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

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Aug 16, 2015

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.

Aug 15, 2015

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).

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

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