Unposted VS posted Contributions

[WGAdmin]

I am fairly new to PowerChurch and need to produce Tithe Receipts for 2012, and would appreciate some help! For some reason, the contributions throughout 2012 were entered as "unposted contributions". I have several questions:
1- Is that the correct way to enter contributions through the year?
2- do the contributions need to be 'posted' prior to printing receipts?
3- the bookkeeper has entered contributions for 2013 already, although the 2012 have not been 'posted'. I presume the contributions have to be 'posted' in order to print giving receipts for 2012? and am hesitant to hit the 'continue' button as I don't know if I can select the dates to be only jan 1 2012 to Dec 31 2012 for the posting of contributions.
Help?

[NeilZ]

I am fairly new to PowerChurch and need to produce Tithe Receipts for 2012, and would appreciate some help! For some reason, the contributions throughout 2012 were entered as "unposted contributions". I have several questions:
1- Is that the correct way to enter contributions through the year?
2- do the contributions need to be 'posted' prior to printing receipts?
3- the bookkeeper has entered contributions for 2013 already, although the 2012 have not been 'posted'. I presume the contributions have to be 'posted' in order to print giving receipts for 2012? and am hesitant to hit the 'continue' button as I don't know if I can select the dates to be only jan 1 2012 to Dec 31 2012 for the posting of contributions.
Help?

Some background, when you [l]Post Contributions[/i] you get some options.
1. Post to Funds Accounting - this posts Contributions so they will be available for statements, but also creates transactions for the Deposit in Funds Accounting and puts it in the Funds Accounting queue.
2. Post To Contributions Only - only posts Contributions to the Contributions database.
3. other options which is outside the scope of this reply.
I suggest that you look at taking the online Powerchurch courses that can walk you through the program modules.

1. Contributions when they are entered are put in the unposted transactions queue. This allows you to correct entries then post them to Contributons & Funds Accounting.
2. Yes - in your case when you post contributions, only post those from 2012, and use the Post to Contributions ONLY !! So that no Funds Accounting transactions are created.
3. Yes, you can select only those Contributions for 2012 .. again, post only to Contributions.

Usually, most churches will Post Contributions when they get the deposit receipt back from the bank, usually weekly.

I would definitely check with the Bookkeeper to see how he or she handles the Contributions deposits. I'm suspecting that the deposits may be manually entered into the Accounting side of the program. If so, the Bookkeeper (or whoever0 is creating work for themselves for, as i mentioned above, the program will create the deposit transactions for Funds Accounting and put them in the FA unposted queue. All the Bookkeeper (or whoever) needs to do is post those transactions in Funds Accounting.

[WGAdmin]

Thank you for all that information.

We use a separate program for our Accounting, so Fund Accounting is not involved or affected. When I go to 'post contributions', a warning comes up re the dates etc. WIll I have the opportunity to change the dates to reflect only 2012 contributions if I select 'continue'?

I think we need to be entering the contributions in as you outline, should the process be different if we are not using PowerChurch for our accounting program?

Thanks again for your help!

[NeilZ]

Thank you for all that information.

We use a separate program for our Accounting, so Fund Accounting is not involved or affected. When I go to 'post contributions', a warning comes up re the dates etc. WIll I have the opportunity to change the dates to reflect only 2012 contributions if I select 'continue'?

I think we need to be entering the contributions in as you outline, should the process be different if we are not using PowerChurch for our accounting program?

Thanks again for your help!

Since you're not using Powerchurch for your accounting (which you really should think about IMHO) you need to post contributions using the Only Update The Contributions Module option.

You'll first get that date informational message, just continue past it, then select the option above, then click Continue. The system will record the contribution using the date set when they were entered.

If the contribution was entered for the date of 02/02/2012, that is the date that will appear on the statement.

Hope this helps.

[WGAdmin]

Very much, thank you!

[Jeff]

During the posting process you will get to a screen that you can select which dates you want to post. You could leave the 2013 contributions unposted if you wish.

[Jeff]

The workflow in contributions is like this

Enter Contributions
Verify entry using the Unposted Contributions report and Funds Report
Correct any mistakes in data entry using the modify unposted contributions screen.
Once data entry has been verified Post the contributions

Once contributions are posted, they are part of the permanent record. After they are posted and you find a problem you will need to reverse the original entry and create a new entry with the corrections.