You can see that your church or charity needs a better online presence. Your PCC, elders or trustees may not, or they may worry about cost. Here’s how to make the case in a way busy, careful decision-makers can say yes to.
What will your leaders worry about?
- “We can’t afford it.” Money is tight for most churches.
- “Is it the right use of giving?” Trustees have a duty to use funds well.
- “Who will look after it?” Nobody wants another job for the same volunteers.
- “What if something goes wrong online?” Safeguarding and reputation matter.
Answer each one in your proposal before anyone asks.
What does doing nothing cost?
Many people now check a church online before they visit. Out-of-date service times, an empty Facebook page or a website that doesn’t work on a phone can turn a newcomer away before they reach the door. Count what you can: visitors who said they found you online, enquiries that came through the website, and the volunteer hours spent on social media each week.
From our team: screenshots persuade more than statistics. Show your leaders what a newcomer sees today when they search for your church on their phone.
What goes in a one-page proposal?
- The problem: what isn’t working, in one or two sentences.
- Who you’re missing: the people you want to reach, such as young families or your local community.
- The proposal: a three-month trial, with exactly what it includes.
- The budget: the total cost, and anything it saves or replaces.
- The safeguards: who approves posts, and how you’ll protect children and adults at risk.
- How you’ll measure it: two or three measures, reviewed at the end of the trial.
Small churches and Christian charities with an income under £100,000 can apply for our Mission Rate, which takes 25% off monthly plans, and you can see every price on our pricing page. For realistic figures, read what church social media management costs.
How do you present it?
- Send the one-page proposal before the meeting, not on the night.
- Lead with mission, not marketing: who you want to reach, and why.
- Bring the facts. A free Health Check gives you an independent review of your pages and Google listing with three clear next steps.
- Agree a review date before you start.
The Charity Commission’s guide for trustees explains their duties if your leaders want to check how this fits. If your PCC is also considering AI tools, our guide to church AI policies covers the questions they’ll ask.
Frequently asked questions
What if the PCC says there's no budget?
Ask for a small, time-limited trial rather than a permanent cost. Show what it would replace, such as volunteer hours, printing or paid adverts.
How do we measure whether it worked?
Agree two or three simple measures before you start, such as visitors who found you online, event bookings or enquiries, and review them after three months.
Is spending on marketing a good use of church money?
Trustees must act in the best interests of the charity's purposes. Reaching people with the church's message and services is part of that, if it's done carefully and reviewed.
Sources
Last checked: November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.
