Ward Youth Fundraiser: Using Venmo

[jimlaudie]

Question: anyone out there done a ward fundraiser and used Venmo to help facilitate donations?

Details:
1. Ward fundraiser (flags) for youth activities (our one/yr) and contributions come from members and nonmembers alike
2. Nonmembers can't contribute via church website
3. Hoping to collect cash, checks, but thinking most will want to contribute via Venmo
4. Would like to setup a Venmo account with a handle identifying the ward
5. Bank account tied to it that is in the ward's name and therefore doesn't have the look of any particular member's name on it

We've got the solution on the bank account. But Venmo is trickier...have to find someone who doesn't already have a Venmo account who can create it in the ward's name. Unless you know of a better way?

Thanks!

[russellhltn]

We've got the solution on the bank account.

I'm curious as to what that solution would be. Wards and branches are only allowed to have only account - usually the one provided by the church. (General Handbook 34.6.7-34.6.8)

I don't know as you'd be able to tie Venmo to a church-run account. And quite possibly Venmo might be considered a prohibited account.

[jonesrk]

2. Nonmembers can't contribute via church website

For these kinds of funds members can't contribute via the church website either.

[eblood66]

Venmo would probably also violate the rule that only the Bishop and Councilors may receive donations (Handbook 34.6.1). Venmo would essentially be a 3rd party accepting funds for the church.

Also, the normal church financial procedures and auditing aren't designed to ensure correct handling of funds using Venmo. As such the bishop, counselors and clerks would be opening themselves up to serious consequences if something happened to the funds. Personally, as a clerk I would stay far away from such a situation.

[russellhltn]

That does raise a question of how the auditors would react to this.

[Cmanrogers]

=3. Hoping to collect cash, checks, but thinking most will want to contribute via Venmo

Reading the other messages in this thread, I think your best bet would to just limit to cash and check. Also, if you used Venmo anyway it might break some form of Venmo's rules too, especially if you're going to make an account in the wards name. Now you/your ward probably wouldn't be noticed by them if you did, but I personally wouldn't. I'm sure most people wouldn't base their decision on whether to contribute to the fundraiser solely upon if the ward accepted Venmo anyway and would be fine with cash or check.

[chriswoodut]

I had this same question and searched to find this thread. As more people go cashless, this will come up more often.... especially in scenarios where the donation/funds are coming from the general public (not a ward member).

In some ways Venmo actually creates a digital paper trail where cash does not. Cash is messy too from the standpoint of being easy to steal. Checks are bad when dealing with bounced checks from strangers (insufficient funds) especially if goods were exchanged for the check.

(Come back in 5 years and someone will be asking this question about bitcoin.)

[mdguymons]

Hi Jim. Were you able to figure out a way to use Venmo that was within the Handbook guidelines? I was contemplating the same thing for our fundraiser but couldn't figure out how to do it. After reading this thread (which was very helpful; thank you to all), the only thing that I could come up with is that any youth whose parent(s) have a Venmo account could offer that option to their "buyers" for payment. Then the parent(s) of that youth could write a check to the ward's "other" account set up for the fundraiser. That would provide a cleaner trail than simply paying with cash. To all, any thoughts?

[davesudweeks]

Hi Jim. Were you able to figure out a way to use Venmo that was within the Handbook guidelines? I was contemplating the same thing for our fundraiser but couldn't figure out how to do it. After reading this thread (which was very helpful; thank you to all), the only thing that I could come up with is that any youth whose parent(s) have a Venmo account could offer that option to their "buyers" for payment. Then the parent(s) of that youth could write a check to the ward's "other" account set up for the fundraiser. That would provide a cleaner trail than simply paying with cash. To all, any thoughts?

My personal thoughts: for whatever reasons that are not disclosed (at least not that I have ever heard), money from fundraisers can only be collected via a paper donation slip if you want to stay within the church policies. Not online via the church website, not through some fund transfer service such as Venmo. Whether the payment is by check or cash makes no difference - the church financial policies handle both methods. Individuals who branch out on their own, outside of the church policies, may find themselves liable should something go wrong (no matter how well-meaning their deviation from the policy may be).

[russellhltn]

I think the Handbook puts a serious crimp in anything like this. From 34.6.1 - Receiving Tithing and Other Offerings:

Only the bishop and his counselors may receive tithes and other offerings. Under no circumstances should their wives, other members of their families, clerks, or other ward members receive these contributions. The only exception is when Aaronic Priesthood holders are assigned to collect fast offerings (see 34.4.2).

I'm not seeing any exception for fundraisers. Not even checking the fundraising section 20.6.8.