5 Approaches to Funding a Church Class That Actually Work
Here’s a pattern we’ve seen over and over: Everyone agrees their church should do something about financial discipleship. There’s initial excitement, maybe some research into options. And then it stalls on one question—“OK, but where’s the money coming from?”
Depending on how your church handles budgets and decisions, that question can either be a quick conversation or the thing that drags on for six months until someone in the congregation just pays for it out of pocket to end the stalemate.
But here’s what we’ve noticed:
The churches that make progress don’t treat a class like it’s a budget problem.
They think about it differently. One pastor in Tennessee put it this way when he pitched it to his leadership:
“I told them—I honestly think that [the cost of the class] is going to come back from the participants so quickly that it’s not a big deal. And that’s where they were like, man, it makes sense.”
He wasn’t wrong.
A church in Georgia ran 110 people through a financial class and saw exactly that—people who weren’t tithing started, and people already giving increased.
And many churches have seen similar results!
That’s not a guarantee, but it does shift the conversation from “can we afford this” to “what’s the cost of doing nothing.”
With that in mind…
Here’s 5 creative approaches we’ve seen churches use to solve the “funding problem”:
1. Church covers it, everyone comes free
The most common approach. One pastor in Oakland put it simply: “We just bought the package and let everybody come for free. We didn’t charge anything.”
Pros: Zero friction for participants. Maximum attendance. Communicates that financial health is a real ministry priority, not a side project. And if you enroll in the TFF church subscription, the cost-per-person drops every time you run it.
Cons: Requires budget allocation or discretionary funds. May need to go through an approval process depending on your church structure.
2. Small fee for accountability
Some churches charge $15-30—not to recoup costs, but to create commitment. A facilitator in Canada explained, “We charged $15 to get a code. That was so we could see who was actually doing the course. To have a course on demand and not be able to see who is registering means nothing for me.”
Another facilitator charged $27 and told his class he’d personally refund anyone who didn’t get at least 10x that back within a year (and he hasn’t issued a single refund yet!).
Pros: Skin in the game increases follow-through. Helps you track who’s actually participating. Can offset some costs.
Cons: Creates a barrier, even a small one. The people who most need this class are often the ones least able to pay—even $15.
3. Find a grant or foundation
This one surprised us. A pastor in Montana discovered that his state governor’s foundation gives grants specifically for church programs: “They actually wrote a grant and covered the cost of the class for the first year. It’s not costing the church anything.”
Pros: Free money. No budget impact. Some foundations are specifically looking for programs like this to fund.
Cons: Requires research to find what’s available in your area. May involve an application process. Not every region has these options.
4. Pilot it small, let results make the case
One church in Canada ran it almost under the radar at first: “This was one of those that we tried on the side. It wasn’t well publicized. We wanted to see how our people received it. Now we’re figuring out if the subscription will be approved for next year.”
Pros: Low risk. Real testimonials from your own congregation carry more weight than anything we could say. Makes the budget conversation easier next time.
Cons: Slower rollout. Smaller initial impact. Still need to fund that first pilot somehow.
5. Someone in the church sponsors it
A couple in Texas bought the subscription for their church as a gift: “My husband and I—we purchased it for our church.” Another church found a partner to split the cost: “We did have a partner come in and share the cost.”
Pros: Fast. Bypasses committee process entirely. The people most passionate about financial ministry often want to invest in it.
Cons: Dependent on finding the right person. Can feel awkward to ask. May not be sustainable long-term.
The common thread
The churches seeing the best results find ways to remove barriers for participants—however they get there. Whether the church covers it, someone sponsors it, or a grant appears, the goal is the same: get people in the room without cost being the reason they don’t show up.
If you want to talk through what might work for your situation, just hit reply. We’re here and happy to think through it with you!
