Charitable Giving Trends Return to Pre-COVID Levels Charitable giving trends resemble those of pre-COVID days as larger donors assume a larger share of the giving pie. The Editors
Advantage Members WATCH: The Dangers of Raising Money For One Thing—And Spending It On Another Church leaders would do well to pay attention to this fraud lawsuit against a Michigan archdiocese. Matthew Branaugh
Giving Remains Strong for Most Churches Despite the Ongoing Pandemic But a third of churches have experienced a decrease in donations. The Editors
What if Your Church Receives a Large Donation of Virtual Currency? Understanding federal tax law for gifts of virtual currency valued at greater than $5,000. Mike Batts and Michele Wales
A Snapshot of Church Giving as the Pandemic Moves into the Fall Two studies demonstrated a mixture of both positive and negative trends. Chris Lutes
Financial Stress Increases for Pastors and Their Families During the Pandemic National Association of Evangelicals’ Bless Your Pastor initiative offers concrete ways congregations can help. Interview with National Association of Evangelicals’ Brian Kluth
Will the Pandemic Affect Giving for the Remainder of 2020? New Giving USA study offers insights that should capture the attention of church leaders. Chris Lutes
Giving Is Climbing, Say Some Church Leaders New survey offers reasons to be cautiously optimistic after weeks of restrictions on in-person gatherings. The Editors
Advantage Member Exclusive What’s the Best Giving App for Your Church? A brief look at 14 different options available on the App Store and Google Play. Matthew Branaugh
Advantage Member Exclusive Seven Points to Consider Before Selecting a Mobile Giving App Sorting the crowded field of options and wide array of features and functions. Matthew Branaugh
Q&A: How Should We Handle a Retirement Account Donation? Why an acknowledgement letter works better for documenting a retirement account donation. Vonna Laue
The 10 Commandments of Church Management Apply these principles to stay legal and keep your witness intact. Frank and Elaine Sommerville
Q&A: Are Churches Legally Required to Issue Statements for Every Contribution? What about a one-time donation of only $10? Matthew Branaugh
Religious and Individual Giving Dipped in 2018 Newly released philanthropy report reveals decreases in giving that may, in part, be due to tax policy changes. Chris Lutes
Q&A: Does a Gift to Support a Camp Counselor Have Tax Implications? If a payment of $600 or more is intended to help cover the student’s expenses, then it is reported on the student’s Form 1099-NEC. Elaine L. Sommerville
Beware of This “Donor” Scam Why a refund request for a donation should ring alarm bells. Michael E. Batts and Danny Johnson
Q&A: How Should My Church Handle a Donation of a US Savings Bond? The church may not issue a charitable contribution receipt. Frank Sommerville
When Clothing and Household Items Are Donated Churches may want to tell taxpayers that generosity is its own reward. Bobby Ross Jr.
Tax Rules for Gifts of Personal Property Churches and their donors need to understand how to substantiate gifts— from cars to clothing. Bobby Ross Jr.
Gifts of Property: Help Donors Get It Right Three examples demonstrate how to substantiate donations of land and buildings in accordance with tax law. Bobby Ross Jr.