The Healthy Church Staff Podcast
The Hidden Budget Line You're Not Tracking
Sep 04, 2026
Episode 695
In this podcast episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, Todd Rhoades discusses the significant economic value of church volunteers and how this can be used to reshape conversations around church resources and budgeting. By assessing the volunteer contribution in monetary terms, church leaders can better communicate the impact and mobilization of their ministry efforts.
• Volunteers are an undervalued asset in church resource conversations.
• The economic value of volunteer work can be quantified, currently valued at $36.14 per hour.
• Churches can calculate an annual volunteer economic contribution to make a strong case during budget meetings.
• This provides a language to communicate both internally and externally about the church's impact and resource utilization.
• Reframing volunteer contributions helps church staff see the value in their coordination efforts, avoiding burnout.
• Encourages tracking volunteer hours to better estimate and communicate this economic impact.
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