Leadership Resource Library
LeaderLab Resource Collection
Leadership Resource Library
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Embezzlement
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.By Kim Sweeney | 7/29/2019 -
Audits
Rarely can congregations pay for a full-blown audit of the church books by a CPA. An alternative is a management review of the congregation’s cash management procedures, which can be done by any other accountant or experienced church bookkeeper.7/29/2019 -
Tax Exempt Status
UU Congregations are churches, and exempt under U.S. Tax Law. There may be advantages to seeking 501(c)(3) such as sales tax exemption.By UUA Ministries and Faith Development: Office of Church Staff Finances | 7/29/2019 -
Financial Reports
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.By UUA Congregational Life Staff Group | 7/26/2019 -
Minister’s Discretionary Fund
A Minister’s Discretionary Fund is an account that the minister or pastoral care team can use to provide confidential assistance to those facing emergency financial need.By UUA Congregational Life Staff Group | 7/26/2019 -
Cash Reserves
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.By UUA Congregational Life Staff Group | 7/26/2019 -
Operating Budget
Your operating budget helps your congregation live its mission in the world. How you allocate your resources reflects your values and goals.By UUA Congregational Life Staff Group | 7/26/2019 -
Restricted Accounts
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.7/26/2019 -
Payroll
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.By UUA Ministries and Faith Development: Office of Church Staff Finances | 7/26/2019 -
Rental Income
There are nuanced tax rules regarding income derived from renting your building and/or parking lot, depending on its relation to your core purpose.By UUA Ministries and Faith Development: Office of Church Staff Finances | 7/25/2019 -
Gifts and Gratitude: Reporting Contributions and Record Keeping
When it comes to tracking financial gifts from members in the form of pledge payments and other donations, it's important to remember that the gifts of money are a form of relationship, not just another financial transaction.By UUA Congregational Life Staff Group | 7/25/2019 -
Electronic Giving
If dropping a check or cash into the basket is the only way your congregation invites financial gifts, many in your pews can’t participate in the offering even if they feel called to do so.By UUA Congregational Life Staff Group | 7/25/2019 -
Avoiding Scams
Because relationship, compassion and trust are all qualities that congregations are trying to cultivate, church members and staff can fall prey to bad actors and con artists.By UUA Congregational Life Staff Group | 7/25/2019 -
Staff Credit Cards
Many congregations supply a credit card to more easily segregate work-related expenses. Staff members would only use the card for professional or church expenses.By UUA Ministries and Faith Development: Office of Church Staff Finances | 7/25/2019 -
Expense Reimbursements
Employees and volunteers should be reimbursed for approved church related expenses upon submission of receipts and accurate expense reports that conform to the annual budget and IRS requirements.By UUA Ministries and Faith Development: Office of Church Staff Finances | 7/25/2019 -
Professional Expense Allowances
US tax law provides that staff may consider certain items as usual business expenses that are reimbursed beyond the compensation paid to individuals as a necessary expense that is not reported for income tax purposes.By UUA Ministries and Faith Development: Office of Church Staff Finances | 7/25/2019 -
Paying Bills (Disbursements)
When making sure that your bills are being paid efficiently, accurately and on time, your congregation also needs safeguards to make sure no one has the opportunity to use your system to embezzle funds.By UUA Ministries and Faith Development: Office of Church Staff Finances | 7/25/2019 -
Church Financial Management Software Safeguards
In setting up church financial management software, it’s important to provide safeguards to prevent tampering with the electronic recordsBy UUA Ministries and Faith Development: Office of Church Staff Finances | 7/25/2019 -
Segregation of Financial Duties
All financial best practices depend on reducing the risk of embezzlement or theft by increasing transparency and detection by creating systems and roles that segregate key duties.By UUA Ministries and Faith Development: Office of Church Staff Finances | 7/24/2019 -
Handling Petty Cash
Any petty cash kept in the building should be in a locked file cabinet or safe and should be disbursed only upon submission of a written request.By UUA Ministries and Faith Development: Office of Church Staff Finances | 7/24/2019
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About the Author
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The regional Congregational Life staff are congregations' local connection to the UUA. All of the program Congregational Life staff have expertise in most aspects of congregational life and each also has a few program areas of expertise. See the UUA Congregational Life Staff...
For more information contact conglife@uua.org.
