{"id":34435,"date":"2026-02-04T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=34435"},"modified":"2026-06-02T10:21:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T14:21:46","slug":"church-accounting-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/church-accounting-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Church accounting 101: What you need to know\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Money Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tChurch accounting 101: What you need to know\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tManaging your church\u2019s finances? Learn the basics of church accounting and gain the clarity you need to make confident decisions and manage finances easily.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-02-04T09:00:00-05:00\">February 4, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Church accounting 101: What you need to know\u00a0\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/church-accounting-101\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/joechurchwoods\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Joe-Yard-2-crop-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Joe Church Woods\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Joe Church Woods<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Managing church finances is about stewardship, trust, and accountability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;a pastor, treasurer, bookkeeper, or board member, understanding church accounting helps make sure donations are managed responsibly, compliance requirements are met, and your church can stay focused on its mission.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-takeaways\"><strong>Key takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Church accounting ensures donations are tracked, expenses are managed, and funds are used as intended.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Separating restricted and unrestricted funds helps&nbsp;honor&nbsp;donor intent and build trust.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Balance sheets, income statements, and donor reports provide visibility and confidence.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consistent records, basic controls, and the right tools make church finances easier to manage, even&nbsp;with&nbsp;limited&nbsp;staff.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll cover:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-key-takeaways\" data-level=\"2\">Key takeaways<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-church-accounting-and-bookkeeping\" data-level=\"2\">What is church accounting and bookkeeping?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-is-church-accounting-different-from-standard-bookkeeping\" data-level=\"2\">Why is church accounting different from standard bookkeeping?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-church-fund-accounting-works\" data-level=\"2\">How church fund accounting works<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-setting-up-a-church-chart-of-accounts\" data-level=\"2\">Setting up a church chart of accounts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-creating-and-maintaining-your-church-finance-report\" data-level=\"2\">Creating and&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;your church finance report<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-church-accounting-best-practices\" data-level=\"2\">Church accounting best practices<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-budgeting-essentials-for-small-church-bookkeeping\" data-level=\"2\">Budgeting essentials for small church bookkeeping<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-church-finances-transparency-and-compliance\" data-level=\"2\">Church finances, transparency, and compliance<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-using-church-accounting-software-to-streamline-tasks\" data-level=\"2\">Using church accounting software to streamline tasks<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-simplify-bookkeeping-for-churches-with-limited-staff\" data-level=\"2\">How to simplify bookkeeping for churches with limited staff<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-final-thoughts\" data-level=\"2\">Final&nbsp;thoughts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-church-accounting-faqs\" data-level=\"2\">Church accounting FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">8 Tips for Using Technology to Manage Church Finances<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-4d89384b-00a5-40fa-9e14-9cc68e91ea47\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1004712242-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Woman in glasses looking sideways\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1004712242-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-church-accounting-and-bookkeeping\"><strong>What is church accounting and bookkeeping?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Church accounting is the process of recording, organizing, and reporting your church\u2019s financial activity to support transparency, accountability, and compliance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It helps your team track donations,&nbsp;monitor&nbsp;expenses, produce&nbsp;accurate&nbsp;financial statements, and&nbsp;demonstrate&nbsp;responsible stewardship of resources.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While church bookkeeping focuses on day-to-day tasks\u2014such as recording donations and paying bills\u2014accounting takes a broader view. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It covers budgeting, reporting, and nonprofit compliance, often using tools like a church chart of accounts to organize financial data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, they provide a clear and reliable foundation for effective church&nbsp;financial management.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-is-church-accounting-different-from-standard-bookkeeping\"><strong>Why is church accounting different from standard bookkeeping?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your church&nbsp;doesn\u2019t&nbsp;operate&nbsp;like a traditional business, so your accounting practices&nbsp;shouldn\u2019t&nbsp;either.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While some of the mechanics are very similar, the purpose and expectations are&nbsp;often very different.&nbsp;These key differences explain why accounting for your church requires a specialized approach.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-nonprofit-versus-for-profit-goals\"><strong>Nonprofit versus for-profit goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Businesses exist to generate profit for owners or shareholders. Your church exists to serve a mission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every dollar your church receives is meant to support ministry, outreach, and community\u2014not to create financial gain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This mission-driven focus directly shapes how your church finances are tracked, reported, and evaluated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fund-based-approach\"><strong>Fund-based approach<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike most commercial businesses, your faith-based organization should use fund-based accounting. This approach tracks money&nbsp;by&nbsp;its intended purpose, rather than combining all funds into a single total. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Church fund accounting helps make sure donations are used exactly as donors intended\u2014whether for general operations, missions, or a building project.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-transparency-requirements\"><strong>Transparency requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your church is accountable to its congregation, governing boards, and the IRS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While churches have unique <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/church-tax-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tax considerations and exemptions<\/a>,&nbsp;they\u2019re&nbsp;often held to higher transparency standards than many small businesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maintaining clear records and consistent reporting\u2014including strong bookkeeping for churches\u2014helps build trust and reduce financial and compliance risks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-church-fund-accounting-works\"><strong>How church fund accounting works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s dive a bit deeper into how church fund accounting works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned above, this approach tracks money by its intended purpose, rather than focusing solely on total income and expenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It provides clear visibility into how funds are received,&nbsp;allocated, and spent\u2014an essential part of protecting donor trust and&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;financial integrity within your church.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-restricted-versus-unrestricted-funds-nbsp\"><strong>Restricted versus unrestricted funds<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Restricted funds<\/strong>&nbsp;are donations&nbsp;designated&nbsp;for a specific purpose, such as a building fund or a mission trip.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Unrestricted funds&nbsp;<\/strong>can be used for general church operations, including utilities, staff salaries, and supplies.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-purpose-specific-donations\"><strong>Purpose-specific donations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When donors give toward a specific cause\u2014such as outreach programs, capital improvements, or benevolence\u2014those gifts must be tracked separately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Purpose-specific tracking helps your church avoid misuse, simplifies reporting, and provides clear documentation if questions ever arise.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tracking-multiple-funds\"><strong>Tracking multiple funds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most churches manage several funds, including:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>General funds&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Missions funds&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Benevolence funds&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Building or capital funds&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Maintaining separate records for each fund is critical for accountability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While managing multiple funds can feel complex,&nbsp;using church accounting software&nbsp;makes&nbsp;it far more manageable for you and your team.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-setting-up-a-church-chart-of-accounts\"><strong>Setting up a church chart of accounts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A church chart of accounts is a structured list of all financial categories your church uses to record transactions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A well-designed chart of accounts should accurately reflect how your church&nbsp;operates, rather than relying on a generic business template.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-organizing-income-categories\"><strong>Organizing income categories<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Income categories help you understand where money comes from. Common examples include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tithes and offerings&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Designated donations&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fundraising events&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grants&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-breaking-down-expense-lines\"><strong>Breaking down expense lines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Expense categories show where money goes. Typical church expenses include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Staff salaries and benefits&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facilities and utilities&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ministry programs&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Office and administrative costs&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-allocating-funds-properly\"><strong>Allocating funds properly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each transaction should be tagged to the correct fund. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a donation given to a building fund should be recorded as building fund income, and any related expenses should be applied to that same fund. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Templates and automation tools can&nbsp;make it easier to&nbsp;allocate&nbsp;funds correctly,&nbsp;reducing&nbsp;errors and saving&nbsp;time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many churches use software to support structured charts of accounts and simplify allocation without adding complexity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-creating-and-maintaining-your-church-finance-report\"><strong>Creating and\u00a0maintaining\u00a0your church finance report<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Clear and consistent&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/how-to-use-church-financial-reporting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">financial reporting<\/a>&nbsp;is&nbsp;essential for leadership oversight and building trust within your congregation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;good&nbsp;church finance report brings together a few core documents that give you a complete picture of your church\u2019s financial health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-church-financial-statements\"><strong>Church financial statements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Church financial statements provide an overall snapshot of your church\u2019s finances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When reviewed together, they help you and your leadership team understand available resources, existing obligations, and long-term sustainability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-church-balance-sheet-overview\"><strong>Church balance sheet overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A church balance sheet shows what your church owns and what it owes at a specific point in time. It typically includes:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Assets:&nbsp;<\/strong>cash, buildings, equipment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Liabilities<\/strong>: loans, unpaid bills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Net assets<\/strong>: restricted and unrestricted balances&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-income-statement-details\"><strong>Income statement details<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The income statement summarizes your church\u2019s financial activity over a set period, including:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Revenue (donations and other income)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expenses&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Net surplus or deficit&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This report helps you evaluate whether your church is&nbsp;operating&nbsp;within its means and adjust plans as needed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-donor-and-contribution-reports\"><strong>Donor and contribution reports<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Donor reports track giving activity and support compliance with IRS acknowledgment requirements. They typically include donation dates, amounts, and designations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-church-accounting-best-practices\"><strong>Church accounting best practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Effective church accounting best practices are primarily about cultivating healthy habits that foster stewardship.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-consistent-record-keeping\"><strong>Consistent record-keeping<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Accurate records prevent confusion and mistakes. Helpful habits include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recording transactions promptly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keeping documentation for donations and expenses.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using consistent categories.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-internal-controls-for-security\"><strong>Internal controls for security<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Internal controls are safeguards that protect your church&#8217;s funds and assets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;part of a&nbsp;small church, you&nbsp;can&nbsp;also&nbsp;implement simple controls, such as separating&nbsp;donation&nbsp;counting from recording or requiring dual approvals for payments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-timely-reconciliations\"><strong>Timely reconciliations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Reconciling bank accounts makes sure your records match reality. Regular reconciliation helps catch errors early and becomes routine with practice.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-budgeting-essentials-for-small-church-bookkeeping\"><strong>Budgeting essentials for small church bookkeeping<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Budgeting can feel challenging, especially when your church has limited staff and fluctuating income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even so,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/how-to-create-a-church-budget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">church budgeting<\/a>&nbsp;is one of the most valuable tools you can use to plan responsibly and support long-term sustainability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-setting-realistic-goals\"><strong>Setting realistic goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start with honest, practical projections:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Review past giving trends.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Estimate known and recurring expenses.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build in flexibility for seasonal changes or unexpected needs.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-allocating-funds-efficiently\"><strong>Allocating funds efficiently<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many churches use percentage-based guidelines to&nbsp;allocate&nbsp;funds across ministry programs, staffing, and operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These frameworks provide your church with structure while still allowing you to adapt as priorities change.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-reviewing-progress-monthly\"><strong>Reviewing progress monthly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Monthly budget reviews help you spot issues early and make&nbsp;timely&nbsp;adjustments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, this regular check-in transforms budgeting into a reliable tool for informed and confident decision-making.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-church-finances-transparency-and-compliance\"><strong>Church finances, transparency, and compliance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Transparent financial processes reduce risk, strengthen trust with your congregation, and support responsible stewardship.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-irs-considerations\"><strong>IRS considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While churches have unique tax treatment, you still has significant responsibilities, including:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maintaining&nbsp;accurate&nbsp;financial records.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Providing proper donation acknowledgments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Handling allowances (such as housing allowances) correctly.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Declaring and paying certain types of employment taxes as well as Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-clear-donor-communication\"><strong>Clear donor communication<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular, easy-to-understand financial updates help your&nbsp;church\u2019s&nbsp;donors feel confident that their gifts are being used responsibly.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-regular-audits-or-reviews\"><strong>Regular audits or reviews<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not every church requires a formal audit, but an annual internal financial review is a minimum requirement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular reviews&nbsp;demonstrate&nbsp;good governance and help you catch potential issues early.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-using-church-accounting-software-to-streamline-tasks\"><strong>Using church accounting software to streamline tasks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Spreadsheets can&nbsp;work for&nbsp;a time&nbsp;to help you manage your finances, but they often become limiting as your church grows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Intuitive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/industry\/nonprofit\/church\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">church accounting software<\/a>&nbsp;is designed to&nbsp;handle&nbsp;fund accounting, reporting, and compliance more efficiently.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Churches like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/success-stories\/grace-fellowship-church\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Grace Fellowship Church<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/success-stories\/bethel-church-of-redding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bethel Church of Redding<\/a>&nbsp;have&nbsp;discovered how solutions such as Sage Intacct help improve financial visibility, strengthen accountability, and support more confident decision-making.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Automating data entry<\/strong>:&nbsp;automation reduces manual work and lowers the risk of data entry mistakes, freeing up your team to focus on higher-value tasks.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tracking contributions online:<\/strong>&nbsp;online giving tools can integrate donations directly into your accounting system, improving accuracy and simplifying record-keeping for your church.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Simplifying reporting<\/strong>:&nbsp;built-in reporting tools make it easier for you to generate&nbsp;church&nbsp;financial statements and donor summaries without having to&nbsp;start from scratch.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">8 tips for using technology to manage church finances<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Discover the tools to demonstrate good stewardship among the committees, staff, and fiduciaries entrusted with management over church assets.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-a9383dec-dd23-424d-92b5-647dacd7a8ab\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1411\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1664636290_c2222-1-1411x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Volunteers framing a house\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1664636290_c2222-1-1411x810.jpg 1411w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-simplify-bookkeeping-for-churches-with-limited-staff\"><strong>How to simplify bookkeeping for churches with limited staff<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your church relies on volunteers or a small team, you understand the importance of simplicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Streamlining your&nbsp;church&nbsp;bookkeeping processes can help reduce stress while improving accuracy and accountability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Segregating duties among volunteers<\/strong>:&nbsp;dividing responsibilities\u2014such as counting donations, recording transactions, and approving payments\u2014strengthens accountability and helps prevent burnout among volunteers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Leveraging online tools<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/how-cloud-based-church-accounting-software-can-transform-your-ministry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cloud-based tools<\/a>&nbsp;make&nbsp;it easier for you and your team to collaborate securely from anywhere. Helpful options include accounting software, online donation platforms, and document storage solutions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Outsourcing complex tasks<\/strong>:&nbsp;outsourcing tasks like payroll processing, audits, or tax guidance can be a cost-effective way to reduce compliance risk\u2014especially when your church has limited internal resources.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\"><strong>Final\u00a0thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you understand fund accounting,&nbsp;establish&nbsp;strong financial habits, and select tools that meet your needs, your church can manage its finances with greater clarity and confidence\u2014regardless of its size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The right systems help support transparency and accountability, allowing you and your leadership team to stay focused on what matters most: your mission.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-church-accounting-faqs\">Church accounting FAQs <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1780408807790\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What does a church accountant do?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A church accountant manages financial records, prepares reports, and supports budgeting.<br>They help your church remain compliant with nonprofit and IRS requirements,\u00a0giving church\u00a0leaders\u00a0clearer insight and greater confidence.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1780408824216\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How can we handle a pastor\u2019s housing allowance?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Housing allowance must be\u00a0designated\u00a0in advance by your church and properly documented.<br>While\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0excluded from taxable income for income tax purposes,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0still subject to self-employment tax, which makes\u00a0accurate\u00a0record-keeping especially important.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to our Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/hub\/accounting-101\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccounting 101\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/hub\/cash-flow\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCash Flow\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/hub\/growing-a-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrowing a business\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/hub\/small-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSmall business\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-29306 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations tag-accounting-101 tag-boss-your-business tag-business-continuity tag-small-business business_type-small-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1415809513-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1415809513-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1415809513-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1415809513-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-12T10:24:32-04:00\">June 12, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">9 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-a-purchase-order\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWhat is a purchase order (PO) and how is it used?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tIf your business buys from suppliers, purchase orders are one of the most important controls you have. Learn what a purchase order includes, how it works, and when to use each type.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-29310 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations category-technology-innovation tag-artificial-intelligence tag-automation tag-boss-your-business tag-cash-flow tag-cloud-financial-management tag-sage-accounting business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/order-to-cash-process-otc-o2c\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-10T12:23:35-04:00\">June 10, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">12 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat is the Order to Cash process?\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-29062 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-boss-your-business tag-business-intelligence tag-growing-a-business tag-inventory-management tag-productivity tag-staying-competitive tag-supply-chain-management business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-an-order-management-system-oms\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-10T10:25:03-04:00\">June 10, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">19 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat is an order management system?\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-28210 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers category-strategy-legal-operations tag-boss-your-business tag-business-intelligence tag-business-strategy tag-distribution tag-growing-a-business tag-inventory-management tag-productivity tag-supply-chain-management business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business industry-distribution industry-wholesale-distribution\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-order-processing\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-841574854-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-841574854-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-841574854-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-841574854-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-02T11:22:21-04:00\">June 2, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">19 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tOrder processing explained: Steps, systems and best practices\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-28775 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations tag-business-strategy tag-cash-flow tag-growing-a-business tag-small-business business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business industry-nonprofit\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/peer-to-peer-fundraising-best-practices\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414263386-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414263386-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414263386-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1414263386-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-02T05:54:37-04:00\">June 2, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">15 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tPeer-to-peer fundraising guide: Best practices for success\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Managing your church\u2019s finances? Learn the basics of church accounting and gain the clarity you need to make confident decisions and manage finances easily.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1847,"featured_media":9073,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[110,299,153,34],"business_type":[40,41],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[58],"persona":[150,100,98,96,97],"imagine_tag":[209,434,233,472,230],"coauthors":[592],"class_list":["post-34435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","tag-accounting-101","tag-cash-flow","tag-growing-a-business","tag-small-business","business_type-small-business","business_type-growing-business","industry-nonprofit"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Joe Church Woods","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1261563958.jpg","imagine_tags":{"209":"Accounting","434":"Large Business","233":"Medium Businesses","472":"Nonprofit","230":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1847"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34435"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36738,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34435\/revisions\/36738"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/9073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34435"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=34435"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=34435"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=34435"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=34435"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=34435"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=34435"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=34435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}