← The Journal Projections · 3 min read

What a 10% allocation becomes in 30 years.

A church that receives $1 million a year and keeps 10% could build a fund of about $7.9 million. Here’s the math.

By Emmanuel Iroko · Oct 5, 2026

Take a church that receives $1,000,000 in giving each year. Its board sets one rule: 10% of every eligible gift goes to the endowment. That’s $100,000 a year.

The math

At an assumed 6% annual return, the fund reaches about $1.3 million after 10 years, $3.7 million after 20 and $7.9 million after 30.

Over 30 years the church contributes $3 million. Growth adds the other $4.9 million.

What it pays

At a 4% payout, a $7.9 million fund sends about $316,000 a year back to ministry. The fund stays intact and keeps growing.

$100,000 a year becomes $316,000 a year for ministry. Year after year.

These figures are illustrative, not guaranteed. Returns vary, and your board sets the share and the payout.