around 47%. Smaller churches may be higher (if they have a full-time pastor but few other expenses), while larger churches with more facilities may be lower.
How much should a church budget for missions and outreach?
Churches typically allocate 5-15% of their budget to missions and outreach, with 10% being a common target. This includes local community outreach, global missions support, and benevolence funds for helping those in need.
What are typical church budget categories?
Standard church budget categories include: Personnel/Staffing (40-55%), Facilities/Operations (15-30%), Ministry Programs (8-18%), Missions/Outreach (5-15%), Administration (3-8%), Communications/Marketing (1-5%), and Reserve/Contingency (0-10%).
Should a church have a reserve fund?
Yes, financial experts recommend churches maintain a reserve fund equal to 3-6 months of operating expenses. This provides a buffer for unexpected expenses, seasonal giving fluctuations, or economic downturns.
How often should a church review its budget?
Churches should review their budget monthly to track actual vs. planned spending, and conduct a thorough review quarterly to make adjustments. Annual budget planning typically begins 2-3 months before the fiscal year ends.
What if our church budget doesn't match these benchmarks?
Benchmarks are guidelines, not rules. Every church is unique based on size, location, ministry focus, building situation (owned vs. rented), and growth stage. A church plant will have different allocations than an established congregation. Use benchmarks as a starting point for discussion, not as strict requirements.