Financial Accountability

Financial transparency and accountability at Hope is incredibly important to us.  In these practices and in all that we do, we strive to honor God’s provision by pursuing wise and faithful stewardship, ethical business practices, and transparent accountability.
Should you have any questions, reach out by clicking below!

Financials

Through the generosity of so many people, God has provided for Hope Community Church to reach the Triangle and change the world.
 
We have managed expenses in line with total contributions, and followed scripture that teaches to pay down debt, build an emergency fund, build savings for large capital investments for current facilities, and begin saving for future permanent locations.

For every dollar given to Hope...

We strive to honor God’s resources and the generosity of the people at Hope by pursuing wise and faithful stewardship, ethical business practices and transparent accountability.
  • Community Impact/Global and Domestic Missions includes Local Hope, Global Hope, Care Ministry, church planting & partnerships
  • Spiritual Growth and Discipleship includes Kid City, MSM/HSM, Special Needs, Adult Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, campus teams, teaching, AV/tech, communications
  • Facilities includes building maintenance & upkeep, utilities, capital improvements, safety
  • Ministry Support includes accounting, HR, insurance, legal, executive leadership
  • Debt Service includes mortgage principal & interest, accelerated debt elimination

Financial Accountability Operating Principles

Hope Community Church is accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, which requires high standards of biblical accountability, board governance, financial transparency, integrity in fundraising, and proper use of charity resources.

Our Finance and Accounting staff includes experienced individuals with prior experience from various industries.  Our staff have various professional certifications, and we support continued education for maintenance of professional licenses. 

Our Finance Committee consists of non-staff individuals with extensive financial management experience in a variety of industries who serve minimum two-year terms.  The committee meets monthly to review financial results and forecasts, provide oversight during the annual budgeting process, and provide the Elders and staff with financial guidance on strategic and operational issues. 

All gifts by cash and check are collected by individuals on Hope’s Safety & Security Team.  The offerings are then counted by two members of our Accounting Team with appropriate segregation of duties, checks and balances. Our online giving platform is PCI compliant ensuring the highest level of security.

Our annual budget development process involves the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Finance Committee and Elders to ensure allocation of resources across our ministries and operations that best enable Hope’s vision and mission.  The ELT develops the detailed annual budget that is reviewed by the Finance Committee and approved by the Elders.   

We participate in two national annual surveys of church staff compensation that provide us with data collected and consolidated by independent, third parties.  Our Human Resources team uses that data to review and validate compensation levels annually for every staff position to ensure we can attract and retain top talent while remaining in line with churches of a similar size. Further, our HR Committee consisting of staff and Elders review and approve executive compensation.

Every year we voluntarily undergo an organization-wide audit performed by an independent, certified public accounting firm. To date, we have met the high standards of scrutiny for these audits every year. 

Financial transparency and accountability at Hope is incredibly important to us.  In these practices and in all that we do, we strive to honor God’s provision by pursuing wise and faithful stewardship, ethical business practices, and transparent accountability.  Should you have any questions, contact us at accounting@gethope.net.