yaregal wrote:Hi All:
Members of our church demand a cash receipt to be printed (issued) for them when they contribute money.
At present we cut a pre printed cash receipt that is prepared manually with three copies. Original is given to the contributor. The rest is set for data entry into powerchurch. This is taking too much of our volunteers time.
I know the Canadian version of powerchurch has the capability to print receipts.
1) I am wondering if anyone in the US is able to print cash receipt from powerchurch when members give money?
2) is there any other alternative such as another application that can be connected to powerchurch to issue cash receipts?
3) I can build an invoicing system using MS Access , but it will be disconnected from powerchurch and need to move data back and forth.
Any idea.
YW
FWIW ... I have never heard of a congregation that demands a 'cash receipt' when they contribute. Normally an envelope is used, and the envelopes are usually counted by designated counters, and entered into Powerchurch. Quarterly, members and others who have given over a specified amount are sent or emailed statements.
Also, I do not believe that the Canadian version prints 'receipts' in the way you're thinking of. Their 'tax receipt' is more like our quarterly or annual Contribution Statements. Canadian Revenue requires a signed, numbered receipt from every non-profit. This is a government mandated form. So do not confuse this with what you want to do.
That said, you have not said what version of Powerchurch you are using. Since version 12 has some updates that may have some application here, I'm going to use it in this example.
Your mention of an invoicing using Access completely bypasses the Powerchurch Accounts Receivable module. In Version 12, AR has been given some updates that will do what you want. You'll have to create an 'invoice' of some type, then enter the amount given against the invoice, but you can then print them a statement. However, they will not get a 'contribution statement' at the end of the year showing this as it was done in AR, and no record goes to Contributions.
Frankly, even this is rather kludgy as you have to create the customers in AR, create the invoice, apply the payment, then pull up reports and print the report.
I'm not sure what caused such a requirement at your congregation, but it is not one that many other congregations have. The only advice I can give you is if you going to create something in Access, you may want to figure if you really need to keep track of such donations in Contributions, as they are getting a receipt which they then should save for their taxes, and thus do not need a contributions statement.
All you need to do is create a report that gives totals given to every area (tithes, building, missions, etc), so that the bookkeeper can enter that data using Enter Transactions in Funds Accounting.
However, if you feel you really need to track this giving in contributions, then all you need to do is have a way to look up the envelope number, then create a file you can import into Contributions.