User Support Forum

A member made a purchase of food/supplies for a church function.
She handed me the receipt and asked that rather than reimbursing her for the purchase, could I just record it as general "giving" in her account. So her year-end statement would be increased by that amount.
Is this an acceptable practice, or does church need to swap checks with her?
Bill

We do one of two options depending on what they want.
1. Write them a letter thanking them for the donation. This woud not show up on their giving statement.
2. Write them a check as reimbursement for the expense, then have them endorse the check to the church and give it back. this way it will show up on their giving statement.
I believe only cash can show up on the giving statement. But I may be wrong.

FWIW ... I would go the 'thank you/gift acknowledgement' route. This satisfies the IRS, but also separates it from normal tithes since the IRS separates such giving on the 1040 form.

Thank you both for your responses. I take it that I cannot just increase her year end giving statement since the cash did not come directly to church.
And that I either need to reimburse her and wait for her donation or send her an acknowledgment letter.
Bill

dadcowell wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 18, 2022 11:26 am

Thank you both for your responses. I take it that I cannot just increase her year end giving statement since the cash did not come directly to church.
And that I either need to reimburse her and wait for her donation or send her an acknowledgment letter.
Bill

Yep ... and the letter is a much easier way to do it as you don't have to issue the check, then deposit it later.