47-JIMs JRNL for July 2006 -- 0207-06 ZZjrnl

                                          - - And the Lord direct your heart in the love of God as you continue to faithfully serve Him - -

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         TO:  Interested Onliners                                                                                                            FROM: Jim Bramer, Retired Auditor-CPA
                                                                                                                                                                        
   
         RE: J I Ms  J R N L for the month of July 2006     
                                                                      FILE:  0207-06/jrnl        
              
 (Click Here for "Blogger like" perspective/rationale)      


01 - "Expected Receipts" re Church Events via QuickBooks (QBs) - (01)

        By "Expected Receipts" I am talking about Billing and Collection of payments made by participants in/around Church Events.  One Church handled over $1,000,000 during their recent fiscal year and within this total were one  Church Event  that involved over $100,000.  Please go to  5025  for more details about this topic and discover some of important Church aspects as they use the Accounts Receivable features within a separate QBs Company to care for these important fiscal responsibilities.

02 - "Why do we have this Money" or "Imposed Limits" Issues at a Ministry - (02)

        During this past month I have dialoged with various Church Finance people about the general concept of management of "Imposed Limits"  with respect to the Church’s finances.  Please go to 0070  and begin by digesting the contents of this link.        
        First, when you access 0006 you will remember that it is administratively wise to pool all of the money on deposit under your stewardship so you can earn the maximum amount of "Interest Income" on all money on deposit awaiting applicable use for the purposes of your Ministry. 
        In order to effectively do this, you pool your money and  DO NOT  marry up various Balances in your Bank(s) to certain "Imposed Limits" areas of your Ministry.  For example, you do not place all of the Board of Leadership’s money (General Operating or Other Discretionary Money, etc.) in a certain Bank Account (checking or savings) and all of the Donor Restricted Money in another, etc.  
        You manage from the perspective of "Why do We have this Money" “Imposed Limitsinformation per the following and NOT (I emphasize NOT)  via the "Where is the Money on Hand" information.  When you go to 0094  you will find some more information on this overall topic of two aspects of your fiscal record keeping.  There are the following three basic aspects/categories of "Imposed Limits" as to "Why do We have This Money" at your Ministry as you manage and spend accordingly:   

   DONOR RESTRICTIONS:

            This is money that comes in from constituents/donors who express a Board approved preference (Donor Restrictions, if you please) as to how the Ministry is to use such money in carrying out its exempt purpose.  The Board is at least ethically obligated to either spend the money for this Donor Preferred purpose or, if the Ministry no longer approves of such an effort, they seek Donor approval for an alternative Ministry approved purpose.   

   EVENT PAYMENTS:

            These  Defrayment payments by event participants (which, of course, are not donations)  partially underwrite the event's total costs. Please go to 5023  for more information about such activities.

   BOARD DESIGNATIONS:

            Then there is money that the “Board of Leadership” sets aside (Board Designations, if you please) for certain future aspects of the Ministry's operation.  Such money usually comes from Board discretionary "General Fund" Surpluses, or assessments during the operating year as it flows from this source to the named Board Designation fund, etc.  In most Churches a "General Fund" budget is approved annually by the Board and the Congregation, etc. 
            Staff,  Board,  or certain Departments of the Ministry, sometimes become so possessive of available "Board Designated" money on hand that such money is viewed as "sacred for that purpose only"  and not subject to change.  Sometimes there is merit for the Board to use such money for other purposes and it is essential for all to understand that the Board is in overall control of all of this "Board Designated" money and not any of these other entities. 
           
Please note the sample  “Imposed Limits” Breakdown below of $151,910 at a Church Ministry.  The Assets are  $179,718 (which includes a loan to Staff of $16,000) and the Liabilities are  $27,818 --  resulting in
 $151,910  of total Net Assets that are subject to "Imposed Limits."  

 * * *  "IMPOSED LIMITS" Breakdown  * * *   

       Donor   Net Event   Board 
     Total   Restrictions   Monies   Designations 
3003 · Board of Leadership          
   3031 · General Fund Surpluses   $106,531        
   3035 · (Expenditures) thereof to date  $ (45,427)        
         Sub-total    $     61,104      $       61,104
  3025 · Facility Maintenance. SetASides  $    8,868        
3026 · Emergency Fund  $  27,138        
3030 · Staff Loan was from this source  $  16,000        
    Total     $     52,006      $       52,006
  3100 · Donor Restricted          
   3132A · Scholarship Fund #1  $    2,301        
   3132B · Scholarship Fund #2  $    1,949        
   3135 · For Children's Ministry   $    4,101        
   3136 · Benevolence Fund  $    3,230        
   3137 · Scholarship Fund #3  $    1,154        
   3138 · Scholarship Fund #4  $         65        
       Total · Donor Restricted    $     12,800  $           12,800    
  3200 · Missions Ministry          
3210 · Mission Projects          
3213 · Project #1  $  14,016        
3214 · Project #2 -deficit  $      (784)        
   Total 3210 · Mission Projects    $     13,232      $       13,232
  3240 · Missionary Support          
3245 · SetASide fr the GPFund  $  19,780        
3247 · This year's monthly support  $ (18,960)        
   Total 3240 · Missionary Support    $          820      $            820
  3255 - Missions carry over fr Earlier Yrs    $     10,731      $       10,731
3259 - Missions Donor Restrictions    $       7,158  $             7,158    
3260 - Non Missionary - fr the GPFund for:          
   3258 · Special Projects  $    1,000        
   3262 · Mission Education - (deficit)  $   (1,550)        
   3263 · Mission Conference  $       380        
   3265 · S-Term Missions   $       760        
     3266 - Local Outreach   $       628        
       Total 3260 Non Missionary fr Gen Fund    $   1,218      $         1,218
  3400 · Donations from Ministry Groups          
   3471 · Adult #1  $       594        
   3473 · Adult #2  $       115        
   3474 · Adult #3  $         20        
   3475 · Adult #4  $    2,893        
   3477 · Adult #5  $       830        
   3478 · Adult #6  $       430        
   3488 · Adult Choir  $       606        
     Total 3400 · Ministry Group    $       5,488  $             5,488    
  3800 - Self Funding (Deficits)          
   3807 · Choir Retreat  $       685        
   3808 · Choir Event  $        (51)        
   3810 · Women's Event #2  $       332        
   3813 · Men's Event   $    1,000        
   3821 · Youth Choir Event  $         18        
   3850 · Youth Missions Trip #1  $      (175)        
   3851 - Youth Missions Trip #2  $       126        
   3856 - Youth Mission Trip #3   $   (2,486)        
   3809 · Woman's Ministry #1  $       205        
   3811 · Youth Events #1  $    4,233