Church Finance Central’s Post

When church income gets complicated When getting involved with church accounts, it may surprise you just how many unusual scenarios and requirements you come across with various income items. In addition to the more regular areas of general giving and commercial activities, you also be dealing with a range of new or odd situations. Some that you may come across may include: • Residential rental income (and associated fees and expenses) from a property that your church owns • Government / community grants • Donations that are specified to be used for a particular purpose • Income into a Deductible Gift Recipient fund that your church controls • Support tied to funding for a specific staff member’s support • Income from a related entity in a GST grouping arrangement • Franking credit refund from the ATO in relation to a trust distribution • Income from the sale of assets (including property) • Income from fundraising drives or events This list is not exhaustive, but you get the idea of the types of things that may come up. Read further in our full article here: https://lnkd.in/gbdH5Q43

When church income gets complicated When getting involved with church accounts, it may surprise you just how many unusual scenarios and requirements you come across with various income items. In addition to the more regular areas of general giving and commercial activities, you also be dealing with a range of new or odd situations. Some that you may come across may include: • Residential rental income (and associated fees and expenses) from a property that your church owns • Government / community grants • Donations that are specified to be used for a particular purpose • Income into a Deductible Gift Recipient fund that your church controls • Support tied to funding for a specific staff member’s support • Income from a related entity in a GST grouping arrangement • Franking credit refund from the ATO in relation to a trust distribution • Income from the sale of assets (including property) • Income from fundraising drives or events This list is not exhaustive, but you get the idea of the types of things that may come up. Read further in our full article here: https://lnkd.in/gSq7zM-c

In London, 25% of people are living in poverty after housing costs. This can have a devastating effect on people like Toni. Toni was self-employed in the hospitality industry. Then when Covid-19 hit, he was no longer able to work. As a result of this he was evicted from his private property along with his 3 children, ending up in temporary accommodation. The benefit cap could not be calculated accurately and left him struggling to pay for essentials and at risk of falling behind on rent. When he got in contact with one of our Centres of Excellence, they went through his entitlements and outgoings with a fine-tooth comb and found that he was having multiple incorrect deductions from his Universal Credit, directly leading to this impossible situation. The advice agency took on his case, had the correct benefits restored and helped him find appropriate accommodation until he was able to get back on his feet. With your help we can continue to offer legal advise to those most in need. Please follow the link to donate. Many thanks for your support. https://lnkd.in/dDzXFRiC #LegalWalk #20YearsOfJustice #Law #londonlegalwalk #accesstojustice #probono #charitywalk #donate #spreadtheword #10K #fundraiser #lawcentres #communityrights

Does the word “beneficiaries” have you saying, “bena-who?” Good news–this post is for you 👀 ( Here are four fast facts about this important part of estate planning: 1️⃣ A beneficiary is the person, people, or entity/entities you name to inherit what you leave behind. 2️⃣ Beneficiaries don’t have to be people. Many wills and trusts name charities or organizations as beneficiaries. 3️⃣ Good questions to ask include: Does anyone depend on you financially? Are you married? Do you have children? All of these may influence your beneficiary choices. 4️⃣ Keep in mind that for some assets, there are two types. A primary beneficiary is the person first in line to receive the benefit. A contingent beneficiary is a backup if your primary beneficiary is no longer alive.

According to Carers UK, it's estimated that as many as 10.6 million people in the UK provide unpaid care. Before the budget, alongside 60+ charities, we supported the Care and Support Alliance's open letter to the chancellor Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, demanding that the government invest in social care. It's clear now that these millions of people are being lost and forgotten in our social care system. And it's unacceptable that so many people are left without the support they need. "People are unable to live fulfilling and independent lives. People are worried. Families are under extreme stress." Jackie O'Sullivan, co-chair of the Care and Support Alliance. The contributions of unpaid carers are invaluable, and they deserve recognition, support, and fair investment from our social care system. Families and care workers share their reality with the Big Issue 👉 https://bit.ly/3NSMaxN #ShowUsYouCare #CareAndSupportAlliance #SocialCare #Budget2024 #Budget24 #Budget #AutumnBudget

Churches That Help With Utility Bills Struggling with utility bills? Many churches offer financial assistance to help keep your lights on and your home warm. Here’s a list of churches in your area that are ready to support those in need: 1. St. Vincent de Paul Society – Provides assistance with utilities, rent, and more. 2. Catholic Charities – Offers financial support for utility bills and other basic needs. 3. Salvation Army – Helps low-income families with energy bills and other essential expenses. 4. United Methodist Church – Provides utility bill relief through community outreach programs. 5. Lutheran Services – Assists with utility payments for families facing financial hardship. #UtilityHelp #FinancialRelief #ChurchAssistance #CatholicCharities #SalvationArmy

Join our Hopebuilder Monthly Giving Club! Click here to get started: https://lnkd.in/gEUtaBgy Here's why monthly commitments directly to Habitat Springfield are important: Steady Impact: Your consistent monthly donations provide a reliable source of funding for our mission, allowing us to plan and execute projects efficiently. Tax Benefits: Your contributions are tax-deductible, so you can enjoy the added benefit of reducing your tax liability while supporting a cause that’s important to you. Local Economic Boost: According to an economic impact study, for every $1 you donate to Habitat Springfield, $1.66 is reinvested back into the Springfield economy. Your generosity not only helps families in need but also stimulates economic growth right here in our community.

You probably know that the last quarter of the year sees nearly 30% of donations come in for churches, with 17% happening in December. With that in mind, do you have a plan to send a Year-End Giving letter? Whether you decide to send it in the mail or via email, a Year-End Giving Letter is a great tool to celebrate what God has done in your community this year and an invitation to encourage givers to give from the heart while leaning into the tax benefit heading into the end of the calendar year. A win-win! Looking for a starting place for a Year-End Giving letter? Click here to download and customize our template: https://lnkd.in/e5znk3pr #churchcentraloffice #churchbudgeting #churchbudget #budgetingtips #churchbudgettips 

Those of you who come on social media space to compare churches and dilapidated schools and other failures of governments and political leaders need to realize that you cannot compare apples and oranges. Many in leadership positions including myself went to government schools and we had it better so if your alumni cannot help to hide the failure of government by contributing to put their schools in good shape or to hold your government and those politicians who keep stealing the money meant for education and other things to better the lots of citizens, what has that got to do with the church? Did the church put gun on your head to donate? Many of you who castigate churches and their leaders don't even go to church nor make donations. What is the primary responsibility of government? It is not the welfare of the people? so if the government fails, why not hold the government accountable? But it's the church you lash on. I pray that your eyes of understanding be open and you hold your government who collect all taxes accountable and stop castigating the church and church leaders. Selah! DSO.

Affordable housing feels out of reach for many. Here's a workaround that churches are using to create homes for less: Affordable housing can seem impossible to find. Rising prices squeeze budgets. I've worked with places of worship to build affordable housing on underutilized properties. It supports both community needs and church finances. Consider Catholic Charities' Affordable Housing or Habitat for Humanity. Churches provide solutions by offering faith-based housing incentives. Contact your local church or search for faith-based programs in your area. This approach keeps housing affordable and supports hardworking families. Reach out today and explore your housing options. Peace of mind might be closer than you think.