Phiscal (Fiscal) Philosophy

Phiscal (Fiscal) Philosophy -        0052-01        ZZall
                                                             - - - Rejoice in the Lord always ... again I say Rejoice !!! - - -

                  TO: Interested Ministries                                                                                                               FROM: Jim Bramer, Retired Auditor-CPA
                                                                                                                                                                                FILE: 0052-01/all

                   RE: What is your Phiscal (Fiscal) Philosophy                                                                         Originated June 1984

PREFACE:

        That's right, I meant to spell it "Phiscal" --- I know it really is spelled 'Fiscal', but after all, it sounds like the beginning of "Philosophy", doesn't it? By the way, my dictionary tells me that fiscal means: "Having to do with finances, treasury, funds, or that good old English word Exchequer." I'm using the word "Philosophy" to mean: "an expression, or statement, of what we believe on a given subject; a system of principles that guide us in carrying out an objective."

WHAT:

        Hence, this paper's purpose is to help you both define and determine what you and, ultimately, your mostly "Publically Supported Ministry" believes about such issues as:

        A. How money is to be obtained for the Ministry, I prefer to use the term "Fund Gathering", since you strategize to 'gather' it and not 'raise' it.
        B. Finance policies (yea, rules and regulations) as the Ministry becomes steward over such financial resources.

HOW:

     Having served Christian Ministries for almost 50 years, I'm convinced that every Ministry, especially those that are publicly supported, MUST have these issues placed in some formal way. We have tried to make it simple for you by asking you to respond to such Statements as are shown below. You can refine these issues and place them in writing as your "Phiscal Philosophy and/or Polices".    I recommend that you take some time during a Board session (this is an excellent topic for a Board getaway time) so that the leadership can grapple with the real ministry issues.
     We suggest that each member complete this independently. Then perhaps together complete these pages as an enunciation of your written policy on these matters.

        Sample of Phiscal (Fiscal)          Philosophy Expressions

Yes

Maybe

No

1

     The Lord is the source of all the Ministry's money

and financial assets and they all belong to Him, we

are stewards, or trustees, over funds entrusted to us

by our constituents and the Lord will ultimately hold

us responsible for their use.

___

___

___

2

     We are part of His ministry and the Lord is not

poor. He will supply the financial needs of His

endeavors. We should only tell the Lord of the

Ministry's financial needs and NOT communicate

such needs by spoken or written word to others.

___

___

___

3

     We adhere wholeheartedly to the preceding

1st sentence. We can, however, be used as the

Lord's vehicle to inform other of various financial

needs in His ministry. We should use every discrete

means at our disposal to make these things known.

___

___

___

4

     Hard sell at it's extreme would a "1" and is

defined as "always asking for money;" Softsell at

extreme is a "10" and is defined as "Never asking

people for money." Our desire is to perceived by

our constituents as a number

    -- _____---

5

     Since the Lord owns everything, we believe that

funds should be gathered from all sources: Christian

and Non-Christian. This includes all interested

Foundations.

___

___

___

6

     We desire to discretely have access to people

via mailing lists. We want to both convey "Non-

financial appeal" news and make financial needs

known to all constituents via the mails. The approxi-

mate number of times during a year that we expect

to mail out appeals are:

   --- _____---

Statement of Sample Financial Policies

Yes

Maybe

No

A>

All donors and staffers must understand that money

is given to the Ministry and subject to the absolute control

of the Board. Such statements should be on all relevant

literature. There will be times when donor preferences

(designations) should NOT be honored. If this is required,

steps will be taken to give "No appearance of evil" in the

eye of the Lord and the Donor.

____

____

____

B>

All financial dealings to be done with integrity and

to honor the Lord. While we may not be an actual member

of the EVANGELICAL COUNCIL FOR FINANCIAL

ACCOUNTABILITY www.ecfa.org , our standards will

equal or exceed theirs.

____

____

____

C>

It will be our policy to borrow money for the necessary

equipment and buildings as would be done by a prudent

business man. We do NOT always adhere to the premise

that all money must be gathered before we proceed on

these issues.

____

____

____

D>

We believe we should carefully use an agreed portion

of our current income to provide for the future in the form

of Deferred or Planned Gifts.

____

____

____

E>

All financial mailing lists of our Ministry representatives

are to be jointly owned by the two and are to be used

as determined by the Board.

____

____

____

F>

The staff handbook is to carefully set forth the financial

understanding with each representative as to their

responsibility for "Fund Gathering," as applicable.

____

____

____

This publication originated in June 1984 and was   . UPTD: May 03, 2008

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            (1) An Online Document, or Writing (WRIT), may be applicable to all Ministries, or it may be designed for just groups like: Evangelical Church, School, Missionary Organization, Christian Camp / Conference, or other named group.
          (2) WRIT formats include the perspective of Jim@bcidot.org via :IOM (Inter-Office Memos) to the MFTeam; THRDs, a hypothetical Online conversation with members of the MFTeam; GLEANINGS, or Scripture within context of the MFTeam; FWIW; A periodic editorial (For What it is Worth); TRUISM, or believed Ministry Finance principles; and FAQ, response to Frequently Asked Questions

		Sample of Phiscal (Fiscal) Philosophy Expressions
			Yes	Maybe	No
1	The Lord is the source of all the Ministry's money
	and financial assets and they all belong to Him, we
	are stewards, or trustees, over funds entrusted to us
	by our constituents and the Lord will ultimately hold
	us responsible for their use.		___	___	___
2	We are part of His ministry and the Lord is not
	poor. He will supply the financial needs of His
	endeavors. We should only tell the Lord of the
	Ministry's financial needs and NOT communicate
	such needs by spoken or written word to others.		___	___	___
3	We adhere wholeheartedly to the preceding
	1st sentence. We can, however, be used as the
	Lord's vehicle to inform other of various financial
	needs in His ministry. We should use every discrete
	means at our disposal to make these things known.		___	___	___
4	Hard sell at it's extreme would a "1" and is
	defined as "always asking for money;" Softsell at
	extreme is a "10" and is defined as "Never asking
	people for money." Our desire is to perceived by
	our constituents as a number		-- _____---
5	Since the Lord owns everything, we believe that
	funds should be gathered from all sources: Christian
	and Non-Christian. This includes all interested
	Foundations.		___	___	___
6	We desire to discretely have access to people
	via mailing lists. We want to both convey "Non-
	financial appeal" news and make financial needs
	known to all constituents via the mails. The approxi-
	mate number of times during a year that we expect
	to mail out appeals are:		--- _____---

		Statement of Sample Financial Policies
			Yes	Maybe	No
A>	All donors and staffers must understand that money
	is given to the Ministry and subject to the absolute control
	of the Board. Such statements should be on all relevant
	literature. There will be times when donor preferences
	(designations) should NOT be honored. If this is required,
	*steps will be taken to give "No appearance of evil"* in the**
	eye of the Lord and the Donor.		____	____	____
B>	All financial dealings to be done with integrity and
	to honor the Lord. While we may not be an actual member
	of the EVANGELICAL COUNCIL FOR FINANCIAL
	ACCOUNTABILITY www.ecfa.org , our standards will
	equal or exceed theirs.		____	____	____
C>	It will be our policy to borrow money for the necessary
	equipment and buildings as would be done by a prudent
	business man. We do NOT always adhere to the premise
	that all money must be gathered before we proceed on
	these issues.		____	____	____
D>	We believe we should carefully use an agreed portion
	of our current income to provide for the future in the form
	of Deferred or Planned Gifts.		____	____	____
E>	All financial mailing lists of our Ministry representatives
	are to be jointly owned by the two and are to be used
	as determined by the Board.		____	____	____
F>	The staff handbook is to carefully set forth the financial
	understanding with each representative as to their
	responsibility for "Fund Gathering," as applicable.		____	____	____