Churches in the United States bring in around $74.5 billion collectively each year. This significant sum comes from a variety of revenue streams and goes toward church programming, outreach, and community initiatives.
While churches don’t “make money” – meaning profit – in the traditional sense, raising revenue is crucial to keep the doors open and connect more people with the word of God.
In this article, we’ll look at seven of the most popular ways churches make money – and some tools they can use to raise even more!
7 Ways Churches Make Money
1. Tithes
“’A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” – Leviticus 27:30
Tithing is a form of worship as congregants give up part of their property to God via the church. Traditionally, tithing is considered 10% of someone’s annual income.
While this is typically a significant sum, tithing is not as common as it once was. Only 10% to 25% of an average congregation tithes regularly.
Churches can increase their total number of tithers through digital giving options, including recurring giving. This helps supporters stay on top of their tithing through automated payments at consistent intervals.
2. Events
Church events are a fun way to raise more while providing something to the community in return. Modern churches are finding creative ways to bring their congregation together for a good cause, whether with virtual, in-person, or hybrid events.
Churches raise money by selling tickets, concessions, raffle tickets, and other fundraising activities during the event, as well as collecting donations.
Event ticketing platforms help churches sell tickets and streamline the planning process so they can focus on raising more – without more hassle.
3. Offerings
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38
Offerings allow congregants to support the church and give in addition to tithing. Typically, offerings are collected weekly through the passing of the offering plate.
Churchgoers give what they have in their pockets, or as much as they feel so moved to contribute after Sunday service.
With the circulation of cash continuing to decrease in 2024, many churches are seeing a decrease in in-person offerings. That’s why some have started using giving kiosks to collect payments with cards, smartphones, and smartwatches.
4. Selling products and services
Some churches make money through business endeavors like selling food, merchandise, books, and other products. Sometimes they even provide services like classes and job training and charge a participation fee.
This is a great way to boost revenue while providing something tangible in return. Churches can set up a cafe or gift shop in their buildings and recruit volunteers to help them sell more, using a donation kiosk as a point-of-sale system to collect payments.
5. Capital campaigns
“O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.” – Psalm 26:8
Sometimes, churches need money for specific projects or initiatives. Often, this looks like a new or renovated church building. That’s where a capital campaign comes in!
Raising money for worship or gathering spaces helps churches create a better experience for congregants and reach more with God’s word. Modern churches use online fundraising tools like crowdfunding to bring in more donations and spread the word about their campaign.
6. Grants
Many grant opportunities exist for churches these days. Church grants fund a variety of activities, from planting a new church to responding to natural disasters with a faith-based approach.
Finding grants can feel like a daunting process, but there are many search engines out there that list all the national grant opportunities for faith-based organizations. Consider connecting with local foundations, too, to see if any of them provide church grants.
7. Planned Giving
“Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.” – Psalm 112:1–3
Currently, $84 trillion of generational wealth is being transferred from Baby Boomers. Planned giving allows churches to collect some of this wealth transfer from their congregants who wish to give to their church at the end of their lives.
Most modern churches have a planned giving program with different levels, educational resources, and will-creation services or guidance. This is a great way to preserve the legacy of congregants while providing for future generations of worshippers.
Conclusion
Funds help churches make more meaningful connections with the public by supporting their programming, allowing them to build new buildings and plant new churches, and providing them with the tools they need to do more good. But understanding where those funds come from isn’t always easy!
These seven ways churches raise money range from basic tithing and offerings as prescribed in the Bible to more advanced fundraising tactics, like hosting exciting events or building a planned giving program.
There are tons of tools and resources to help churches raise more! Donorbox MinistryMomentum provides a one-stop church fundraising platform with donation forms, crowdfunding, event ticketing, automated tithing, and more. Sign up today and start raising more for your church in less than fifteen minutes.
