11 WAYS TO SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP FOR YOUR CHURCH #10

 

            Finishing up the VANCO stewardship booklet on the 11 Ways to support stewardship for your church, we are discussing In-Kind Donations.

            Vanco spent much of their booklet talking about different sources of revenue, but as the last item in their booklet, they talk about finding ways to offset costs instead. Looking to your congregation and their expertise and their time could be a way to cover the cost of services that you would otherwise have to pay for. Suggestions include: (a) asking a CPA in your congregation to help with accounting; (b) volunteer receptionists and file clerks; (c ) a volunteer group that could do groundskeeping chores around the church; (d) people who might be willing to paint a room in the church.

            Any one of these items might not seem to be a big item in the church budget, but these kinds of things do add up. If we can talk about every gift being important; if we can talk about the widow’s mite which was the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation in Judea, worth about six minutes of an average daily wage (Yes, it was a small coin; yes, it wasn’t worth very much, but Jesus said “I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mark 12:43-44)), If we can talk about these things as being important, then wouldn’t “covering” a small part of the expenses of the budget also be important?

            Of course, someone volunteering their time, even professional time isn’t a tax-deductible item. Even if the volunteer can literally calculate what the value of their time would be, it isn’t something they can deduct. It wouldn’t go on their giving statement. Of course, a thank you note or letter thanking them for what they have done is important, but it’s not a deduction.

            Take the time to look around and see who is able and who might be delighted to be asked to help.

            If you wish more information on anything you’ve been reading about, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com or susanranous@unyumc.org.  I’d be happy to help or answer any questions.