Many church members become fuzzy-minded looking at a line-item budget. This year try a ‘narrative budget’ that connects offerings to vital ministries. From Center for Faith & Giving. (Photo: Chris Potter, Creative Commons)
Try a narrative budget for your church this year
People’s eyes generally glaze over when they see a church’s line-item budget. What do all those numbers and categories mean? It’s daunting! A narrative budget helps explain finances in a way people can readily understand … and get behind! From the Center on Faith and Giving.
Think beyond the line item – a narrative budget
Most budget presentations leave parishioners drowsy and bored, but there’s a better way. A narrative budget helps folks connect the congregation’s finances with the mission that we are accomplishing in the world. The Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation has a nice package of resources to get you started. (Photo: Taxcredit, Creative Commons)
Why budget?
According to The Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce, “A congregation without a budget is like a car without GPS – you can’t tell where you’ve been or where you are going.” In this article she provides information about joining zero-based and narrative budgeting to focus on mission and ministry while still allowing flexibility for changing circumstances. […]
This year, try building a narrative budget
Accountants and businesspeople love spreadsheets and line-item budgets, but regular folks in the pews have a hard time relating the numbers and categories to real-life . That’s why narrative budgets can be so helpful. They explain how the numbers connect to the lives and ministries of your church. The Center for Faith & Giving explains. […]
Think outside the line item with a narrative budget
It’ll happen every time! The finance team has worked hard to craft a budget and is excited about the ministries it will fund, but the confusing line-item spreadsheet leaves the congregation nonplussed. Why not try a narrative budget, which helps explain expenditures through the stories of your congregation’s ministries. (Photo © trotzolga – Fotolia.com)
Narrative Budgets: Everything You Need to Know!
A narrative budget is a remarkable communications tool to help your congregation understand the significance of their financial gifts, and the ways in which God is changing lives through the mission of your church. Here is a remarkable compilation of articles, examples, videos and webinars that can get your congregation started on a narrative budget. (Photo © Trotzolga – Fotolia.com)
The Importance of a Narrative Budget
Narrative budgeting has a critical role to play in any comprehensive parish stewardship program. Basic philanthropic theory indicates that people want their money to have an impact, and narrative budgeting is a great tool to demonstrate to donors how their money and time touch the lives of people in need. (Photo © Artur Gabrysiak – […]
Building a Narrative Budget
Many congregations have discovered the narrative budget as a way of talking about the needs of the church to carry out its mission. Rather than a spreadsheet that lists columns and columns of numbers, the narrative budget tells the story of the congregation’s mission and service and how the budget components contribute. (Photo by Howard […]
