GITNUXREPORT 2026

Church Budgets Statistics

Church budgets are largely consumed by personnel costs, facilities, and outreach missions.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Facilities and maintenance costs typically take up 15% to 25% of the annual budget

Statistic 2

Utilities (electricity, water, gas) account for 5% to 7% of total church expenditures

Statistic 3

Property and liability insurance premiums represent 2% to 4% of the operating budget

Statistic 4

Annual maintenance costs for HVAC systems average $5,000 for a 20,000 sq ft building

Statistic 5

Church debt service (mortgage payments) should not exceed 25% of total income

Statistic 6

Deferred maintenance backlogs in older churches often equal 10% of building value

Statistic 7

Cleaning supplies and contracted janitorial services account for 3% of the operations budget

Statistic 8

Security and surveillance systems represent a growing 1.5% of the facilities budget

Statistic 9

Landscape maintenance costs average $200 per acre per month for church properties

Statistic 10

Capital reserve funds for future repairs are recommended at 1% to 3% of budget

Statistic 11

Office equipment and technology software licenses account for 2% of total costs

Statistic 12

Property taxes (where applicable for non-exempt land) average 1% of total expenses

Statistic 13

Internet and communication services cost an average of $300 per month for mid-sized churches

Statistic 14

Roof replacement reserves should be calculated based on a 20-year lifespan of the asset

Statistic 15

Trash removal and waste management services cost an average of $150 per dumpster per month

Statistic 16

Snow removal costs can fluctuate between $2,000 to $10,000 per season based on location

Statistic 17

Fire safety inspections and extinguisher recharging cost an average of $500 annually

Statistic 18

Kitchen and hospitality supplies account for 1% of the church administrative budget

Statistic 19

Parking lot repaving and sealing costs average $1.50 per square foot

Statistic 20

Energy-efficient lighting upgrades reduce utility bills by an average of 15% annually

Statistic 21

Church van and bus maintenance and fueling costs average $3,000 per vehicle per year

Statistic 22

Website hosting and domain management costs average $500 to $1,500 per year

Statistic 23

Printing and postage for church bulletins and mailers account for 2% of the budget

Statistic 24

Liability insurance for special events costs an average of $150 per occurrence

Statistic 25

Audio-visual equipment replacement cycles average 5 to 7 years in modern churches

Statistic 26

Software for church management (ChMS) costs between $50 and $500 per month

Statistic 27

Legal fees for incorporating or contract review average $2,500 annually

Statistic 28

Audit and financial review costs with a CPA range from $5,000 to $15,000

Statistic 29

Interior painting and carpet cleaning should be budgeted every 3 to 5 years

Statistic 30

Vandalism and graffiti removal costs average $1,200 annually for urban churches

Statistic 31

Individual tithes and offerings make up 90% of the total church income budget

Statistic 32

Online giving now accounts for 60% of all church donations on average

Statistic 33

The average annual giving per regular attendee is approximately $1,200 to $2,500

Statistic 34

5% of church income originates from building rentals and facility fees

Statistic 35

Credit card processing fees for online giving average 2.5% to 3% of the gift

Statistic 36

13% of households in a congregation typically contribute 50% of the total budget

Statistic 37

Bequests and planned giving account for 2% of annual operating income

Statistic 38

Interest income on savings accounts provides less than 0.5% of church revenue

Statistic 39

Fundraisers (bake sales, auctions) account for 1% of the total annual budget

Statistic 40

Recurring donors give 42% more annually than one-time donors

Statistic 41

Income from church-owned endowments helps cover 5% of expenses in historic churches

Statistic 42

Plate offerings (cash/check) have declined by 20% since 2018

Statistic 43

17% of churches receive some form of government grant for community services

Statistic 44

Capital campaigns for new buildings average a 3x increase in annual giving for 3 years

Statistic 45

Direct mail giving appeals yield an average response rate of 5% for churches

Statistic 46

Younger donors (Gen Z/Millennials) prefer mobile apps for 80% of their giving

Statistic 47

2% of church revenue is generated through bookstore or coffee shop sales

Statistic 48

Stock and non-cash asset donations represent 1% of total annual giving

Statistic 49

Giving typically peaks in December, accounting for 18% of the annual total

Statistic 50

Summer giving dips (June-August) average a 15% decrease from spring levels

Statistic 51

Automatic bank drafts (ACH) have the lowest processing fees at $0.25 to $0.50 per gift

Statistic 52

Membership dues (where applicable in specific traditions) average $500 per year

Statistic 53

Giving as a percentage of income for active church members averages 2.5%

Statistic 54

High-net-worth donors (gifts over $10k) usually make up 1% of the donor base

Statistic 55

25% of churches have no formalized budget and operate on cash flow

Statistic 56

External grants from private foundations account for 3% of outreach income

Statistic 57

Corporate matching gifts are utilized by only 2% of church donors

Statistic 58

Text-to-give donations average $107 per transaction

Statistic 59

Designated "Love Offerings" for visiting speakers average $450 per event

Statistic 60

Matching gift challenges increase donation volume by 71% during campaigns

Statistic 61

Youth ministry programming and curriculum account for 3% to 5% of the total budget

Statistic 62

Children's ministry (preschool through elementary) averages 4% of total expenses

Statistic 63

Worship and music ministry supplies (sheet music, licensing) cost 1% of budget

Statistic 64

Adult small group materials and leadership training take up 2% of total funds

Statistic 65

Men’s and women’s ministry events are often budget-neutral through registration fees

Statistic 66

Hospitality and "First Impressions" budgets average $2.00 per first-time guest

Statistic 67

Senior adult ministry programming typically receives 1% of the program budget

Statistic 68

Guest speaker travel and honorariums for Sunday services average $3,000 annually

Statistic 69

New curriculum purchases for Sunday School average $750 per semester

Statistic 70

45% of churches charge a registration fee to cover 80% of retreat costs

Statistic 71

Special events (Christmas, Easter) account for 10% of the annual program budget

Statistic 72

Video production and digital content creation costs average 2% of the total budget

Statistic 73

35% of churches use 10% of their program budget for "new initiative" seed money

Statistic 74

Library and resource center expenses average $400 per year in established churches

Statistic 75

Background checks for children’s ministry volunteers cost $15 to $40 per person

Statistic 76

70% of worship teams use "Multitracks" costing $400 to $1,000 in annual subscriptions

Statistic 77

Leadership retreats for elders or deacons average $150 per participant per year

Statistic 78

Marriage enrichment seminars cost an average of $25 per couple in materials

Statistic 79

Support group materials (e.g., Celebrate Recovery) average $1,200 annually

Statistic 80

Arts and creative ministry supplies account for 0.5% of the operating budget

Statistic 81

Summer camp scholarships for low-income youth average $3,000 per church per year

Statistic 82

Coffee and cafe sales cover 60% of their own expenses in larger churches

Statistic 83

Bible study guides for the entire congregation cost an average of $5 per person

Statistic 84

Grief support materials (e.g., GriefShare) cost $500 for the initial kit and $15 per workbook

Statistic 85

Tech volunteers save churches an average of $5,000 in labor costs annually

Statistic 86

25% of churches allocate funds specifically for a "First Impressions" kiosk system

Statistic 87

Sports ministry equipment and field rentals average $2,500 per season

Statistic 88

Online streaming copyright licenses (CCLI/CCS) average $350 per year per church

Statistic 89

Discipleship tracking software subscriptions average $30 per month

Statistic 90

Annual choir music filing and storage supplies cost $200 per year

Statistic 91

On average, churches allocate 10% to 15% of their budget to missions and outreach

Statistic 92

Local community outreach programs receive 30% of the total missions budget

Statistic 93

International missions support accounts for 50% of a church's benevolence spending

Statistic 94

Church planting grants typically range from $10,000 to $50,000 per plant

Statistic 95

42% of churches have a specific budget line for disaster relief efforts

Statistic 96

Short-term mission trip subsidies account for 5% of the missions budget

Statistic 97

Support for long-term missionaries averages $500 to $1,000 per month per family

Statistic 98

Inner-city food pantries operated by churches cost an average of $8,000 annually

Statistic 99

Vacation Bible School (VBS) outreach budgets average $25 per registered child

Statistic 100

Denominational assessments and cooperative giving average 5% to 10% of the budget

Statistic 101

25% of churches offer "mercy funds" for congregants in acute financial crisis

Statistic 102

Adoption and orphan care support is a line item in 15% of evangelical churches

Statistic 103

Evangelism training materials and events cost 1% of the annual church budget

Statistic 104

Prison ministry materials and visitation costs average $2,000 per year

Statistic 105

College campus ministry support represents 3% of the outreach expenditure

Statistic 106

60% of churches participate in some form of seasonal giving (e.g., Angel Tree)

Statistic 107

Medical missions and health clinics supported by churches average $15,000 in support

Statistic 108

Homeless shelter partnerships receive an average of $300 in monthly church support

Statistic 109

Water well projects in developing nations cost an average of $5,000 to $10,000 each

Statistic 110

Translation services for multilingual outreach cost an average of $50 per hour

Statistic 111

Christian education and school subsidies can consume 20% of the budget in parochial churches

Statistic 112

Advertising for community events (social media ads) averages $200 per event

Statistic 113

10% of churches provide scholarships for Christian private schools or colleges

Statistic 114

Youth outreach bus/transportation programs cost an average of $1,200 annually

Statistic 115

Mission-oriented guest speaker honorariums average $500 to $1,500 per weekend

Statistic 116

Crisis pregnancy center support is a line item for 22% of conservative churches

Statistic 117

18% of church budgets are redirected from internal programs to external missions in "missional" models

Statistic 118

Refugee resettlement assistance programs average $2,500 per family supported

Statistic 119

Digital missions (streaming to other countries) costs an average of $1,000 per year

Statistic 120

Grant writing for community outreach projects costs churches $500 to $2,000 per grant

Statistic 121

Personnel costs typically account for 45% to 55% of the total church budget

Statistic 122

Senior Pastor compensation accounts for an average of 15% of total operating expenses

Statistic 123

82% of churches offer health insurance benefits to full-time employees

Statistic 124

The average church staff member to congregant ratio is 1 staff per 76 attendees

Statistic 125

Retirement contributions typically average 3% to 5% of a staff member's salary

Statistic 126

65% of churches provide a housing allowance for ordained staff members

Statistic 127

Part-time staff make up 40% of the total workforce in small to mid-sized churches

Statistic 128

Professional development funds for staff usually account for 1% of the total budget

Statistic 129

Youth ministry staff salaries have increased by 12% over the last five years

Statistic 130

Salaries for administrative support staff average 10% of the total personnel budget

Statistic 131

55% of churches employ a part-time or volunteer bookkeeper or treasurer

Statistic 132

Life insurance is provided as a benefit by 48% of churches with budgets over $500k

Statistic 133

Merit-based raises in churches average 2% to 3% annually when the budget allows

Statistic 134

The use of contract workers for cleaning and maintenance has risen by 15% since 2020

Statistic 135

Worship leader salaries are often the second-highest expenditure after the lead pastor

Statistic 136

30% of churches use a formal performance evaluation to determine salary increases

Statistic 137

Staff bonuses, where given, typically range from $500 to $2,000 per employee

Statistic 138

Vacation time policies average 2 weeks for new staff and 4 weeks for senior leaders

Statistic 139

Health insurance premiums for church staff have increased by 7% annually on average

Statistic 140

Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA) for non-ordained staff cost churches 7.65% of wages

Statistic 141

Church staff recruitment costs average $1,500 per search for professional positions

Statistic 142

22% of churches offer a sabbatical policy for long-term staff members

Statistic 143

Workers' compensation insurance rates vary by state but average 0.5% of total payroll

Statistic 144

Childcare worker wages in churches have risen to an average of $15 per hour

Statistic 145

The cost of relocating a new lead pastor averages $10,000 for mid-sized churches

Statistic 146

Continuing education grants for pastors average $1,200 per year per staff member

Statistic 147

12% of church budgets are spent on payroll taxes and related administrative fees

Statistic 148

Over 60% of churches use external payroll services to manage staff pay

Statistic 149

Family leave policies are formalized in only 18% of churches nationwide

Statistic 150

The average tenure of a church staff member before moving is 3.5 years

1/150

Sources

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Key Takeaways

Personnel costs typically account for 45% to 55% of the total church budget
Senior Pastor compensation accounts for an average of 15% of total operating expenses
82% of churches offer health insurance benefits to full-time employees
Facilities and maintenance costs typically take up 15% to 25% of the annual budget
Utilities (electricity, water, gas) account for 5% to 7% of total church expenditures
Property and liability insurance premiums represent 2% to 4% of the operating budget
On average, churches allocate 10% to 15% of their budget to missions and outreach
Local community outreach programs receive 30% of the total missions budget
International missions support accounts for 50% of a church's benevolence spending
Youth ministry programming and curriculum account for 3% to 5% of the total budget
Children's ministry (preschool through elementary) averages 4% of total expenses
Worship and music ministry supplies (sheet music, licensing) cost 1% of budget
Individual tithes and offerings make up 90% of the total church income budget
Online giving now accounts for 60% of all church donations on average
The average annual giving per regular attendee is approximately $1,200 to $2,500

Church budgets are largely consumed by personnel costs, facilities, and outreach missions.

Facilities and Operations

Facilities and maintenance costs typically take up 15% to 25% of the annual budget
Utilities (electricity, water, gas) account for 5% to 7% of total church expenditures
Property and liability insurance premiums represent 2% to 4% of the operating budget
Annual maintenance costs for HVAC systems average $5,000 for a 20,000 sq ft building
Church debt service (mortgage payments) should not exceed 25% of total income
Deferred maintenance backlogs in older churches often equal 10% of building value
Cleaning supplies and contracted janitorial services account for 3% of the operations budget
Security and surveillance systems represent a growing 1.5% of the facilities budget
Landscape maintenance costs average $200 per acre per month for church properties
Capital reserve funds for future repairs are recommended at 1% to 3% of budget
Office equipment and technology software licenses account for 2% of total costs
Property taxes (where applicable for non-exempt land) average 1% of total expenses
Internet and communication services cost an average of $300 per month for mid-sized churches
Roof replacement reserves should be calculated based on a 20-year lifespan of the asset
Trash removal and waste management services cost an average of $150 per dumpster per month
Snow removal costs can fluctuate between $2,000 to $10,000 per season based on location
Fire safety inspections and extinguisher recharging cost an average of $500 annually
Kitchen and hospitality supplies account for 1% of the church administrative budget
Parking lot repaving and sealing costs average $1.50 per square foot
Energy-efficient lighting upgrades reduce utility bills by an average of 15% annually
Church van and bus maintenance and fueling costs average $3,000 per vehicle per year
Website hosting and domain management costs average $500 to $1,500 per year
Printing and postage for church bulletins and mailers account for 2% of the budget
Liability insurance for special events costs an average of $150 per occurrence
Audio-visual equipment replacement cycles average 5 to 7 years in modern churches
Software for church management (ChMS) costs between $50 and $500 per month
Legal fees for incorporating or contract review average $2,500 annually
Audit and financial review costs with a CPA range from $5,000 to $15,000
Interior painting and carpet cleaning should be budgeted every 3 to 5 years
Vandalism and graffiti removal costs average $1,200 annually for urban churches

Facilities and Operations Interpretation

Behind the sacred sanctuary lies a fiscal cathedral of heating bills, insurance premiums, and the ever-looming cost of a new roof, revealing that the true test of faith might just be balancing a budget that insists the building is both a spiritual home and a voracious money pit.

Income and Giving Trends

Individual tithes and offerings make up 90% of the total church income budget
Online giving now accounts for 60% of all church donations on average
The average annual giving per regular attendee is approximately $1,200 to $2,500
5% of church income originates from building rentals and facility fees
Credit card processing fees for online giving average 2.5% to 3% of the gift
13% of households in a congregation typically contribute 50% of the total budget
Bequests and planned giving account for 2% of annual operating income
Interest income on savings accounts provides less than 0.5% of church revenue
Fundraisers (bake sales, auctions) account for 1% of the total annual budget
Recurring donors give 42% more annually than one-time donors
Income from church-owned endowments helps cover 5% of expenses in historic churches
Plate offerings (cash/check) have declined by 20% since 2018
17% of churches receive some form of government grant for community services
Capital campaigns for new buildings average a 3x increase in annual giving for 3 years
Direct mail giving appeals yield an average response rate of 5% for churches
Younger donors (Gen Z/Millennials) prefer mobile apps for 80% of their giving
2% of church revenue is generated through bookstore or coffee shop sales
Stock and non-cash asset donations represent 1% of total annual giving
Giving typically peaks in December, accounting for 18% of the annual total
Summer giving dips (June-August) average a 15% decrease from spring levels
Automatic bank drafts (ACH) have the lowest processing fees at $0.25 to $0.50 per gift
Membership dues (where applicable in specific traditions) average $500 per year
Giving as a percentage of income for active church members averages 2.5%
High-net-worth donors (gifts over $10k) usually make up 1% of the donor base
25% of churches have no formalized budget and operate on cash flow
External grants from private foundations account for 3% of outreach income
Corporate matching gifts are utilized by only 2% of church donors
Text-to-give donations average $107 per transaction
Designated "Love Offerings" for visiting speakers average $450 per event
Matching gift challenges increase donation volume by 71% during campaigns

Income and Giving Trends Interpretation

The modern church budget is a delicate ecosystem where the faithful few fund the mission through digital tithes, while the collection plate gathers dust and summer vacations quietly starve the spreadsheet.

Ministry and Programs

Youth ministry programming and curriculum account for 3% to 5% of the total budget
Children's ministry (preschool through elementary) averages 4% of total expenses
Worship and music ministry supplies (sheet music, licensing) cost 1% of budget
Adult small group materials and leadership training take up 2% of total funds
Men’s and women’s ministry events are often budget-neutral through registration fees
Hospitality and "First Impressions" budgets average $2.00 per first-time guest
Senior adult ministry programming typically receives 1% of the program budget
Guest speaker travel and honorariums for Sunday services average $3,000 annually
New curriculum purchases for Sunday School average $750 per semester
45% of churches charge a registration fee to cover 80% of retreat costs
Special events (Christmas, Easter) account for 10% of the annual program budget
Video production and digital content creation costs average 2% of the total budget
35% of churches use 10% of their program budget for "new initiative" seed money
Library and resource center expenses average $400 per year in established churches
Background checks for children’s ministry volunteers cost $15 to $40 per person
70% of worship teams use "Multitracks" costing $400 to $1,000 in annual subscriptions
Leadership retreats for elders or deacons average $150 per participant per year
Marriage enrichment seminars cost an average of $25 per couple in materials
Support group materials (e.g., Celebrate Recovery) average $1,200 annually
Arts and creative ministry supplies account for 0.5% of the operating budget
Summer camp scholarships for low-income youth average $3,000 per church per year
Coffee and cafe sales cover 60% of their own expenses in larger churches
Bible study guides for the entire congregation cost an average of $5 per person
Grief support materials (e.g., GriefShare) cost $500 for the initial kit and $15 per workbook
Tech volunteers save churches an average of $5,000 in labor costs annually
25% of churches allocate funds specifically for a "First Impressions" kiosk system
Sports ministry equipment and field rentals average $2,500 per season
Online streaming copyright licenses (CCLI/CCS) average $350 per year per church
Discipleship tracking software subscriptions average $30 per month
Annual choir music filing and storage supplies cost $200 per year

Ministry and Programs Interpretation

The budget reveals a church meticulously investing in the future while shrewdly managing the present, prioritizing the cradle over the choir loft and turning coffee into capital, all to ensure the spiritual ledger reflects both wisdom and mission.

Missions and Outreach

On average, churches allocate 10% to 15% of their budget to missions and outreach
Local community outreach programs receive 30% of the total missions budget
International missions support accounts for 50% of a church's benevolence spending
Church planting grants typically range from $10,000 to $50,000 per plant
42% of churches have a specific budget line for disaster relief efforts
Short-term mission trip subsidies account for 5% of the missions budget
Support for long-term missionaries averages $500 to $1,000 per month per family
Inner-city food pantries operated by churches cost an average of $8,000 annually
Vacation Bible School (VBS) outreach budgets average $25 per registered child
Denominational assessments and cooperative giving average 5% to 10% of the budget
25% of churches offer "mercy funds" for congregants in acute financial crisis
Adoption and orphan care support is a line item in 15% of evangelical churches
Evangelism training materials and events cost 1% of the annual church budget
Prison ministry materials and visitation costs average $2,000 per year
College campus ministry support represents 3% of the outreach expenditure
60% of churches participate in some form of seasonal giving (e.g., Angel Tree)
Medical missions and health clinics supported by churches average $15,000 in support
Homeless shelter partnerships receive an average of $300 in monthly church support
Water well projects in developing nations cost an average of $5,000 to $10,000 each
Translation services for multilingual outreach cost an average of $50 per hour
Christian education and school subsidies can consume 20% of the budget in parochial churches
Advertising for community events (social media ads) averages $200 per event
10% of churches provide scholarships for Christian private schools or colleges
Youth outreach bus/transportation programs cost an average of $1,200 annually
Mission-oriented guest speaker honorariums average $500 to $1,500 per weekend
Crisis pregnancy center support is a line item for 22% of conservative churches
18% of church budgets are redirected from internal programs to external missions in "missional" models
Refugee resettlement assistance programs average $2,500 per family supported
Digital missions (streaming to other countries) costs an average of $1,000 per year
Grant writing for community outreach projects costs churches $500 to $2,000 per grant

Missions and Outreach Interpretation

The numbers reveal a church that, while meticulously budgeting from VBS crayons to deep-water wells, still manages to scatter its financial seeds both across the street and across the globe with a blend of spreadsheet precision and genuine compassion.

Personnel and Staffing

Personnel costs typically account for 45% to 55% of the total church budget
Senior Pastor compensation accounts for an average of 15% of total operating expenses
82% of churches offer health insurance benefits to full-time employees
The average church staff member to congregant ratio is 1 staff per 76 attendees
Retirement contributions typically average 3% to 5% of a staff member's salary
65% of churches provide a housing allowance for ordained staff members
Part-time staff make up 40% of the total workforce in small to mid-sized churches
Professional development funds for staff usually account for 1% of the total budget
Youth ministry staff salaries have increased by 12% over the last five years
Salaries for administrative support staff average 10% of the total personnel budget
55% of churches employ a part-time or volunteer bookkeeper or treasurer
Life insurance is provided as a benefit by 48% of churches with budgets over $500k
Merit-based raises in churches average 2% to 3% annually when the budget allows
The use of contract workers for cleaning and maintenance has risen by 15% since 2020
Worship leader salaries are often the second-highest expenditure after the lead pastor
30% of churches use a formal performance evaluation to determine salary increases
Staff bonuses, where given, typically range from $500 to $2,000 per employee
Vacation time policies average 2 weeks for new staff and 4 weeks for senior leaders
Health insurance premiums for church staff have increased by 7% annually on average
Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA) for non-ordained staff cost churches 7.65% of wages
Church staff recruitment costs average $1,500 per search for professional positions
22% of churches offer a sabbatical policy for long-term staff members
Workers' compensation insurance rates vary by state but average 0.5% of total payroll
Childcare worker wages in churches have risen to an average of $15 per hour
The cost of relocating a new lead pastor averages $10,000 for mid-sized churches
Continuing education grants for pastors average $1,200 per year per staff member
12% of church budgets are spent on payroll taxes and related administrative fees
Over 60% of churches use external payroll services to manage staff pay
Family leave policies are formalized in only 18% of churches nationwide
The average tenure of a church staff member before moving is 3.5 years

Personnel and Staffing Interpretation

A church budget is a delicate act of faith and finance, where roughly half the funds are devoted to the sacred task of paying people, proving that while the laborer is worthy of his hire, the finance committee is worthy of a stiff drink.

Sources & References

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