How to Get Free Advertising Money For Your Church

Every day, people in your city turn to Google with questions. They search for hope, help, community, and belonging. Some are looking for answers to life’s biggest questions. Others are simply searching for a local church.

The good news? Your church can meet them exactly where they are, right on the search results page.

Through the Google Ads Grant, eligible churches can receive up to $10,000 per month in free Google advertising. That is $120,000 per year to help your ministry grow its reach online and in person, without touching your marketing budget.

For those responsible for community outreach, this grant is one of the most powerful tools available to connect with people who are already searching. But many churches either do not know it exists or do not know how to use it effectively.

What Is the Google Ads Grant?

Before diving into the strategy, it’s important to understand what the Google Ads Grant actually is and how it works.

The Google Ads Grant is a program created by Google to support nonprofit organizations by offering free advertising credits. Churches that qualify can run search ads on Google, allowing them to appear at the top of search results when people in their community are looking for a place to worship, a ministry to join, or answers to spiritual questions.

These ads are not just digital billboards. They are targeted, text-based search ads that appear when someone types in specific terms like:

• “Churches near me”
• “Easter Sunday service in [your city]”
• “Youth group activities for teens”
• “Community outreach programs”

With the right strategy, your church can show up at the exact moment someone is ready to take a step toward faith, connection, or community.

How Churches Are Expanding Using the Google Grant

If you’re wondering whether this applies to your church or if it’s worth the time, the answer is yes, and here’s why.

Digital outreach and pay per click advertising is not meant to replace traditional ministry. It is meant to extend it. The average person spends hours online each day, including the people your church is called to reach. Many are actively searching for something more. The Google Ads Grant helps you meet them there.

This grant allows your church to:

• Attract new visitors who are already searching for a church
• Promote special events like Christmas, Easter, and Vacation Bible School
• Share your message with people beyond your existing networks
• Introduce families to children’s, youth, and adult ministries

All of this can be done without increasing your current outreach budget. The Google grant renews monthly for eligible churches, providing long-term support for ongoing growth.

How the Grant Process Works

You might be thinking this sounds great, but also complicated. You don’t have time to figure out how to apply for advertising grants from Google. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. We handle everything on your behalf so your team can focus on ministry, not marketing.

Here’s what that process looks like:

Step 1: We Apply on Your Behalf
We handle the full Google Ads Grant paperwork and approvals for you, ensuring your church meets all eligibility requirements. If we do not secure the grant, you do not pay.

Step 2: We Launch Strategic Campaigns
Once approved, we create Google Search campaigns tailored to your city, your ministries, and the types of searches people are already making.

Step 3: We Expand Your Reach
Beyond search ads, we can help you build on your success with local SEO, YouTube ads, and social campaigns, depending on the plan you choose.

Step 4: You Track the Results
We provide clear reports so you can see how your ads are performing and how many people you are reaching. You do not need to decipher dashboards or learn marketing jargon. We keep it simple and transparent.

Real Churches, Real Results

To show you what’s possible, let’s take a quick look at how this works in action.

Foothills Christian Church in El Cajon partnered with Fidelitas to implement their Google Ads Grant. Within just 60 days, they saw record attendance. More importantly, they engaged more deeply with their local community and created space for new people to connect with their mission.

As Executive Pastor Phil Ortiz put it, “We’ve been blessed with steady growth since partnering with Fidelitas.”

When churches show up in the right place online, they reach people who are ready to engage. It is not just about advertising. It is about ministry.

Why This Approach Works

So why are churches seeing such strong results from this approach? It comes down to how strategic and specific the campaigns are. Here are the main reasons this works so well for ministries:

Local Targeting
Ads are only shown to people in your area, so you are reaching neighbors, not strangers on the other side of the country.

Seasonal Campaigns
You can promote services during holidays like Easter, Christmas, or Summer Vacation Bible School when more people are open to visiting.

Clear, Measurable Impact
Every ad can be tracked. You can see what people are searching for, how they are responding, and how those results support your community outreach goals.

These strategies are not theoretical. They are proven methods that help churches grow their reach by connecting with the right people at the right time. When used wisely, the Google Ads Grant becomes more than a budget tool. It becomes a bridge between your church and the individuals in your community actively looking for what you offer.

Common Questions from Teams Responsible for Community Outreach

Most of the churches we work with start out with the same questions. If you are wondering about logistics or whether this is the right fit, you are not alone. Here are a few of the most common questions we hear:

Will this work for smaller churches?
Yes. The grant is not based on church size, but on nonprofit eligibility.

Do we need to have a website already?
Yes, a functioning website is required to run Google ads. If your site needs improvement, we can help get it ready so you do not miss out on traffic and conversions.

How much work will this add for our team?
Very little. We manage the grant, build the campaigns, and monitor performance. You will receive regular updates, but we do the work.

What if we do not know much about digital marketing?
That is completely fine. Most churches we work with are focused on ministry, not marketing. We provide straightforward support and walk you through the results. No confusing metrics, just clear communication and growth you can see.

Built to Support the Church

We are not a generic agency that happens to serve churches. Fidelitas is a full-service marketing agency founded by believers and built to support your efforts to be of service to your community. We understand the challenges ministry teams face, and we approach every partnership with a deep respect for your mission.

Our goal is to help you reach the people who are already searching for what your church offers: hope, truth, connection, and purpose.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you want to see how your church could use the Google Ads Grant to reach more people, we’d love to connect. Schedule a free consultation with our team to learn what’s possible, what’s required, and how we can support your outreach every step of the way.