Property insurance challenges are becoming more common, from rate increases to policy terminations. While we can't make these problems go away, we can offer some suggestions.

What are the pros and cons of using a calendar year vs. a July 1 - June 30 fiscal year?

How can your congregation be a good employer during the COVID-19 outbreak? Caring for staff is an opportunity to model your values and spirit for the congregation, to demonstrate the kindness, creativity, and interdependence that these days ask of us....

In the months ahead, many congregations plan to offer a combination of online and in-person programming options. Will there be new budget items? How might staff hours or responsibilities be changing? Here are some considerations.

This page outlines various tax implications of insurance benefits (Health, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability). While references are made to UUA insurance plans, the information applies to insurance offered by other providers, as well.

In March of 2020, as COVID-19 was taking hold, the Office of Church Staff Finances offered recommendations to congregations regarding staffing and finances through June. Now, in early June, we have issued a comprehensive memo with updated guidance: Staffing and Finances for July and Beyond. This...

I was in a Zoom call the other day with lots of congregations represented. It was one of the Virtual Stewardship Salons hosted by the UUA. We broke in to separate breakout rooms and I was in a room with folks from seven different congregations....

Scammers like to strike when people are anxious. Be sure to take a breath, then remind yourself, YOUR MINISTER WILL NEVER ASK YOU TO BUY GIFT CARDS!

A big part of keeping a congregation going could be called “Back Office” tasks. These are important but hidden tasks, like emailing the newsletter and paying the bills. Doing these well can help a congregation stay healthy and vital.

Consulting Congregational Finance LLC for free and paid subscriptions to access excellent resources, including the webinar she led last winter for the New England Region UUA: Financial Management for Your Congregation led by Rev. Karen McArthur...

Endowments need special handling to ensure transparency, accountability and impact.

Introduction As organizations largely staffed by volunteers who may not have a business or accounting background, congregations will want to establish systems, policies, and procedures to reinforce financial health and vitality. It’s also vital to prevent the opportunity for mistakes or...

Embezzlement from congregations is not unusual, and it almost always occurs when one individual has been granted such a high degree of trust with no safeguards.

Rarely can congregations pay for a full-blown audit of the church books by a CPA. Audits are expensive, often ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the annual budget of the organization....

Every Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) congregation is a “church” under U.S. tax law, therefore tax exempt, charitable, and exempt from tax filing. There is no “group exemption” from the UUA, but the UUA will provide a letter saying a congregation is in good standing. This addresses...

Financial reports help the finance committee and the board assess the financial health of the congregation so they can make adjustments or decisions as needed.

A congregations’ income ebbs and flows, so it is a good idea to have some cash reserves that can help keep the bills paid in the summer when attendance and pledge payments fall off.

Your operating budget helps your congregation live its mission in the world. How you allocate your resources reflects your values and goals....

A portion of the money in the church’s checking accounts may represent money that is held for specific restricted purposes, including various religious education accounts, social action accounts, the minister’s discretionary fund, etc. They may also represent “pass through” funds such as...

Once the salary and benefits are set by the appropriate church leadership based on recommended practices, it’s important to make sure the payroll is handled accurately and confidentially. Because of the complicated nature of payroll, and especially when it comes to ministers’ salary, housing and...