5 Tips for Parish Financial Management in Times of Crisis for Catholic Leaders

1. Convene your parish finance council

• Review the current budget year-to-date and actuals with a sense of urgency
• Produce projections for the weeks and months ahead
• Triage your payables, keeping support of ministries as priorities
• Write down a plan of action and update it on a regular basis

2. Contact your diocesan finance office

• Provide your diocese with full information on your financial situation, including projections
• Activate robust online giving options, such as #IGiveCatholic Together in which many dioceses participate
• Access support services provided by your diocese and information on government assistance like the Payroll Protection Plan as a way to retain current staff

3. Communicate the plan with the heart of a servant-leader

• Communicate that transparency is key to the situation and actions taken to date
• Emphasize that accountability for leading through this crisis is a shared responsibility
• Engage members of the finance council and pastoral council as ambassadors to communicate decisions to parishioners
• Reinforce that this work is all about the mission and ministry of the parish and especially outreach to the most vulnerable

4. Implement the plan with a sense of confidence

• Ask your parishioners to continue contributing online or by mail
• Proactively contact suppliers and negotiate deferred payments that reflect your cash flow
• Track the financial impact daily and modify the plan as new information emerges

5. Express gratitude and appreciation

• Communicate the “wins” and “shortfalls” honestly
• Remind parishioners that their financial support allows the mission to continue 

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