Financial Planning & Fund Stewardship

Budget Development

A thoughtful annual budget draws on reliable financial information, realistic projections, and the ministry’s priorities for the coming year. Church Training Center provides the training, planning tools, and coaching to help leaders develop a complete annual budget through an organized, participatory process.

Budget Development is available independently. Full annual Budget Development Support is also included in the Capacity and Shared Stewardship levels of Ministry Accounting.

01 · Review the Starting Point

We begin by reviewing current year-to-date financial reports and discussing how your ministry currently develops its budget.

02 · Access Budget Planning Training

Your ministry receives access to Church Training Center’s budget webinar training to support its annual planning work.

03 · Work with a Budget Planning Worksheet

We provide a worksheet with recommended actions for developing the income and expense figures for the next budget year.

04 · Develop the Budget Planning Process

We coach ministry leaders in establishing a planning timeline, gathering input from appropriate teams, considering anticipated changes, and preparing the budget for review and approval.

Grants & Restricted Fund Management

Grants and restricted resources require financial records that reflect how funds are received, used, and reported. Church Training Center helps ministries manage these responsibilities through direct bookkeeping, reporting design, and practical guidance suited to their needs.

Fund & Grant Bookkeeping

We can maintain the accounting records for a grant or restricted fund, recording financial activity and organizing the information needed for financial reporting.

Tracking, Reporting & Administration

We review grant and fund documentation, advise on appropriate tracking and recordkeeping, and design financial reports for ministry leaders and grantors. Grant-specific financial administration is also available when needed.

Routine fund and restriction accounting is included within the agreed scope of Ministry Accounting. Specialized grant reporting, administration, and additional consulting are addressed according to the work requested.

Cash & Donation Forecasting

Financial planning benefits from a clear understanding of anticipated income and expenses. Church Training Center examines historical financial activity, current trends, and expected changes to help ministry leaders develop realistic financial projections.

Income & Donation Forecasting

We review historical income, membership and giving trends, pledges, and other income sources to estimate the financial resources the ministry may receive during the planning period.

Expense Forecasting

We examine historical expenditures and current spending patterns, then discuss anticipated changes to develop projections of the ministry’s expected expenses.

Together, these projections help ministry leaders evaluate expected income against planned expenditures and make informed financial decisions. The scope, level of detail, and pricing are determined by the ministry’s needs.

Discuss Your Financial Planning Needs

Every ministry’s financial planning needs are different. Tell us what your organization is working through, and we can discuss the assistance that would be most useful and an appropriate scope for the work.