This webinar discusses how to build budgets for small UU congregations. It covers 10 key points: 1) why budgets are necessary, 2) how to get started by estimating expenses and income from previous years, 3) adding funds for contingencies and new ideas, 4) setting aside funds for long-term goals, 5) comparing the budget total to previous years, 6) looking at anticipated income sources, 7) comparing income and expenses, 8) accounting systems for small groups, 9) making the case for generosity, and 10) how to start budgeting if it is new to the congregation. The webinar emphasizes getting input from members and comparing plans to prior years' records.

1. Building Budgets for
Small Congregations
A Midwest UU Leadership webinar
***THE WEBINAR WILL BEGIN SHORTLY***

2. Midwest UU Leadership
Brought to you by Central
Midwest, Heartland, and Prairie Star
Districts -- the MidAmerica Region of the
UUA

3. Introductions

4. This webinar is being
recorded.

5. Building Budgets for
Small Congregations
A Midwest UU Leadership webinar

6.  1. Why budgets are necessary
 2. How to get started
 3. Add on $ for extras
 4. Add on $ to set aside for later
 5. Compare total to previous years
 6. Look at anticipated income
 7. Compare income and expense
 8. Accounting systems for small UU groups
 9. Making the case for generosity
 10. How to start if budgeting is new to you
10 Ideas in this Webinar

7.  Allows planning for  Gets members
one year, and from involved
year to year  Builds commitment to
 Is a basis for control generosity
 Allows opportunity to  Assures donations
assess church are being used
programming as you responsibly
plan  Financial reporting
 Helps in may be required by
communication and bylaws
coordination
Why budgets are necessary

8.  Add up all potential  Typical categories:
expenses  Staff
 Use records from  Meeting place
previous years  Fair Share to UUA
 If there are and PSD
none, ask people to  Sunday program
estimate their  Religious Education
expenses on behalf  Publicity/Internet
of the congregation
 Administrative
How to get started

9.  Contributions may  Add in $$ for ideas
not come in as you that may come up
had hoped, so plan between budget
for some shrinkage. cycles, so your
 Add in $$ for Board can say “yes”
contingencies – to new ideas that
higher heat/AC people are
expense; or some enthusiastic about
equipment breaks
down
Add on $$ for extras

10.  Does the  Do you dream of
congregation dream having some
of having a Contract financial reserves
Minister part time? for a “rainy day
 Do you dream of fund?”
having your own
building?  By setting aside
 If you have a some money each
building, do you year, you’ll have a
dream of making it head start on your
more accessible? project.
Add on $$ for the Big Dream

11.  Add up all the anticipated expenses you
have
 Compare the total to the current year and
to previous years
 [If you’re new to budgeting and don’t
have a previous track record, hold on.
We’ll get to that.]
Compare Total to previous years

12.  Member contributions
 Sunday collections
 Potential fundraisers
 Other?
Compare anticipated income to current
year and previous years
Look at anticipated income

13.  Are anticipated expenses greater than
income? If so, time to talk with others. No
Treasurer should make decisions alone.
 Consider contributions – is there a way to
increase members’ gifts?
 Consider possible fundraisers – ways to
bring in money from people outside the
congregation
 Will you have to cut expenses? Where?
Compare income and expense

14.  Often, the Board recommends a budget to
the congregation, and the congregation
votes to accept the budget
 The Treasurer sometimes recommends
the budget to the Board
 Getting buy-in from members begins with
conversations about the needs for
programming and the need for generosity
Congregational vote

15.  For the smallest  For more advanced
congregation, use a bookkeeping, go to a
check book to record general ledger
income and expense system, using non-
 When that is no profit business
longer software
sufficient, move to
personal money
mgmt software such
as Quicken; some are
free online
Accounting systems

16.  Area goal: “We intend our building to be
safe, accessible, welcoming, attractive.”
 Last year: “We repaved the parking
lot, did landscaping, put up a new sign
that’s lit at night.”
 Next year: “We want to purchase a new
refrigerator for the kitchen, paint the
restrooms, add glass windows in the
classroom doors to assure child safety.”
Making the case for generosity –
again, not alone

17.  Ask all who have donated goods, services
in the past year to tell you those costs
 Let everyone know what you find about
true costs of operations
 Add in costs of affiliation with UUA &
District Fair Share
 Ask your District Office for contact info for
other small congregations of your size;
check with them for their budget info
How to start if all this is new

18. Please fill out our
survey on this webinar.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QSCGKSP