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Friday, November 18, 2022

 

                                                         WAYS TO GIVE

 

            In churches, we often rely primarily on tithes and offerings. But there are many different ways to give. This doesn’t mean, by putting cash in the offering plate, or writing a check or paying electronically. I mean, why do people give?

            There are three basics to an effective giving system at a church:

  • ·         Operating
  • ·         Capital
  • ·         Planned Giving

            All three of these must be utilized and in effect for a church to have a good system in place.


            I’ve talked about this before, but people give because lives are transformed. People give, not to the church, but to the work of God. If your church isn’t transforming lives or doing the work of God, people won’t give. Consider over the next four Sundays, telling a story each Sunday of a life transformed. If you struggle to come up with these, then you should revisit the mission and vision of your church. Are lives actually being transformed?

            How people give is also important. For some, they give from what they receive in their payroll or other income. Others give from assets that they’ve saved up. Don’t assume that people on a fixed income can’t give. They may have assets put aside. Talk with people about giving to the church upon their death. If the church was important to give to while they were alive, is it important to give beyond? Have planned giving discussions. Communicate information about it.


            Don’t assume that someone with a large salary has disposable income sufficient for substantial gifts. Perhaps conversation about debt control, financial planning and budgeting would be helpful.


            For anyone who has ever volunteered or worked at a church, you know there are times when something physical is going to go wrong. A boiler can cease working, tile comes off the roof, there’s a water leak. So many things can go wrong, and, many times, there isn’t enough money in the checking account to be able to have it fixed right away. That leads to capital giving. Usually, we think about capital campaigns related to new buildings or something substantial. But it should be more than that; there should be a way to raise funds that can be set aside for these types of needs.


            But there are other ways to give, even now.

            For many of our retired folks, there are required minimum distributions (RMD), where they are required to take a minimum amount from their retirement every year. For some, they don’t really need the money, but they have to take it out anyway. Tax law allows them to transfer directly from their retirement account to a non-profit, a/k/a church. The income doesn’t appear on their tax return (reducing taxable income which can help deductions and other tax results). Of course, the charitable deduction isn’t claimed either, but, for many, itemized deductions isn’t beneficial.

            It is so important to consider all of these things, WHY, HOW, WHERE, etc.


            The need shouldn’t be the need of the church to receive, but the need of the giver to giver. If we don’t give them the ability and ways to give, we are doing them a great disservice.

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Please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or susanranous@unyumc.org if you’d like to talk about doing a financial or giving analysis of your church or about setting up a planned giving plan.

 

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