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Flowers

by Regina

At our church we have altar flowers each Sunday. A member from the church signs up for them and puts the $20 in the offering plate for them marked flowers. Then the church buys the flowers for that Sunday. When I do the giving statements each year I put on their statement that they gave $20 for flowers. My questions is would that be a good or service? Should I not put that on the giving statement? Thanks

Comments for Flowers

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Feb 01, 2013
 Flowers
by: Sandi

Designated money to a fund account should be added to the giving statement as long as it is not to an individual, and the people giving are not receiving anything other than "an intangible religious benefit"
It would be a "good" as it is a material thing. Your policy should also state that money given to the fund account may be used by the church where it is needed (or somthing to that effect).

Prayers
Feb 01, 2013
 Flowers
by: Regina

They do get to take the flowers home after the service if they were the one that signed up for them that Sunday. Does that make a difference?
Feb 01, 2013
 flowers
by: Sandi

Well ....

If they are taking the flowers home, they are receiving something for their donation and that would make it no longer a tax deduction.

If the money given is more than the flowers they can claim the difference but you would have to let them know how much, big pain but required by IRS...

I beleive if people want to give to the flower fund and be able to claim it, don't give them the flowers...

Maybe your church could donate them to Nursing Homes or shut-in's instead
or have a basket for people to put their name in if they would like the flowers and during fellowship draw a name from the basket....

Anyway, it would need to be something the Church has "complete control" over and not a designated individual...

The Church would need to be the giver (using a policy how they chose who would receive)

Hope this helps,
Prayers
Feb 01, 2013
 Flowers
by: Regina

Thank you so much! I think we need to rethink what we are doing currently.
Feb 01, 2013
 Thank you Sandi
by: Vickey

Very good answers, Sandi! Thank you so much for all of your insightful and helpful comments on this site. I really appreciate them and I know the church staff and volunteers that visit this site do too.

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