Building A Budget and Securing Funds

Bill Lee and Bill Black

One of the most difficult and frustrating aspects of ministering in resort and leisure settings is finding sufficient financial support to carry out sharing God's love with residents and visitors. This outline does not pretend to give answers to the questions you may have related to securing ministry funds and developing a budget. Rather, it points you towards resources that will help you discover the proper questions to ask. - Editors

I. Budget planning

See Preparing Budgets for Resort Ministries by Tom Moore.

II. Budget content
A. For programs just getting underway, see Sample Budget: Beginning Ministry by Bill and Cindy Black.

B. For more developed programs, see Sample Budget: Established Ministry by Bill and Cindy Black.

III. Financial management - See Sample: Financial Policy Statement by Bill and Cindy Black.

IV. Securing funds

A. Local setting

1. Offerings

2. Fees

a. Program

b. Group

c. Staff

d. Sales

3. Site direct support

4. Project direct support

B. Denominational

1. Local board, committee, church

2. Associational budget

3. State convention priority system for funding

4. State missions offering

5. Special assistance from various denominational agencies

C. Direct support

1. From individuals

2. From churches

3. From alumni

D. Creative resources

1. Grants

2. Campaigns

3. Business sales

4. Job sharing

Based on a conference led by Bill Lee and Bill Black at the 1996 National Resort Ministries Conference. Used by Permission.