Evaluate your church or fund's financial health across six critical dimensions. Get a comprehensive score, actionable recommendations, and benchmark comparisons -- all completely free with no account required.
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Total annual tithes, offerings, and revenue
Year-over-year giving direction
Families or households that give
Total annual operating budget
All mortgages, loans, and lines of credit
Total principal + interest paid per year
Liquid savings and reserve funds
Leave blank to auto-calculate from your data above
Average across all weekend services
Year-over-year attendance direction
Please enter at least Annual Giving/Revenue and Annual Operating Expenses to calculate your score.
Financial health for a church or Church Extension Fund is not simply about having enough money in the bank. It is a holistic measure of an organization's ability to fulfill its mission sustainably over time. A financially healthy church can weather economic downturns, invest in ministry growth, meet its debt obligations, and maintain the trust of its members and investors.
Unlike for-profit businesses where profitability is the primary metric, church financial health must balance stewardship, mission impact, donor confidence, and regulatory compliance. This scorecard was developed using benchmarks from leading church financial consultants, denominational standards, and Church Extension Fund best practices.
Whether you are a CFO, controller, or executive director, this free tool gives you an objective baseline assessment. Use it quarterly to track progress, prepare for board meetings, or benchmark against peer organizations.
Our scoring model evaluates six interconnected dimensions that together paint a complete picture of your organization's financial well-being. Each dimension is weighted based on its relative importance to overall sustainability.
Measures the strength and trajectory of your giving base. Per-unit giving (giving per household or family) is the single most important indicator of donor engagement. Healthy churches typically see $3,000 to $5,000 or more per giving unit annually. The trend direction -- whether giving is growing, stable, or declining -- provides crucial forward-looking insight. Growing giving at 5% or more annually indicates a vibrant stewardship culture.
Evaluates how efficiently your organization allocates its resources. The operating ratio (expenses divided by revenue) should ideally stay below 85%, leaving margin for savings, debt reduction, and unexpected needs. Staff costs typically represent the largest budget category and should fall between 40% and 55% of the total budget. Too low may indicate understaffing; too high may crowd out ministry programming and facility maintenance.
Assesses the sustainability of your debt obligations. The debt-to-revenue ratio compares total outstanding debt against annual revenue -- a ratio below 3:1 is considered manageable for most churches. The Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) measures whether your operating income can cover annual debt payments. A DSCR above 1.25x means you have a comfortable margin. Many Church Extension Funds require a minimum 1.25x DSCR for new loan approvals.
Measures your financial cushion against unexpected events. Financial experts recommend churches maintain 3 to 6 months of operating expenses in liquid reserves. This buffer protects against seasonal giving fluctuations, unexpected repairs, and economic downturns. The reserve-to-debt ratio provides additional context on how your savings relate to your obligations, giving a more complete picture of financial resilience.
Examines how effectively your organization converts attendance into financial support. Revenue per attendee and the participation ratio (the relationship between giving per attendee and giving per household) reveal how broadly financial support is distributed across your congregation. Higher participation rates indicate a healthier, more engaged community where financial support is not concentrated among a small number of donors.
Looks at the forward trajectory of your organization. Are attendance and giving both moving in the right direction? Aligned growth in both areas is the strongest indicator of long-term sustainability. When attendance grows but giving declines, or vice versa, it signals structural challenges that need attention. This dimension also factors in per-unit giving trajectory to assess whether growth is financially sustainable.
Improving your financial health score is a gradual process that requires intentional leadership, clear communication, and consistent stewardship. Here are proven strategies organized by impact area:
Giving health improves when generosity is woven into the fabric of your community. Implement annual stewardship campaigns, share impact stories regularly, provide multiple giving channels (online, mobile, text, kiosk), and offer financial literacy workshops. Churches that teach biblical stewardship year-round -- not just during budget season -- see sustained giving growth.
Review every expense against your mission. Zero-based budgeting, where every line item must be justified annually, can reveal significant savings. Benchmark your staff compensation against regional data. Explore shared services with neighboring churches for administrative functions. Ensure facility costs (including maintenance reserves) do not exceed 25-30% of your budget.
If your debt-to-revenue ratio exceeds 3:1, prioritize reduction. Consider capital campaigns dedicated to debt elimination. Refinance when rates are favorable -- your Church Extension Fund may offer competitive options. Avoid taking on new debt until existing obligations are at manageable levels. Every dollar saved on interest payments can be redirected toward ministry.
Set a board-approved target of 3-6 months of operating reserves. Allocate a fixed percentage of each month's revenue until the target is reached. Consider placing reserves in interest-bearing accounts through your Church Extension Fund. Having adequate reserves not only provides security but also improves your creditworthiness for future financing needs.
Growth and sustainability depend on broad community engagement. Focus on assimilation pathways that move visitors toward membership and financial partnership. Invest in children and youth ministry, which is the strongest predictor of family retention. Use data to understand your attendance patterns and target outreach where it will have the greatest impact.
Whether you need help interpreting your scorecard, building a strategic financial plan, or exploring lending and investment options, our team is here to help.
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