April 2017 Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE
RENO SEMINAR
(Rescheduled)

When:
Wednesday, April 26, 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
 
Where:
Sparks Chrisitian Fellowship
510 Greenbrae Dr

For more information and to register, click HERE. 

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From the President
Should you have ever wondered whether your ministry needs an investment policy to guide how funds are managed and invested? The answer is yes. Tax exempt, nonprofits hold their funds in "trust" solely for use in accomplishing their exempt activities. Monies lost in bad investments, risky activities, or otherwise diverted from use to accomplish your ministry objectives, can lead to penalties and sanctions against the ministry and, in some cases, individual board members.

Our feature article is actually a reprint of a white paper originally produced and published by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability on the subject of investment policies. If you are looking for a place to start on developing one for you ministry you'll find this article useful. 

Also included in this month's newsletter are several other articles on current issues of interest. With summer just around the corner the article on "volunteering" may be of special interest as well.

Yours in His Service,

Steve Boersma
President/CEO
ECFA ECFA Sample Investment Policy
Putting together an investment policy can be a tricky thing.  So to help you begin thinking about this important issue we have include in this month's newsletter a reprint of an article originally published by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Sample Investment Policy
Deducting Charitable Contributions ...
A timely reminder
Donations made to qualified organizations may help reduce the amount of tax you pay. But in order to actually be able to claim the deduction on your tax return certain factors must be present. In a timely reminder to donors the IRS recently published this list of eight key things to keep in mind when claiming a charitable deduction.
  1. If your goal is a legitimate tax deduction, then you must be giving to a "qualified" organization. Also, you cannot deduct contributions made to specific (read more)
Complaint Process for Tax
Exempt Organizations
The Internal Revenue Service gives serious consideration to complaints about the activities of nonprofit organizations, especially those alleging an organization is carrying on activities that are outside the scope of their exempt purpose. Organizations found to be operating outside of their exempt purpose(s) and who have not voluntarily reported the activity can be sanctioned. (read more)
Employment Law Corner
Employees Who Volunteer Their Services...Is it Legal?

It is not uncommon with nonprofits to have employees willing to volunteer to work additional hours at no pay. For many who work at a local church or charity the work is as much about commitment as it is the money. No doubt you can think of all kinds of examples where this may occur, like the; paid administrative assistant to the youth pastor who is also a "volunteer" at youth events (i.e. camps, retreats, or short-term mission trips), clerk in the accounting department who volunteers her time on the worship team, or the facilities staff person who runs the parking lot team on the weekends. (read more)
DISCLAIMER
This information is provided with the understanding that CMA is not rendering tax, accounting, legal, or other professional advice. Professional advice on specific issues should be sought from a qualified CPA, attorney, or other professional.

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