Yes, the Rumours Are True, Google Gives Churches $10K/Month (Sort Of)
Okay, so let’s talk about something you may have vaguely heard of in a hallway at a conference… or maybe even looked into once, got overwhelmed, and promptly closed the tab.
Google Ads.
The Google Ads Grant.
That free $10,000/month thing.
Yes — it’s real. Yes — it’s monthly. Yes — your church probably qualifies.
(Seriously.)
So let’s break it down.
What is the Google Ads Grant?
Google offers up to $10,000/month in free advertising credit (not cash) to registered nonprofits so they can promote their mission, events, and offerings through Google search. That means that when someone Googles something like “after-school programs near me” or “grief support Toronto,” your church’s ministry could appear right there, at the top of the search results.
It’s a powerful tool.
And it’s a tool that many churches are simply not using. Not because they don’t care, but because…
they’ve never heard of it
they’ve heard of it but assumed it was too complicated
they tried once and got stuck
or (most commonly) they meant to try, but then the funeral/Sunday/kitchen reno/email backlog happened
Sound familiar?
The Good News
If your church is part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, you’re already recognized as a nonprofit by CRA. So the eligibility part? You’re already in the club.
The second requirement is that your website needs to be “in decent shape” not necessarily fancy or flashy or even super-modern… just clear, public-facing, functional, and not broken. If you have a homepage, a few key pages, and it doesn’t crash when someone visits? That’s usually good enough to qualify.
The Less-Good News
Actually using the Google Ads platform is… a thing.
It’s a bit like giving someone a Formula 1 car with a user manual written in code. The dashboard is overwhelming, the learning curve is steep, and even figuring out what kind of ad to run (and for whom) can feel like a lot.
And then once you're in? Actually using the full $10K/month is no small feat. It takes strategy, persistence, creativity, and a willingness to try things, analyze results, and try again.
But You're Won’t Be Doing This Alone
While using the Google Ad’s Grant is complicated, it’s also doable… with the right help.
I’ve been working in this space for several years now, tracking how the Google Ads Grant evolves, staying current with platform updates, and walking side-by-side with churches and nonprofits to make this tool actually work. I’ve seen it fail, and I’ve seen it flourish and we’ve learned a lot along the way.
If your church is selected as part of the initiative, this won’t be a “here’s a guide, good luck!” moment. I will be in it with you setting up the ads, navigating the system, monitoring results, and making strategic adjustments over time. We’ll run the backend… so you can focus on the actual ministry.
Ready to Get Started?
Not every church will be a great fit for this part of the initiative, and that’s okay! We’re looking for congregations that already have some form of outward-facing ministry: things like…
Kids programs or VBS
Community meals or gardens
Seasonal events open to the public
Support groups, recovery ministries, or public-facing Bible studies
Thrift stores or camps
Anything that someone outside your congregation might be Googling for
If that’s your church, and you think this kind of support might help you amplify what you're already doing (or if you're just curious and want to talk more) send us an email. We'd love to hear what you're dreaming about and help you discern if this initiative might be the right fit.
We only have 12 congregational spots over the next five years, and we’re eager to walk alongside churches that are ready to explore what’s possible.
We are super excited about what might happen if Google searches started connecting more people to communities of hope, justice, and faith.
Let’s dream together.