About This Assessment
Thank you for your interest in CBF’s Congregational Financial Health Assessment. As faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to your congregation, this tool is designed to help your church develop a clear, shared picture of your congregation’s financial health, stewardship culture and facilities—all in service of the ministry to which God has called you.
Your responses are not a test or an audit. There are no right or wrong answers. The goal is an honest snapshot of where your church is today so that, together, we can identify strengths to build on, spot challenges early and connect you with the resources best suited to your situation. Jesus tells us that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”—and this assessment is an invitation to reflect on how your resources serve your congregation’s calling. The more candid and complete your answers, the more useful the conversation that follows will be.
Everything you share is treated as confidential and is used only to support your church’s ministry and planning.
Who Should Complete It
This assessment is best completed as a team rather than by one person alone. We recommend it be filled out jointly by:
- Your senior minister,
- Your church administrator (if applicable), and
- Lay leaders in the area of church finance: treasurer, finance/stewardship committee members, etc.
Completing it together ensures the numbers are accurate and that the narrative reflects both ministry vision and financial reality. If your church is smaller and one person wears several of these hats, that is perfectly fine—simply gather any records you need before you start.
What to Gather First
Having these documents on hand before you begin will make the process faster and your answers more accurate:
- Your current budget
- Actual revenue and expenses for the last three years
- Your most recent reserve fund statement
- Your most recent endowment statement, if your church has endowed funds
- Any debt or loan statement, if applicable
- Anonymized giving records by household
- A summary of staff compensation and benefits, including retirement and health care
Helpful definitions
Giving Unit – an individual or family that gives to the church, counted as one unit regardless of household size
Reserves – unrestricted funds on hand
Deferred Maintenance – repairs and upkeep that have been postponed, often to save money in the short term
Designated Giving – gifts a donor specifies for a particular purpose, as distinct from general operating gifts
Bequest – a gift left to the church through a will or estate plan
Planned Giving – charitable gifts arranged as part of a donor’s overall financial or estate plan, often realized in the future (for example, through a will, trust, retirement account, or life insurance beneficiary designation). Also called legacy giving.
A Closing Word
We undertake this work in the trust that God provides for the ministry to which we are called. May this assessment be a step toward greater clarity, deeper stewardship and renewed vision for your congregation’s future.
If you have questions while completing this assessment, please contact Shauw Chin Capps, CBF Foundation President and CBF Chief Development Officer, at scapps@cbf.net. We are glad to walk alongside you.