A church budget template
built for ministry.
HolyJot's free church budget template gives pastors, finance committees, and church administrators a ready-to-use Excel spreadsheet covering every income source, expense category, and ministry line item — with monthly and annual views and visual charts built in.
Free download · No account required
Built for your spiritual journey
Every feature is designed to help Christians grow deeper in faith — not just log their day.
Income categories: tithes, offerings, grants, events
Track all revenue sources in one place — weekly tithes, special offerings, facility rentals, event income, memorial gifts, and grants. Each category rolls up automatically into monthly and annual totals.
Expense categories: staff, facilities, programs, missions
Pre-built expense rows cover every major church category: pastoral compensation, support staff, building costs, ministry programs, global missions, administration, and benevolence — fully editable for your context.
Monthly + annual view
See your budget broken down month by month alongside a full-year summary. Spot seasonal giving dips, budget surpluses, and expense trends before they become problems.
Visual charts and giving trends
Built-in charts visualize income vs. expenses, giving trends over time, and category percentages — making it easy to present your church's financial health to the board, elders, or congregation.
How it works
Download the free template
Get the Excel file instantly — no account or email required. Open it in Excel or Google Sheets.
Enter your church's income sources
Fill in your projected and actual income by category — tithes, offerings, events, and any other revenue your church receives.
Add your ministry expenses
Input your budgeted amounts for staff, facilities, programs, and missions. Formulas calculate totals and percentages automatically.
Share with your board and leaders
Use the built-in summary tab and charts to present a clear, professional financial picture at your next board meeting or elder session.
Frequently asked questions
How does a church create a budget?
A church budget is built by projecting income (tithes, offerings, facility rentals, grants, events) and allocating it across ministry categories (staff, facilities, programs, missions, administration). Most churches build their budget annually in the fall for the following calendar or fiscal year, with input from department leaders and final approval by the board or elders. HolyJot's free template structures this entire process so church leaders can start immediately.
What are typical church budget categories?
Common church budget categories include: Compensation (pastor, staff, benefits) — typically 40-55% of the budget; Facilities (mortgage/rent, utilities, maintenance) — 15-25%; Ministry Programs (children, youth, adults, worship) — 10-15%; Missions and Global Outreach — 10-15%; Administration (office, insurance, technology) — 5-10%; and a Benevolence Fund for congregational needs. HolyJot's template includes all of these with built-in formulas.
How much should a church spend on missions?
A commonly cited benchmark is 10-15% of a church's operating budget directed toward missions and global outreach. Some churches with a strong missional focus give 20% or more. The Bible calls the church to be outward-facing, and a healthy missions budget reflects that priority. HolyJot's template includes a dedicated missions category with a percentage calculator so you can see your current giving rate at a glance.
What percentage of a church budget should go to salaries?
Most financial experts recommend keeping total compensation (salaries, benefits, payroll taxes) between 40-55% of total expenses. Growing churches sometimes run higher in early years as they staff ahead of growth. Smaller churches often run leaner. The key is to review compensation annually against attendance and giving trends to ensure the ratio remains sustainable.
How do I track church giving in Excel?
HolyJot's church budget template includes a dedicated giving tracker tab where you can log weekly offering totals by category (tithes, special offerings, building fund, etc.) and see them roll up automatically into monthly and annual totals. Visual charts update as you enter data, making it easy to present giving trends to your board or elders.
Faithful stewardship starts with a plan.
Download HolyJot's free church budget template and give your leadership team the financial clarity needed to fund ministry, honor donors, and plan for growth.