A few years ago, I created a series on my favorite 30 church finance tips on the topics ministers struggle with most. I discussed budgeting, financial decision-making, safeguarding assets, facilities management, and more.
This page is created as a summary of all of the tips. I hope you will find them helpful! As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Email me at mjcastrilli@gmail.com.
Budget Primer
- Tip 1: Budgets are about freedom, not constraint
- Tip 2: Budgets guide people, but people control budgets
- Tip 3: Create a cash flow budget
- Tip 4: Collaboration is the glue of insightful leadership, shared-accountability, and results
- Tip 5: Review the upcoming calendar for Sunday impacts
Budget Development
- Tip 6: The budget is a reflection of your pastoral priorities
- Tip 7: Prioritize time — calculate the budget category impact percentage
- Tip 8: Keep the church budget at your desk, and not on a shelf
- Tip 9: Break down the budget process into four stages
- Tip 10: Establish a budget process (even if it’s not perfect)
Budget Methods
- Tip 11: Formulate, Execute, & Control
- Tip 12: Choose a budget method that works for your church
- Tip 13: Financial transparency allows the light to shine through
- Tip 14: The church budget is not an excuse
- Tip 15: Be empowered by learning the language of church finance
Capital Assets
- Tip 16: Make Accounting Fun
- Tip 17: Plan for potholes – create a capital assets budget
- Tip 18: Capture and Catalog Assets
Internal Controls
- Tip 19: Protect church collections from theft
- Tip 20: Develop internal controls to prevent fraud
- Tip 21: Limit church bank accounts
- Tip 22: Segment Financial Duties for checks and balances
Stewardship
- Tip 23: Happy Thanksgiving – You can’t say thank you enough
- Tip 24: Create clear church financial reports that tell the story of your church finances
- Tip 25: Church finance visuals are endless – choose well
Operations
- Tip 26: Address Financial Challenges with 3-R: Reflect, Review. Refine
- Tip 27: Create a strategy to hire a contractor
- Tip 28: Create a performance-driven operation
- Tip 29: Learn church law and tax from a trusted source
- Tip 30: Conquer any fear of math and numbers
