Expenses paid on behalf of church

by Raymon Hixon
(Lawton, OK, USA)

We frequently have people who pay expenses for the church out of their pocket, say for instance while on a mission trip. They never want to get reimbursed but, instead, want it put on their year-end contribution statements. Is paying expenses for the church that the church otherwise would have to of [aid considered a cash contribution? or a non-cash contribution?

Comments for Expenses paid on behalf of church

Click here to add your own comments

Expense reimbursement
by: DFry

It certainly creates an excellent audit trail to present the church with receipts for reimbursement, then give the money back as a gift. But it's not really necessary. You can simply save your receipts and deduct them as charitable donations on your tax return. And it saves the treasurer a whole lot of work.
Reimburse
by: Anonymous

Our church utilizes our "reimbursement policy."

They are required to submit receipts along with a request form for reimbursement.
The church issues them a check, they in turn sign the back of the check and place it in a giving envelope with their name on it and place it in the offering.

The check is then deposited into the church checking account along with the rest of the donations. Their gift then shows up on their giving record at the end of the year from the giving envelope.

The check clears in the checking account like any other check the church writes and the deposit puts it back in.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Charitable Contribution Receipts QA.

May the End of Year Contribution Letter Contain the word "Tithe"?

by Elvie
(USA)

There is a visitor in the church that will not accept our Contribution Letter for the reason that it ONly contains the words Gifts/Contributions. They want their Letter to Contain the giving of their "tithes". Would their be a problem for the church if the Contribution Letter is re-worded like that?

Comments for May the End of Year Contribution Letter Contain the word "Tithe"?

Click here to add your own comments

Tithe?
by: Lewis in NC

Is your visitor actually tithing to your church in a formal and consistent way? The word "Tithe" would not be where a problem is here, but to allow a visitor to set policy for the church would be a huge problem as I see it. Be careful with this one.

There are suggestions to what to include on a church contribution statement given at this website, so search for that, or just "google" it.
Tithes and offerings
by: MarcusNTexas

I suppose it would be okay to substitute the terms "tithes and/or offerings" for the terms "gifts / contributions". Seems like doing that would be an easy way to handle the individual's request. If that were done at our church I would not experience any heartburn.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Charitable Contribution Receipts QA.

deceased member's estate gave money to church

by Dee
(San Antonio, TX, USA)

How should we treat the donation? Who do we send a receipt if any?

Comments for deceased member's estate gave money to church

Click here to add your own comments

Treatment of Gift
by: D Fry

If there is no designation for the gift, then you can simply put it all in the General Fund, if that is what you use. The financial board of the church, and the elder/deacon board can decide to apportion it on a prorated basis to specified funds, if desired. Just know that once it is designated to a designated fund, it cannot be spent elsewhere.

If it came with strings attached, so to speak, you must decide whether or not to honor the wishes of the donor estate if you are not soliciting for funds that it is designated to. For example, if it is designated for a missionary retirement fund, and you don't have such a fund, you can either decide to set one up, or you must ask the donor to change the designation. If not, you must refuse the gift if you will not put it where it is intended.

But if there is no designation, the use it for general fund purposes.
Estate gave $$$ to church
by: MarcusNTexas

The elected leaders of the church (deacons, elders, etc) should make a decision/recommendation to the general church membership on how to use the donated funds assuming that the deceased member's next of kin and/or the last will and testament of the deceased member did not indicate how the money should be used.

This is how it would be handled in a Southern Baptist church which handles such matters in a "corporate" manner. In our church the deacons would consult with the Stewardship/Personnel committee of the church and then present it at a future regularly scheduled Business Meeting (held bi-monthly).

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Charitable Contribution Receipts QA.

Church Accounting Package