Import member data to contributions module

[CCPC]

I have a little experience with PowerChurch, but not a whole lot. We are using version 11.5. In the manual, it says you can export membership data into the Contributions portal, but it doesn't say how. Does anyone know how to do this? Currently, we are not using the Contributions module and it has no data in it. I wanted to import the member data before a new person comes on board to do the Contributions and so he won't have to reenter data that is already in PowerChurch like names, addresses, etc. Any suggestions or detailed how to do would be appreciated.

[Zorak]

You don't need to export and import. In Membership, if a person has an envelope number assigned, they will show up in the list when you enter contributions.

[NeilZ]

Which also gives the explanation that if you have not assigned envelope numbers under each member's Personal Profile, you need to do so.

Some advice. If you have a married couple who give a single donation, you would give each of them the same envelope number. However, I have seen couples who each give a separate amount each week, they would have separate envelope numbers.

Also, many churches don't use envelopes, what do you do there. You just issue a number starting at 1 to each person. The system uses the envelope number to link the contributions back to the membership module, so you have to have a number issued.

Now you may need to know what to do about those loose plate offerings that are usually found in the offering plates. Here's a quote from one of the older Powerchurch newsletters:

Sometimes I'm asked what to do about money that's found on the floor or at the bottom of the collection plate when you have no idea who it's from. Certainly, you can't just stick it in your pocket (yes, I'm talking to you now). You've got to enter it into Contributions. But, what envelope number do you give credit to?

What many churches do is set up a non-existent person (in a non-existent family) with an easy to remember envelope number and they give that person credit for the contribution.

You can call the person anything you want, but some of my favorites include Johnny or Lucy Cash. (Get it? Lucy Cash. Loose Cash. That still makes me laugh.)

As a side note here, you might choose to give them an envelope number outside of the range of numbers you've given your members so that you can exclude them from reports or when you print statements. (Of course, you might want them on reports. I don't know. It's up to you.) Either way, you might give them the church's address in case you accidentally send out a statement or print a label for them. You might also want to exclude them from mailouts and Membership reports, but again, that's up to you.

We took this advice, and setup an envelope of 999, which is outside our normal envelope series. We used the name Loose Cash, with the church's address just in case anything was printed off and mailed by someone who did not check who it was sent to.

This works out just fine, and works much better than other methods such as a separate contribution fund.

[CCPC]

You don't need to export and import. In Membership, if a person has an envelope number assigned, they will show up in the list when you enter contributions.

Ok, I must have misread something. Thank you.

[CCPC]

Which also gives the explanation that if you have not assigned envelope numbers under each member's Personal Profile, you need to do so.

Some advice. If you have a married couple who give a single donation, you would give each of them the same envelope number. However, I have seen couples who each give a separate amount each week, they would have separate envelope numbers.

Also, many churches don't use envelopes, what do you do there. You just issue a number starting at 1 to each person. The system uses the envelope number to link the contributions back to the membership module, so you have to have a number issued.

Now you may need to know what to do about those loose plate offerings that are usually found in the offering plates. Here's a quote from one of the older Powerchurch newsletters:

Sometimes I'm asked what to do about money that's found on the floor or at the bottom of the collection plate when you have no idea who it's from. Certainly, you can't just stick it in your pocket (yes, I'm talking to you now). You've got to enter it into Contributions. But, what envelope number do you give credit to?

What many churches do is set up a non-existent person (in a non-existent family) with an easy to remember envelope number and they give that person credit for the contribution.

You can call the person anything you want, but some of my favorites include Johnny or Lucy Cash. (Get it? Lucy Cash. Loose Cash. That still makes me laugh.)

As a side note here, you might choose to give them an envelope number outside of the range of numbers you've given your members so that you can exclude them from reports or when you print statements. (Of course, you might want them on reports. I don't know. It's up to you.) Either way, you might give them the church's address in case you accidentally send out a statement or print a label for them. You might also want to exclude them from mailouts and Membership reports, but again, that's up to you.

We took this advice, and setup an envelope of 999, which is outside our normal envelope series. We used the name Loose Cash, with the church's address just in case anything was printed off and mailed by someone who did not check who it was sent to.

This works out just fine, and works much better than other methods such as a separate contribution fund.

Hi Neil,

Yes, we use envelope numbers here. Hum, I would have no idea if these couples give separately or not. I will have to copy your reply over to our accounting folks and see what they want me to do. Yes, they did mention having a number outside of our normal envelope series for the loose collection plate type offerings. Loose Cash is a great name. Thanks!

Also, just an fyi, that I only work Tues. through Fri, so I was happy to see two replies in my box this afternoon!

Thank you both so much for your advise and suggestions.

Have a great day!