Online donations to ward

[daeldrid15]

A member of ours pays tithing/F.O. donations from his IRA account. He is wanting to make donations to our ward budget, for example, YM camp. Is this possible to do or can donations as such only be made to what I would call church-defined categories: what we see on our tithing slips when we go online to make a donation?

[russellhltn]

He is wanting to make donations to our ward budget, for example, YM camp.

Nit-pick: donation to "budget" isn't allowed. However, contributing to YM camp is fine.

can donations as such only be made to what I would call church-defined categories: what we see on our tithing slips when we go online to make a donation?

This. But, I can see "Local - Youth Camp Registration" at the bottom of my on-line donation slip.

[jdlessley]

can donations as such only be made to what I would call church-defined categories: what we see on our tithing slips when we go online to make a donation?

This. But, I can see "Local - Youth Camp Registration" at the bottom of my on-line donation slip.

The "Local - Youth Camp Registration" category is a very recent update/addition. Fortunately that category is also available in the online donation slip. So now donations to youth camps can be made online. However, since it covers all youth camps, there may be issues tracking which youth camp a donation is intended. I personally think the tracking is a minor issue considering the benefit of making the donation both online and with the paper donation slip.

This is a message that just appeared earlier this week on the LCR Finance dashboard:

Youth Camp Registration now available in Online Donations!

For your convenience, contributions for youth camp registration can now be made online.
Please note: Contributions should only be made by participants or their parents/guardians, and only for the amount specified by the unit leaders for a specific activity (see General Handbook 20.6)

The guidance in that message is not displayed to members making online donations. In solving one problem another has been created.

[daeldrid15]

If we made our own budget category at the ward level, say Ward Camp, the member donating through his IRA account will not have an option to donate specifically to that category. The only way to donate to any budget item at the ward level is a manual tithing slip, choose other, then specifically indicate the where to donate, correct?

[garystroble]

It is my understanding only parents and guardians of a youth may contribute to camp funds. These contributions are not tax deductible and will not appear on a member's year end statement as donations which one can deduct on federal or state taxes.

[daeldrid15]

Thank you everyone. Our member is telling me all he needs is the unit number and the budget category that he wants to donate funds to, from his IRA and then he can do it. I had not heard of any of that possibility, which he then shared the info with me about donating from his IRA (which is cool). But the donations to a ward budget line item I did not think was possible so I wanted to get some info. According to him, I am still wrong. Who would I refer him to at this point since he does not want to accept that he can't?

[eblood66]

Thank you everyone. Our member is telling me all he needs is the unit number and the budget category that he wants to donate funds to, from his IRA and then he can do it. I had not heard of any of that possibility, which he then shared the info with me about donating from his IRA (which is cool). But the donations to a ward budget line item I did not think was possible so I wanted to get some info. According to him, I am still wrong. Who would I refer him to at this point since he does not want to accept that he can't?

I would first direct them to the General Handbook section 34.6.2.2 (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... e_number20) thrid paragraph:

Members who want to contribute additional funds to the Church may not designate them for the stake or ward budget.

The exception to this is for payments and fundraisers for youth camps. This is covered in sections 20.6.2 and 20.6.5 (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... e_number20).

Participants and families may make payments for camp (for the amount set by the ward) or others may donate as part of a fundraiser. But fundraisers must provide meaningful value or service so any donations must be in connection to and in the spirit of the fundraiser. The exact line between a generous donation in connection with a fundraiser and an unacceptable donation posing as part of a fundraiser would be up to the bishopric and stake president to decide. But, for instance, a $50 donation to buy a couple of home-made pizzas is definitely generous but is till within the ball park for a couple pizzas. A donation of $5,000 is obviously unrelated to the value of a couple pizzas and would be against policy.

So if the member wants to pay their own children's camp fees with a QCD they might be able to do that. Or when there is a fundraiser they might participate and pay a reasonable amount for the fundraiser from their IRA. But arbitrary or repeating donations are ruled out by section 34.6.2.2.

[garystroble]

If a donation or even a transfer between categories is out of line and does not match policy, headquarters can and will stop and reverse it. I've seen it before when I was the stake clerk. Oh, and the Stake President and the Bishop will get a phone call from Salt Lake as well.

[garystroble]

It is also doubtful that the Church financial system in Salt Lake will accept any substantial QCD towards a budget category.

[lajackson]

It is also doubtful that the Church financial system in Salt Lake will accept any substantial QCD towards a budget category.

A member who makes a QCD from an IRA is able to donate to any category on the regular deposit slip. Now that a "Local - Youth Camp Registration" line is available, the member should also be able to donate to that. A member will not be able to donate just to any general Budget item using a QCD.

A QCD is handled manually by the Church based on the instructions included in the Memo or Remarks section of the check transmitting the QCD from the IRA administrator. Those comments do need to include a unit number if the donation is for anything related to a specific ward. Otherwise the donation goes into general Church funds.