Narrative Budgets
In the Cornerstone Fund workshop, Budgets That Inspire Giving, we review samples of narrative budgets (also known as “mission spending plans”) that have been prepared by UCC churches and conferences. Some of these samples may be downloaded here in PDF format — but please note the size of the file, especially if you are using a dial-up connection.
Full-color, multi-page narrative budgets
United Church of Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill NC (929KB)
A PDF of the church’s PowerPoint narrative budget, with photos, pie charts, ministry lists, critical notes and more in one-page highlights of each mission/ministry category.
Bethany UCC — Cuyahoga Falls OH (968KB)
Designed to print on both sides of four legal pages, this budget uses numbers sparingly but is still effective.
Christ Church UCC — Orrville OH (538KB)
An 11-page budget with percentages, pie charts, ministry lists and photos in one-page summaries of each budget area.
Church of the Redeemer UCC — Westlake OH (1.2 MB)
A more elaborate, 17-page booklet with narrative, pie charts and lots of color photographs.
Hillsborough UCC — Hillsborough NC (396 KB)
Designed in Word to print on legal pages, this budget includes a number of categories with explanatory text.
The UCC of New Smyrna Beach FL (384 KB)
Ten pages with narrative, photographs, pie charts and percentages.
Pilgrim Congregational UCC — Cleveland OH (2 MB)
Lots of photographs, a little bit of narrative, and no numbers!
Holy Covenant UCC (816 KB)
Designed to print on three legal pages on the church’s color printer, this budget incorporates a range of ways for readers to engage budget information.
Penn West Conference (357 KB)
A 16-page booklet with narrative and photos.
One-page, double-sided, color budgets
Connecticut Conference (704 KB)
A double-sided page with narrative, numbers and pie charts.
Indiana-Kentucky Conference (576 KB)
A legal-sized page, printed both sides offers a simple but effective narrative budget style.
Central Atlantic Conference (88 KB)
A Word document without photos, but with narrative that highlights both the income and expense sides of the budget.
One-page, one-sided, black-and-white budgets
Plymouth UCC (129 KB)
A one-page, one-side, one-color narrative budget with narrative, numbers, and some fun clip art.
