A Transparent Look at Our Finances & Giving Goals

At SHOC, we believe in radical transparency when it comes to financial stewardship. That is why we created the Financial Transparency tab on our website. We openly share where every dollar goes, ensuring that our community understands how contributions directly sustain our mission.

Giving isn’t about pressure or guilt. It’s about practical generosity, ethical stewardship, and ensuring that SHOC has the resources to thrive and serve.

🌟 A Values-Driven Approach to Giving

We understand that conversations about money can be difficult. Many of us carry past experiences with churches where giving felt manipulative, pressured, or unclear.

That’s not what we do here.
✅ Giving is a choice. It should never feel forced.
✅ Your situation matters. Your giving should be in line with what’s reasonable for your life.
✅ Giving isn’t just about church. As Dottie preached: Giving is a spiritual practice—one that can extend beyond SHOC to causes you care about.
✅ At SHOC, your presence is valued above any financial contribution. Whether or not you choose to give, you are always welcome here.

This isn’t about pressure or guilt—it’s about practical sustainability and ensuring that the people who make this community possible can keep doing what they do.

📢 Every dollar counts and every effort matters. Let’s do this together!

📊 2025 Monthly Budget Breakdown: How We Sustain SHOC

We have a very tight budget at SHOC, and every dollar donated goes directly to sustaining our operations. Below is a breakdown of our monthly expenses:

Salaries and personnel costs total $4,642 per month, ensuring fair wages for pastors, worship leaders, and children's staff. Our facility lease costs $1,146 per month to provide a gathering space for services. Hospitality and events, including coffee and food for community connection, require $300 per month. Insurance and liability coverage come in at $115 per month, while children's ministry, administrative needs, and operational expenses total $412 per month. Additional costs, including bank and payroll fees, add up to $79 per month. In total, our monthly expenses reach $6,918, all dedicated to sustaining SHOC.

🚨 The Gap We Need to Close

To ensure SHOC remains financially stable this year, we need $10,256 to cover our full budget if grants do not come through.

💡 Where We Stand Today:

• Total Budget Needed: $83,012

• Current Projected Income (Without Grants): $72,756

• Gap to Close: $10,256

✅ Our Savings Cushion Helps: We have $10,000 in savings to offset unexpected shifts, but this does not fully cover the funding gap.

📌 If We Exceed Our Goal:

• Ensure pastor and staff roles are financially sustainable with livable wages.

• Provide weekly services as opposed to bimonthly services.

• Grow our kids and youth ministries.

📅 What About 5th Sundays?

To save costs, we have not factored 5th Sundays into our budget. If we included them, the additional cost per service would be $574, totaling $2,296 per year. If we meet and exceed our goal, this is another area where we could expand services and community offerings.

💡 How You Can Help Us Reach Our Goal

We understand that $10,256 may sound like a big number, but when we break it down into smaller, manageable contributions, we see that reaching our goal is possible together.

For example, if 43 people commit to giving $20 per month (the cost of one coffee per week), we would exceed our goal. If 18 people commit to giving $50 per month (roughly the cost of one meal out), we would surpass our needs. A family donating $100 per month means that just 9 contributors could fully fund the gap.

One-time gifts also make a significant impact. A donation of $250 from 40 people or $500 from just 20 people would close the gap entirely.

💡 Every contribution, big or small, makes a real impact!

📖 Frequently Asked Questions

Are my donations tax-deductible?
Yes! SHOC is a registered nonprofit, and all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. We provide receipts for all contributions.

Is SHOC a qualified organization for donation matching?
Yes, many employers match donations to nonprofit organizations like SHOC. Check with your HR department to see if your workplace offers this benefit.

Can I direct my giving to a specific budget item?
Yes! When giving, you can select a specific budget category from the drop-down menu. If no category is selected, all donations go toward SHOC’s general fund, which covers operational expenses.

Does SHOC receive any government or outside funding?
SHOC relies entirely on donations and grants. We do not receive any ongoing government funding.

Who sees what I give?
Giving records are confidential and only accessible to SHOC’s financial team for record-keeping purposes. No one else sees individual donation amounts.

Who has access to the donated money?
Only authorized finance personnel and leadership have access to SHOC’s funds, with strict oversight and accountability measures in place.

How are pay rates determined at SHOC?
Staff salaries are based on industry standards for similar-sized organizations and adjusted for cost of living. Compensation decisions are made transparently and reviewed regularly to ensure fairness and sustainability.

📢 Your generosity makes all of this possible. Thank you!