How are church gifts received and donors thanked? What gifts are not acceptable? A gift policy can help a congregation answer these questions before they arise. The Center for Faith & Giving explains. (Photo: Asenat29, Creative Commons)
Does your church have a gift-acceptance policy?
Not all gifts are helpful to receive. A gift acceptance policy can help when a church has to refuse a gift that either does not fit the needs of the congregation or would create a financial or legal liability. The Episcopal Diocese of Washington offers this sample policy. (Photo by Deklofenak, via Big Stock Photo.)
Be proactive, develop a gift acceptance policy
Does your congregation have a gift acceptance policy? If not, check out this article from the National Council of Nonprofits and get a leadership team together to craft one. Clear communication and good gift boundaries make generosity more effective for your ministry and rewarding for donors. (Photo: Asenat29, Creative Commons)
Form a Gift-Acceptance Policy
You never know when your congregation may receive a gift that raises moral, legal or ethical questions, but you can be better prepared if you think through the issues a bit and form a policy. This sample gift-acceptance policy from the United Methodist Church can guide you. (Photo: Asenat29, Creative Commons)
