First United Methodist Church Fundraising Activity Policy
Purpose:
Fundraising should be carried out in a positive, consistent manner that aligns with the United Methodist mission “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” and First United Methodist Church (FUMC) vision to accomplish that mission to “Love God, Love People, For our Community and For the World.”
Definition:
A fundraiser is defined as an activity that raises money for the church, to support a specific ministry’s needs.
Fundraising Criteria:
- In reviewing fundraising requests, the following criteria will be considered:
- Alignment with FUMC mission, vision, and ministries.
- Compliance with policies established by the United Methodist Book of Discipline.
- Frequency of activity.
- Timing of fundraiser with other activities of the church.
- Whether activity reflects positively/negatively on FUMC’s image in the community at large.
- Whether the fundraising complements or competes with other financial initiatives of FUMC.
- Whether the fundraising activity might be detrimental to vulnerable populations in our community, e.g. Are we taking business away from low-income populations who rely on that business to survive.
Authorizing Body:
The Finance Committee of FUMC will approve or deny requests in accordance with the criteria outlined above. If a request is denied by the Finance Committee, an appeal can be made to Church Council.
Policy:
Prior to Fundraising:
- All fundraising requestors must complete an application explaining the anticipated activity. Application forms, available in the Church Office and online at https://fumcgastonia.org/resources, must be completed and submitted to the Business Office no less than two (2) months prior to the date of the fundraiser. Applications will be reviewed forcompleteness and presented for consideration at an upcoming meeting of the Finance Committee.
- Simultaneous with the Fundraising Application, a Facility Usage Request Form must be completed and submitted tothe staff member handling scheduling if the fundraising activity is to occur on FUMC property. Requests involving theuse of church facilities must follow the established guidelines for the facilities’ use and scheduling. Facility UsageRequest Forms and guidelines are available in the church office and online at https://fumcgastonia.org/resources/facilities-request. If facility usage fees apply, payment must be made to FUMCprior to the start of the activity.
- Fundraising requests of a recurring nature (for example, United Methodist Men hot dog sales, United Women in Faith Luncheons, Scouting fundraisers, poinsettia or Easter lily sales, etc.) should be submitted annually, prior to January 1 of the year in which the fundraisers take place and in conjunction with Facility Usage Requests. Recurringitems are scheduled based on deadlines defined by the Facility Usage Guidelines.
- Examples of promotional materials used for the fundraising activity should be submitted for review during the approval process, including the dates these materials will be distributed to avoid conflicts with conference or local church special offerings or campaigns.
- A representative from the fundraising group is responsible for contacting the Business Manager to coordinate thedeposit of funds into the appropriate account. Cash receipts must be submitted within 48 hours of the completion ofthe fundraiser.
During the Fundraiser:
- Fundraising activities must comply with the provisions of the current United Methodist Book of Discipline and shall not involve games of chance [ex. Bingo, Raffles, etc.] or use of alcoholic beverages.
- Fundraising activities shall not be permitted during worship hours.
- Fundraisers taking place on church grounds will occupy predetermined locations as approved through the Facility Usage Request Form.
- Fundraisers must follow all policies as defined by the most recent FUMC Facilities Usage Guidelines.
Following the Fundraiser:
- Facilities must be left clean and neat. All tables/chairs must be returned and posters/notices removed.
- Any monies and/or checks received during the fundraising activities should be promptly remitted to the Business Office for deposit.