The purpose of the article is to theoretically justify essence and components of financial potential of the sustainable development of territorial communities on basis of modern and historical concepts. Research methods. The research process was based on: the dialectical method of cognition of processes and phenomena, methodological analysis used for identifying scientific approaches to essence of financial potential of the sustainable development of territorial communities; the monographic method used for analysis of scientific positions of domestic scientists regarding structure of financial potential; the abstract and logical method used for theoretical generalizations and formulation of conclusions. Research results. Theoretical approaches to essence were generalized and features of financial potential as economic categories were classified. There were substantiated economic essence of financial potential of the sustainable development of territorial communities and scientific approaches to its structuring were revealed. Elements of scientific novelty. Novelty of the research results lies in further developed scientific and methodological approaches to a problem of terminological identification of financial potential of a territorial community, as well as in the proposed new definition of a concept of “financial potential of the sustainable development of territorial communities”. Practical significance. Scientific comprehension of an essence of financial potential of territorial communities is basis for deepening theoretical and methodological research of problems of effective management of financial potential of territorial communities, especially in conditions of sustainable development on basis of possible realization of financial potential by local selfgovernment authorities. Tabl.: 3. Refs.: 32