Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Bahá'u'lláh, Stewardship and Development, Wilmette, IL: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 2005, bahai-library.com.
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Stewardship and Development
Copyright © 2005 by the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of the United States.

All Rights Reserved.

Cover photograph by Sharone Burris reprinted by permission.
Originally published in World Order, 28.2 (Winter 1996–97): 47.
Contents

1. First Principles ............................................................... 3
Giving Is a Spiritual Privilege that Will Change the World ............. 3
Every Bahá’í Can Give .............................................................. 5
What Does Sacrifice Mean? ....................................................... 7
Material Resources and the Kingdom of God............................. 10
Why Everyone Needs to Know About the Fund ........................ 11
Giving and Entry by Troops ..................................................... 12

2. The Treasurer and the Assembly ..................................... 17
The Treasury Is the Responsibility of the Entire Assembly .......... 17
Building Flourishing Communities .......................................... 17
Assistance for the Treasurer ................................................... 22
Confidentiality of Information ................................................. 23
The Treasurer As Educator ..................................................... 24
The Treasurer As Advisor ....................................................... 26
The Treasurer As Inspirer ....................................................... 28
Appeal or Solicitation? ............................................................ 29
Does Guilt Increase Contributions? .......................................... 30
Young Believers Can Give, Too! ................................................ 31
Talks ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Delivered in New York ................................ 36
“Wealth & Poverty” Discussion Questions ................................ 38

3. The Bahá’í Funds ......................................................... 41
Which Fund Do I Support? ...................................................... 41
Believers’ Discretion in Giving ................................................ 41
Earmarking and Accounting for Earmarked Contributions ......... 42
Achieving the Greatest Good .................................................. 46
Priorities in Giving ................................................................. 46
Bahá’í International Fund ...................................................... 47
Continental Bahá’í Fund ......................................................... 47
Giving to the International Funds ............................................ 48
The National Bahá’í Fund ....................................................... 49

iii
Giving to the National Bahá’í Fund .......................................... 49
The Local Bahá’í Fund ............................................................ 50
Giving to the Local Bahá’í Fund ............................................... 50
A Note About Bahá’í Identification (BID) Numbers .................... 50
ACS Subscriptions .................................................................. 50
Deputization ......................................................................... 51

4. Fund-raising and Planned Giving .................................... 55
Fund-raising is About Relationships and the Heart ................... 55
Focusing Communications ...................................................... 58
There Are Different Kinds of Money ........................................ 59
Special Events and Campaigns ................................................ 61
Saying Thank You .................................................................. 64
The Professionals and the General Public ................................. 65
Fundraiser Feasibility Chart .................................................... 66
Estate Planning ..................................................................... 66
Preparation of a Will .............................................................. 67
Bequests............................................................................... 67
Planned Giving ...................................................................... 69
Estate Planning and Planned Giving Resources
from the Office of the Treasurer ........................................ 70
“The Writing of a Will” ........................................................... 73

5. Budgets, Goals, and Audits ............................................ 83
Preparing a Budget ................................................................ 83
Automatic Contribution System ............................................... 86
Community Honor Roll ........................................................... 86
Communicating Goals to the Community .................................. 87
Contributions In Honor and In Memory .................................... 87
The Annual Audit .................................................................. 87
ACS Enrollment Form ............................................................. 90
Budget Worksheet ................................................................. 91
Financial Report to the National Spiritual Assembly .................. 92
In Honor Form ...................................................................... 93
In Memory Form .................................................................... 94
Heart Chart ........................................................................... 95
My Diary of Giving and Growing .............................................. 96
Form SS-4 ............................................................................. 98
Liability Insurance Information ............................................. 107
Liability Insurance Request Form .......................................... 109
Audit Procedures ................................................................. 111
Sample Audit Report ............................................................ 123

6. Accounting Matters ..................................................... 127
Treasurer’s Basics ................................................................ 127
Getting Started .................................................................... 127
Receiving Offerings from the Friends .................................... 129
Putting the Fund to Use ........................................................ 136
A Larger Community has More Complex Needs ....................... 137

iv Contents
How to Use a Cash Journal .................................................... 138
Making Reports ................................................................... 146
Keeping Records ................................................................. 150
National Bahá’í Fund Contribution Forms .............................. 152

7. Local Bahá’í Centers ................................................... 155
A Complex Issue .................................................................. 156
Building Flourishing Communities ........................................ 156
Bahá’í Center Checklist ......................................................... 157
Unity Issues ........................................................................ 157
Planning for Growth and Development .................................. 160
Financial Considerations ...................................................... 163
Legal Matters and Insurance for Your Center ........................... 166
Technical Issues and Center Management .............................. 167
Reporting to the National Spiritual Assembly .......................... 169

Appendix A: The Right of God ........................................... 173
Supplement to the Compilation on the Huqúqu’lláh ................. 174

Appendix B: Changes in United States Tax Regulations ......... 181
Publication 526 – Charitable Contributions ............................. 185
Publication 561 – Determining the Value of Donated Property .. 205
Form 8282 – Donee Information Return ................................ 217
Form 8283 – Noncash Charitable Contributions ...................... 219

Appendix C: Investment Policy .......................................... 225
Introduction and Purpose ..................................................... 225
Responsibilities of the National Spiritual Assembly ................. 226
Responsibilities of the Treasurer’s Office ................................ 227
Responsibilities of the Investment Manager ........................... 229
Short Term Portfolio Composition and
Cash Flow Management ................................................. 231
Longer Term Portfolio Composition and
Investment Objectives ................................................... 234

Appendix D: Banking Relationship Policy ............................ 243
Purpose .............................................................................. 243
Responsibility ..................................................................... 243
Banking Relationship Objectives ........................................... 244
Relationship Philosophy ....................................................... 244
Maintenance and Use of Credit Facilities for Operations ........... 244
Credit Facilities for Long-Term Funding Requirements ............. 245
Non-Credit Banking Services ................................................. 245
Control of Line of Credit and Accounts .................................... 246
Exceptions and Review ........................................................ 246

Appendix E: Bibliography ................................................. 247

Index ........................................................................... 251

Contents v
Introduction
The second edition of this expandable manual is intended to serve two important
functions. As a deepening tool, this manual provides an invaluable bene³t to the
friends as they gain more knowledge and a deeper understanding and appreciation
for the spiritual nature of giving. As a reference tool, it is meant to be read and used
by both the Spiritual Assembly or registered Bahá’í Group (the principal trustee of
the Funds of the Faith) and by the Treasurer, to whom certain tasks and responsibilities have been delegated by the Assembly. The Spiritual Assembly or Group
needs to know enough about these matters to ensure that its trust is being well
cared for. The Treasurer needs deep and detailed knowledge in order to discharge
that trust.

The ³rst publication of its kind in the US since the late 1970s, Stewardship and
Development includes a more in-depth treatment of the spiritual foundations of
the Fund, and accounting methods that are basic to management of the Treasury.
There are several passages here that have not been published elsewhere, as well as a
discussion of the techniques used in the larger community to raise funds for worthy
purposes. The National Spiritual Assembly’s hope is that this document will be
steadily expanded as new issues arise, and that it will assist the friends for some time
to come.

From the principles and teachings at the core of the relationships we seek to build to
the simple accounting methods and sample forms, this manual is o²ered as a contribution to our understanding of the role of money and material means in performing our service to the Cause and in ful³lling our most cherished hopes for earning
God’s good-pleasure.

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF
THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES

OFFICE OF THE TREASURER
AUGUST, 1999
Strive, therefore, to create love in the hearts
in order that they may become glowing and radiant.
When that love is shining, it will permeate other hearts
even as this electric light illumines its surroundings.
When the love of God is established,
everything else will be realized.
This is the true foundation of all economics.
Reflect upon it.
—‘Abdu’l-Bahá
2 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
1. First Principles
There are several spiritual principles that guide our stewardship of the Faith’s
material resources. This ³rst section looks at those principles and at di²erent
aspects of the privilege and duty each individual, Spiritual Assembly or Registered Group and Treasurer share in this vital ³eld of service.

Let’s begin at the beginning, with matters of the spirit.

Giving Is a Spiritual Privilege Principle
that Will Change the World
“Giving to the Fund, therefore, is a spiritual privilege, not open to those
who have not accepted Bahá’u’lláh, of which no believer should deny himself. It is both a responsibility and a source of bounty. This is an aspect of
the Cause which, we feel, is an essential part of the basic teaching and deepening of new believers. The importance of contributing resides in the degree
of sacri³ce of the giver, the spirit of devotion with which the contribution is
made and the unity of the friends in this service; these attract the
con³rmations of God and enhance the dignity and self-respect of the individuals and the community.”
FROM A LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO ALL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES,
AUGUST 7, 1985 - LIGHTS OF GUIDANCE, P. 252

“There is a profound aspect to the relationship between a believer and the
Fund, which holds true irrespective of his or her economic condition. When
a human soul accepts Bahá’u’lláh as the Manifestation of God for this age
and enters into the divine Covenant, that soul should progressively bring his
or her whole life into harmony with the divine purpose - he becomes a coworker in the Cause of God and receives the bounty of being permitted to
devote his material possessions, no matter how meagre, to the work of the
Faith.”
IBID

Living the Life
“The great thing is to ‘live the life’—to have our lives so saturated with the
Divine teachings and the Bahá’í Spirit that people cannot fail to see a joy, a

Chapter 1—First Principles 3
power, a love, a purity, a radiance, an e¹ciency in our character and work
that will distinguish us from worldly-minded people and make people wonder what is the secret of this new life in us.”
ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI, LIVING THE LIFE: A COMPILATION, P. 9

Why Do We Give to the Faith?
“. . . our contributions to the Faith are the surest way of lifting once and for
all time the burden of hunger and misery from mankind, for it is only through
the system of Bahá’u’lláh—Divine in origin—that the world can be gotten
on its feet and want, fear, hunger, war, etc., be eliminated. Non-Bahá’ís
cannot contribute to our work or do it for us; so really our ³rst obligation is
to support our own teaching work as this will lead to the healing of the
nations.”
FROM A LETTER DATED 12/8/1947, WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI TO AN INDIVIDUAL
BELIEVER, PUBLISHED IN BAHÁ’Í NEWS, #210 AUG . 1948, P. 3

“The more we study the present condition of the world, the more deeply we
become convinced that there just cannot be any way out of its problems
except the way of God, as given by Him, through Bahá’u’lláh. The early
Persian Bahá’ís gave their lives for the Cause; the Western believers have
been spared this necessity, but their comfort, to some extent, they must
sacri³ce if they are going to discharge their moral obligation to a tortured
humanity, and bring to it the message of the Father. Once the friends start
out to win the goals set in their Plan, they will ³nd the Divine con³rmation
sustaining them and hastening its consummation.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, UNFOLDING DESTINY, PP. 177–178

Heroic Deeds of Service
“We look to the members of the Bahá’í community in the United States to
perform, during the Four Year Plan, heroic deeds of service to the Cause,
which will astonish and inspire their fellow-believers throughout the world.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, RIØVÁN 153 MESSAGE TO NORTH AMERICA

Our Inescapable Responsibility
“On the members of the American Bahá’í Community, the envied custodians of a Divine Plan, the principal builders and defenders of a mighty Order
and the recognized champions of an unspeakably glorious and precious Faith,
a peculiar and inescapable responsibility must necessarily rest. Through their
courage, their self-abnegation, their fortitude and their perseverance; through
the range and quality of their achievements, the depth of their consecration,
their initiative and resourcefulness, their organizing ability, their readiness
and capacity to lend their assistance to less privileged sister communities
struggling against heavy odds; through their generous and sustained response
to the enormous and ever-increasing ³nancial needs of a world-encompassing, decade-long and admittedly strenuous enterprise, they must, beyond

4 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
the shadow of a doubt, vindicate their right to the leadership of this World
Crusade.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, CITADEL OF FAITH, PP. 120–121

“At this critical hour in the fortunes of humanity, our eyes turn with eagerness and hope to the Bahá’ís of all parts of North America, who constitute a
reservoir of human and material resources unmatched elsewhere in the Bahá’í world.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, RIØVÁN 153 MESSAGE TO NORTH AMERICA

Discussions and other methods might be devised to explore these and other questions:

• What might the Local Spiritual Assembly and the Treasurer do in relation
to this principle to highlight the friends’ sense of priviledge and the spiri- Application
tual effects of giving?

• What current events concern the friends and how will the administrative
order develop to change the course of such events for the better?

• What does it mean in your local community that we “constitute a reservoir of human and material resources unmatched elsewhere in the Bahá’í
world”?

• What might your local community do to respond to the “eagerness and
hope” of the Universal House of Justice? What bene³t might there be for
the friends in their community life? Family life? Teaching work?

Every Bahá’í Can Give Principle

Spiritual Progress Depends on Giving
“. . . Every Bahá’í, no matter how poor, must realize what a grave responsibility he has to shoulder in this connection, and should have con³dence that
his spiritual progress as a believer in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh will
largely depend upon the measure in which he proves, in deeds, his readiness
to support materially the Divine institutions of his Faith.”
FROM LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF
INDIA, JULY 17, 1937: FROM A COMPILATION OF THE GUARDIAN’S LETTERS ON THE BAHÁ’Í FUNDS
AND CONTRIBUTIONS, JANUARY 1970, P. 6 (LIGHTS OF GUIDANCE, P. 249)

Occasionally letters to the National Spiritual Assembly from friends reflect the
following statement: “My income has dropped so much that I can’t give right
now.” Usually further conversation yields the real reason: the writer feels embarrassed at being able to only give a small amount. In the Faith, though, we believe
that a penny given with love earns God’s good pleasure. We believe that if we all
give, together we can change the world—this is the concept of universal participation.

Chapter 1—First Principles 5
Universal participation seems to have become something of a cliché in our community. It is, however, a central concept to all we are trying to do because it is
derived from the most basic principle of Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings: unity. When our
participation is universal in all areas of service to the Faith, including giving, then
the real power of unity can be brought to bear on mankind’s problems. Universal
participation also means that we have been successful in building strong relationships between and among the various actors in the drama of Bahá’í community
development: individual, institution and community.
“As the activities of the American Bahá’í community expand . . . the institution of the National Fund . . . acquires added importance, and should be
increasingly supported by the entire body of believers, both in their individual capacities, and through their collective e²orts, whether organized as
groups or as local Assemblies.”
JULY 1935 TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA,
PUBLISHED IN “BAHÁ’Í NEWS” 95 (OCTOBER 1935), P. 1 (IN THE HANDWRITING OF SHOGHI
EFFENDI, APPENDED TO THE ABOVE LETTER)

See how the Universal House of Justice calls us to this standard in the context of
giving:
“In addition to teaching, every believer can pray. Every believer can strive to
make his ‘own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold
aspects the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.’
Every believer can contribute to the Fund. Not all believers can give public
talks, not all are called upon to serve on administrative institutions. But all
can pray, ³ght their own spiritual battles, and contribute to the Fund. If
every believer will carry out these sacred duties, we shall be astonished at the
accession of power which will result to the whole body, and which in its turn
will give rise to further growth and the showering of greater blessings on all
of us.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, WELLSPRING OF GUIDANCE, P. 39 (ITALICS ADDED)

“The unity of the believers, rich and poor alike, in their support of the Fund
will be a source of spiritual con³rmations far beyond our capacity to envisage.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, SEPTEMBER 17, 1992

A Service Every Believer Can Render
“. . . Contributing to the Fund is a service that every believer can render, be
he poor or wealthy; for this is a spiritual responsibility in which the amount
given is not important. It is the degree of the sacri³ce of the giver, the love
with which he makes his gift, and the unity of all the friends in this service
which bring spiritual con³rmations. . .

“Much of the present rapid expansion of the Faith is taking place in areas of
great poverty where the believers, however much they sacri³ce, cannot produce su¹cient funds to sustain the work. It is these very areas which are the
most fruitful in teaching, and a sum of money spent here will produce ten

6 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
times—even a hundred times—the results obtainable in other parts of the
world. Yet in the past months the Universal House of Justice has had to
refuse a number of appeals for assistance from such areas because there just
was not enough money in the International Fund.

“It should therefore be the aim of every local and national community to
become not only self-supporting, but to expend its funds with such wisdom
and economy as to be able to contribute substantially to the Bahá’í International Fund, thus enabling the House of Justice to aid the work in fruitful
but impoverished areas, to assist new National Assemblies to start their work,
to contribute to major international undertakings. . .”
FROM A LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE EAST AND WEST,
DECEMBER 18, 1963: WELLSPRING OF GUIDANCE, PP. 19–20

Commerce, Agriculture and Industries Blessed Many Times
“In brief, O ye friends of God, rest assured that in place of this contribution,
your commerce, your agriculture and industries shall be blessed many
times. . . .”
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ TO THE FRIENDS IN THE EAST AND THE WEST: STAR OF THE WEST, VOL. VI, NO. 17,
P. 139

The Bahá’í Fund is not about money, it is about love, about relationships, and
about obedience to the source of divine guidance. The Local Spiritual Assembly
and its Treasurer should therefore not feel bashful in upholding this standard,
reminding and encouraging every believer to give, secure in the knowledge that
they are promoting the best interests of community and individuals alike.

• Does the community really understand the ideal of universal participation? Application

• Spark a discussion about the e²ect on the community’s life if universal
participation were a fact
• Consult within the Local Spiritual Assembly on ways and means of securing the participation of every believer in the locality

• How might progress toward full participation be monitored and reported?

• Can you identify obstacles to such full engagement, and devise methods
to overcome them?

What Does Sacrifice Mean? Principle

We have grown to think that sacri³ce means pain, deprivation, loss. Its actual
meaning is a good deal more inspiring:

Chapter 1—First Principles 7
sacri³ce n. 1. act of making an o²ering. . . to a deity, in propitiation or worship
. . . 3.a. act of giving up, foregoing or destroying something, esp. something
valued or desired, usually for the sake of something else. b. that which is given
up.[Old French sacri³ce o²ering to a god, from Latin sacri³cium, from sacer holy
+ facere to make.]

So sacri³ce is about making a thing holy. Here is how the Universal House of
Justice uses the word:
“The physical reality of the progress thus far so marvelously realized is proof
of an even more profound achievement, namely, the unity of purpose e²ected
throughout our global community in the pursuit of this gigantic, collective
enterprise. The intensity of the interest and support it has evoked has expressed itself in an unprecedented outpouring of contributions, re·ecting a
level of sacri³ce that bespeaks the quality of faith and generosity of heart of
Bahá’u’lláh’s lovers throughout the planet.”
RIØVÁN 153 MESSAGE TO THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE WORLD

God Does Not Ask from Any Soul Except According to His Ability
“. . . God does not ask from any soul except according to his ability. This
contribution must come from all cities and villages from all the believers of
God . . . whosoever comes with one good act, God will give him tenfold.
There is no doubt that the living Lord shall assist and con³rm the generous
soul.”
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ TO THE FRIENDS IN THE EAST AND THE WEST: STAR OF THE WEST, VOL. VI, NO. 17,
P. 139

There Can Be No Limit to One’s Contributions
“. . . There can be no limit to one’s contributions to the national fund. The
more one can give the better it is, specially when such o²erings necessitate
the sacri³ce of other wants and desires on the part of the donor. The harder
the sacri³ce the more meritorious will it be, of course, in the sight of God.
For after all it is not so much the quantity of one’s o²erings that matters, but
rather the measure of deprivation that such o²erings entail. . .”
FROM A LETTER OF THE GUARDIAN TO AN INDIVIDUAL BELIEVER, DECEMBER 31, 1935: LIFE-BLOOD
OF THE CAUSE, P. 10

Believers Alone Have Bounty of Contributing
“The overwhelming majority of the Bahá’ís in the world are poor people,
but it is to the believers, and to the believers alone, that Bahá’u’lláh has given
the bounty of contributing the material things of this world for the progress
of His Faith. It is not the amount of the contribution which is important,
but the degree of self-sacri³ce that it entails—for it is this that attracts the
con³rmations of God.”
FROM A LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO ALL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM THE B AHÁ’Í INTERNATIONAL FUND, APRIL 13, 1975

8 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
We Should Not Incur Debts for Purpose of Contributing to Fund
“Even though Shoghi E²endi would urge every believer to sacri³ce as much
as possible for the sake of contributing towards the fund of the National
Assembly, yet he would discourage the friends to incur debts for that purpose. We are asked to give what we have, not what we do not possess, especially if such an act causes su²ering to others. In such matters we should use
judgement and wisdom and take into our con³dence other devoted Bahá’ís.”
FROM A LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE GUARDIAN, DATED MAY 4, 1932, TO AN INDIVIDUAL
BELIEVER: BAHÁ’Í FUNDS: CONTRIBUTIONS AND ADMINISTRATION, CANADA, P. 7

Those Who Openly Proclaim Recognition of Bahá’u’lláh Permitted to
Contribute
“. . . Since only those who have openly proclaimed their recognition of
Bahá’u’lláh are permitted to contribute ³nancially to the establishment of
His world order, it is apparent that more, much more, is required from the
few now so privileged. Our responsibilities in this ³eld are very great, commensurate indeed with the bounty of being the bearers of the Name of God
in this Day.”
FROM THE MESSAGE OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE WORLD,
RIØVÁN 1966

Should Recipient of Public Charity Contribute to the Bahá’í Fund?
“Concerning your question whether a person is to contribute to the Bahá’í
Fund when he obtains his means of livelihood through public charity. Practically this is impossible, for a person who is so dependent upon the community cannot be of much help to others. Generally he does not have su¹cient
even for himself alone. In principle however, this is a secondary issue. Donations to the Cause are free. It is for every person to judge for himself whether
he is in a position to contribute and whether he desires to do it; how he has
obtained that sum is immaterial. A poor person may be readier than a rich
man in sharing with others, and if he does, his sacri³ce would be greater. A
rich man’s gift may not be a sacri³ce, but a poor man’s is sure to be.”
FROM A LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI TO AN INDIVIDUAL BELIEVER, MARCH 9,
1932

Champion Builders of Bahá’u’lláh’s World Order
“Now is the time for the dearly-loved members of this community, renowned
as the champion builders of Bahá’u’lláh’s rising World Order, to consecrate
an increasing measure of the material resources with which they have been
so richly blessed to the pressing needs of the Cause of God. In doing so,
their sacri³ces will attract an even greater measure of divine blessings, and
will bring them abiding satisfaction.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, JULY 14, 1989

• Devote a Feast to sacri³ce: discussions, dramatizations by youth and adults,
storytelling.
Application

Chapter 1—First Principles 9
• Highlight stories of sacri³ce and its bene³ts in the local newsletter.

• What might sacri³ce mean for di²erent individuals? Di²erent ages? Di²erent income levels?

Principle Material Resources and
the Kingdom of God
Every Undertaking Dependent on Material Means
“Bahá’u’lláh has written that, ‘…He who is the Eternal Truth—exalted be
His glory—hath made the ful³llment of every undertaking on earth dependent on material means.’ The community of the Greatest Name is in this
day embarked upon the mightiest of undertakings destined to give rise to
the spiritualization of mankind and the transformation of human society.
Its needs should not, and indeed will not, be met only by the contributions
from believers resident in those countries now enjoying a relatively high
standard of living; rather should every follower of Bahá’u’lláh, undeterred
by the meagerness of his material resources, resolve to o²er his share for the
work of the Faith.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, SEPTEMBER 17, 1992

“Thou hast asked about material means and prayer. Prayer is like the spirit
and material means are like the human hand. The spirit operateth through
the instrumentality of the hand. Although the one true God is the All-Provider, it is the earth which is the means to supply sustenance. ‘The heaven
hath sustenance for you’ but when sustenance is decreed it becometh available, whatever the means may be. When man refuseth to use material means,
he is like a thirsty one who seeketh to quench his thirst through means other
than water or other liquids. The Almighty Lord is the provider of water, and
its maker, and hath decreed that it be used to quench man’s thirst, but its use
is dependent upon His Will. If it should not be in conformity with His
Will, man is a¼icted with a thirst which the oceans cannot quench.”
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ, COMPILATION OF COMPILATIONS, VOL. 2 , PP. 231–232

“. . . there is, we believe, a worldwide need for appreciation of this basic
principle of our Faith: that contributing to the Fund should constitute an
integral part of the spiritual life of every Bahá’í and be regarded as the
ful³llment of a fundamental spiritual obligation. In too many countries we
have encountered a reluctance among the teachers of the Cause to include,
in their presentation of the Teachings, support of the Fund as a natural part
of Bahá’í life. In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh more than once refers to the
necessity for combining spiritual and material means in achieving the purposes of the Faith. Shoghi E²endi, for his part, referred to the Fund as the
life-blood of the Cause.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, NOVEMBER 18, 1991

10 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• Have a discussion or deepening about unity as expressed in both spiritual
and material aspects of life. Application
• What are examples of material actions or projects that are spiritual in nature, or have spiritual e²ects?

• Ask the children and youth to prepare a Feast where the material arrangements are all chosen in order to heighten the spiritual e²ect on the friends.

Why Everyone Needs to Know Principle
About the Fund
The passage above from the Universal House of Justice, in which they say that
every Bahá’í can give to the Fund, is the main point. Giving is a spiritual right, a
responsibility, an obligation. But is it anything else? What does giving do in the
giver’s life?

We have guidance to answer those questions, too. Here is one passage in which
the Universal House of Justice expands on this theme:
“Contributing to the Bahá’í fund constitutes an act of spiritual discipline
which is an intrinsic element of the devotional life of the individual. No
believer should be unaware of the privilege of contributing to the advancement of the Cause of God, irrespective of his material circumstances. The
practice of giving to the Fund strengthens the connection between the believer and the Cause and enhances his sense of identi³cation with it. Divine
con³rmations redound upon those who o²er a portion of their material resources in a spirit of sacri³ce, motivated by their love of the Faith and their
desire to assist in its progress.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, SEPTEMBER 17, 1992

So giving is a part of our devotional life, and it also strengthens our sense of
identi³cation with the Cause. That’s very di²erent from a view of the Fund that
stresses its ³nancial aspects, or even its role in helping the institutions to function;
the House of Justice is reminding us that giving can be like praying, and can have
the same sort of e²ect on our spiritual development.

That same sense is in this passage, which refers speci³cally to the Right of God
but highlights, we think, the spirit of reverence and awe that underlies the important act of giving:
“It seems ³tting, then, that the sacred law which enables each one to express
his or her personal sense of devotion to God in a profoundly private act of
conscience that promotes the common good, which directly connects the
individual believer with the Central Institution of the Faith, and which,

Chapter 1—First Principles 11
above all, ensures to the obedient and the sincere the ine²able grace and
abundant blessings of Providence, should. . . be embraced by all who profess
their belief in the Supreme Manifestation of God.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, RIØVÁN MESSAGE, 1991

Often Treasurers are reluctant to make Fund appeals. It also happens that the
believers occasionally tell their Assemblies that the Fund has been mentioned too
much. Naturally everything has its correct balance, but here is a passage from the
Universal House of Justice that has a bearing on these situations:
“As it has already been pointed out . . . it is important for the National
Spiritual Assemblies to work out ways and means of creating a sense of belonging in the hearts of the believers. One of the ways this can be done is to
bring to their attention the needs of the Fund.

“The National Assembly should neither feel embarrassed nor ashamed in
turning to the friends, continuously appealing to them to exemplify their
faith and devotion to the Cause by sacri³cing for it, and pointing out to
them that they will grow spiritually through their acts of self-abnegation,
that the fear of poverty should not deter them from sacri³cing for the Fund,
and that the assistance and bounty of the Source of all good and of all
wealth are unfailing and assured.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, LETTER TO A NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY, FEBRUARY 9,
1967

So take heart: if you and your Local Spiritual Assembly are “continuously” mentioning this vital subject to the friends, you are helping them individually and you
are being obedient to the Head of the Faith! Everyone needs to know about giving
because it helps them be better Bahá’ís, and that is one of the most important
things a Local Spiritual Assembly can do.

• Hold deepening classes for new believers apprising them of the teachings
Application on the Fund and of their privileges as new Bahá’ís.

• How does giving work as part of our devotional life? What does “integral”
mean?

• What other ways might, or do, your community and Assembly have to
foster that “sense of belonging”?

Principle Giving and Entry by Troops
We have seen above that the Fund is so important in the development of the
community and of our identity as Bahá’ís, that supporting the Fund brings great
blessings and protection. Giving, like teaching, is an arena where audacity, perseverance and reliance on divine power are all essential.

12 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Reliance on Bahá’u’lláh Enables Formulation of Audacious Plans
“The progress of the Cause depends upon many factors. . . It is . . . to those
factors that are directly the result of the actions of the Bahá’ís that we wish to
direct our remarks, because if the Bahá’ís will but do their part—however
unpromising the prospect—Bahá’u’lláh is able to open doors and change
conditions in ways far beyond our understanding.
“The ³rst [factor] is a greater realization of the power of Bahá’u’lláh to reinforce the e²orts of those who serve Him, of His promise to do so, and of the
impotence of all our deeds without this divine assistance. Any evaluation of
a situation is entirely misleading if it does not take this supreme power into
consideration; whereas constant consciousness of dependence upon Him
enables the Bahá’ís to formulate audacious plans and con³dently carry them
through to completion in the face of seemingly insuperable obstacles.

“Armed with this consciousness, the believers should then approach the winning of the goals of the Nine Year Plan with the spirit that will achieve them.
This Plan is a stage in the unfoldment of the Divine Plan of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
The achievement of its goals is of the utmost urgency and importance because the followers of Bahá’u’lláh are engaged in a race against time. Mankind is being engulfed in the ruin precipitated by its own folly; the longer we
Bahá’ís delay in achieving the tasks that God lays before us, the greater is the
su²ering of our fellow men. . . The believers should consider the goals,
recognize that they are intended to be won, decide what is needed to win
them, and then, however hopeless the prospect may seem, set out determinedly to do whatever is needed, con³dent that Bahá’u’lláh will reinforce
them with His Hosts and will open the doors of victory before them.

“These . . . points are closely interlinked, for it is reliance upon Bahá’u’lláh
that will enable the friends to pioneer, it is the awareness of the imperative
nature of the goals that will inspire them to do so and will guide them to
choose their posts, and it is their sacri³ce in arising to leave their homes that
will call down upon them the divine con³rmations and will, through living
experience, deepen their love for God, their awareness of His ever-present
care and their reliance upon Him in every aspect of their lives.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, LETTER OF JANUARY 11, 1971 TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLY OF GERMANY

Why would we choose not to tell everybody about the privilege of giving to the
fund? But that is just what has happened:
“In too many countries we have encountered a reluctance among the teachers of the Cause to include, in their presentation of the Teachings, support
of the Fund as a natural part of Bahá’í life.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, NOVEMBER 18, 1991

What are the implications of not telling new believers, and even seekers, about
the Fund?

Chapter 1—First Principles 13
“A corollary to the sacred obligation of the friends to contribute to the Funds
of the Faith, is the direct and unavoidable responsibility of each Local and
National Assembly to educate them in the spiritual principles related to Bahá’í contributions. Failure to educate the friends in this aspect of the Faith is
tantamount to consciously depriving them of the spiritual bene³ts accruing
from giving in the path of God.”
FROM LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO ALL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM THE B AHÁ’Í INTERNATIONAL FUND, APRIL 13, 1975

• There is national survey data that suggests it can be as long as two years
Application before a new Bahá’í makes a contribution to any of the Funds; what can
your community do to ensure that your new believers do not wait to give?
• Is everyone in your community comfortable with teaching others about
the Fund? If not, why not?
“. . . it is only evident that unless the ·ow of donations is regularly maintained by means of generous and continual support by all the believers, individually and collectively, the National Fund will never be able to meet the
needs . . . of the Cause.”
3 FEBRUARY 1941 TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA,
PUBLISHED IN “BAHÁ’Í NEWS” 143 (M AY 1941), P. 3

These are some of the central principles in our Teachings regarding the Fund and
giving. In several later sections we will return to their application. For now, let us
look at the evolving role of the Treasurer and the Local Spiritual Assembly as
stewards of the Fund in these challenging times.

14 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Spiritual Assemblies must rise to a new stage
in the exercise of their responsibilities
as channels of divine guidance,
planners of the teaching work,
developers of human resources,
builders of communities,
and loving shepherds of the multitudes . . .
—The Universal House of Justice

16 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
2. The Treasurer and the
Assembly

The Treasury Is the Responsibility
of the Entire Assembly
The full membership of the Spiritual Assembly, not the Treasurer alone, has responsibility for the treasury. The Supreme Body wrote:
“The National Spiritual Assembly has the responsibility to ensure that contributions received are properly receipted, and satisfactory accounts kept of
all receipts and disbursements. While the Treasurer normally is the o¹cer in
charge of such a sacred obligation, this does not mean that other members
are thereby relieved of all responsibility, or are deprived of their right of
access to details related to the current operation of the Assembly, in all its
aspects.

“Such right and responsibility vested in the individual members of the Assembly do not vitiate the con³dentiality of Bahá’í contributions, since the
information made available to the Treasurer or other members of the Assembly is to be treated in strict con³dence.”
FROM A LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO A NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY, JANUARY 11, 1977

Building Flourishing Communities
Fund an Absolute Necessity
“And as the progress and execution of spiritual activities is dependent and
conditioned upon material means, it is of absolute necessity that immediately after the establishment of local as well as national Spiritual Assemblies,
a Bahá’í Fund be established, to be placed under the exclusive control of the
Spiritual Assembly. . . It is the sacred obligation of every conscientious and

Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly 17
faithful servant of Bahá’u’lláh who desires to see His Cause advance, to contribute freely and generously for the increase of that Fund. The members of
the Spiritual Assembly will at their own discretion expend it to promote the
Teaching Campaign, to help the needy, to establish educational Bahá’í institutions, to extend in every way possible their sphere of service. I cherish the
hope that all the friends, realizing the necessity of this measure, will bestir
themselves and contribute, however modestly at ³rst, towards the speedy
establishment and the increase of that Fund.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION, PP. 41–42

Assemblies Rise to New Level of Functioning
“For such an expansion to be stimulated and accommodated, the Spiritual
Assemblies must rise to a new stage in the exercise of their responsibilities as
channels of divine guidance, planners of the teaching work, developers of
human resources, builders of communities, and loving shepherds of the
multitudes….Particularly must the progress in the evolution of the institutions be manifest in the multiplication of localities in which the functioning
of the Spiritual Assembly enhances the individual believers’ capacity to serve
the Cause and fosters uni³ed action.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, RIØVÁN 153 MESSAGE TO THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE WORLD

Integration of Community’s Component Elements in Action
“As we have said in an earlier message, the ·ourishing of the community,
especially at the local level, demands a signi³cant enhancement in patterns
of behavior: those patterns by which the collective expression of the virtues
of the individual members and the functioning of the Spiritual Assembly are
manifest in the unity and fellowship of the community and the dynamism
of its activity and growth. This calls for the integration of the component
elements—adults, youth and children—in spiritual, social, educational and
administrative activities; and their engagement in local plans of teaching
and development…”
IBID

True Spirit of Teaching
“When the true spirit of teaching, which calls for complete dedication, consecration to the noble mission, and living the life, is ful³lled, not only by the
individuals, but by the Assemblies also, then the Faith will grow by leaps and
bounds.”
ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI, MARCH 19, 1954,
QUOTED IN PROMOTING ENTRY BY TROOPS, P. 30

In Enviable Position to Provide Mighty Impetus
“You are in a most enviable position to provide a mighty impetus to the
teaching work. Through the alertness and perseverance of your institutions
and the e²ect of your exertions, there is now a general awareness of, and
respect for, the Cause in your region, and the Faith has acquired a reputation
for universality and liberality of thought. Well may you rejoice at this re-

18 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
markable achievement, and well may you contemplate the present needs of
the Cause with eagerness and con³dence.

“Your accomplishments have prepared the way for even more spectacular successes in the years immediately ahead. Now as never before should you strive
mightily to free yourselves from the obstacles of apathy, attachment to worldly
pursuits, and lethargy, which stand in the way of so glorious a realization. As
the people around you yearn increasingly for a society in which rectitude of
conduct prevails, which is animated by a nobility of moral behavior, and in
which the diverse races are ³rmly united, your challenge is to demonstrate the
e¹cacy of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh in ministering to their needs and in
recreating the very foundation of individual and social life. . . .

“The community of the Greatest Name must increasingly become renowned
for its social cohesion, and for the spirit of trust and con³dence which distinguishes the relationship between believers and their institutions. In the
earliest years of his ministry, the Guardian stated, ‘. . . I hope to see the
friends at all times, in every land, and of every shade of thought and character, voluntarily and joyously rallying around their local and in particular
their national centers of activity, upholding and promoting their interests
with complete unanimity and contentment, with perfect understanding,
genuine enthusiasm, and sustained vigor. This indeed is the one joy and
yearning of my life, for it is the fountainhead from which all future blessings
will ·ow, the broad foundation upon which the security of the Divine Edi³ce
will ultimately rest.’ Realization of this longing requires that you commit
yourselves to the wholehearted support of your institutions.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, RIØVÁN 153 MESSAGE TO NORTH AMERICA

Reach Every Social Stratum
“Every stratum of society must be brought within your embrace, as you
vigorously advance toward the goal of entry by troops at this time when
powerful spiritual forces are at work in the hearts of the people. Neither the
a¼uent nor the indigent should be excluded from your purview.”
IBID

Sources of Real Growth in Contributions
“Regarding the established Bahá’í Funds, your e²orts to unify national appeals to encourage contributions to all of them, to increase contributions
from Local Spiritual Assemblies themselves and to train and develop local
Treasurers, are all worthy pursuits….Real growth of your material resources
will come about through two primary means: increase in the number of
believers, and increase in the e²ectiveness of the education of the believers
concerning their spiritual obligations, among which is ³nancial support of
Bahá’í institutions.

“As always, the House of Justice is most grateful for the signi³cant support
of the American Bahá’í community to the International Funds and deeply

Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly 19
appreciates your own relentless e²ort to ³nd ways of increasing that support
while at the same attending to the enormous calls upon your National Fund
for such major projects as the renovation of the House of Worship and the
preservation of the buildings at the Green Acre School. Rest assured of its
continued, ardent prayers at the Holy Threshold that the Blessed Beauty
may increasingly reward your stewardship.”
ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, LETTER DATED APRIL 26, 1993 TO THE
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED STATES

Teach Trustworthiness Through Writings
“The distressing problems of the misuse of funds described in your letter
can be resolved in the long run only through a process of loving education
of the friends. It is through the dissemination among the believers of appropriate texts from the Writings of the Faith, through carefully prepared articles on this subject based on the holy Texts and published in your newsletter, and through talks at conferences, summer schools and other Bahá’í gatherings, as well as discussions of these fundamental issues with the friends at
such meetings, that you will be able to gradually attain your objective.

“It is important for your Assembly, in [the] future, to explain to persons who
are entrusted with the money of the Faith that in view of the National
Assembly’s obligation to protect Bahá’í funds, the Assembly will hold them
responsible for all monies they receive, and they should therefore render
proper accounts to the National Spiritual Assembly, be faithful custodians
of God’s trust, and be assured that such honesty and faithfulness will be
richly rewarded from on High.”
FROM A LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO A NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY, MAY 18, 1980

The General and National Interests of the Cause Take Precedence Over the
Local Ones But it May be Expedient to Develop Local Fund First
“The beloved Guardian has explained that the general and national interests
of the Cause take precedence over local ones; thus contributions to local
funds are secondary to those to national funds. However, the stability of the
National Assembly rests on the ³rmness of the Local Spiritual Assemblies,
and in the matter of educating the friends in the importance of the fund, it
is often most practical and e¹cacious to concentrate at ³rst on the development of the local funds and the e¹cient operation of the Local Spiritual
Assemblies. Then, once the friends understand the principle, and learn from
experience at the local level, they will then more easily understand the importance of the national fund and the work of the National Spiritual Assembly.”
FROM THE MEMORANDUM OF COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF
JUSTICE, OP. CIT. NO. 858 P. 30

Pledges Can be a Useful Means of Encouraging Contributions
“Pledges can be useful as a means of encouraging contributions and of bring-

20 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
ing the ³nancial needs of the Cause to the attention of the friends. This
method can be particularly helpful in a situation where a Spiritual Assembly
has a major task to perform, such as the building of a Þazíratu’l-Quds or the
establishment of a tutorial school, and needs to have some idea in advance
of whether the funds for the project will be available. However, it would be
entirely contrary to Bahá’í principles to bring any pressure to bear when
calling for pledges or when endeavoring to collect them. Once a pledge has
been given it is permissible to remind the donor, privately, of his expressed
intention to contribute and to inquire courteously if it would be possible for
him to honor his pledge, but Assemblies must be aware that such pledges are
not an obligation in any legal sense; their redemption is entirely a matter of
conscience. Lists of those making pledges must not be publicized.”
IBID

Development, Supplementing Contributions and Fee-for-Service Enterprises
“You have given much thought to ³nding other ways of increasing your
material resources…It is entirely within the purview of your Assembly to
devise wise means for this purpose by adopting methods that rest on a sound
basis of ³scal management, one which avoids the snares and pitfalls of entrepreneurial speculation. But, however helpful such methods might be, they
should be seen only as providing a supplement to the fundamental source of
support for the Funds, namely, the contributions of individual believers
o²ered in the spirit of service and sacri³ce to the Cause of God. The foundation of the Funds should be strengthened and sustained principally on the
basis of such contributions.

“The House of Justice . . . o²ers you the following guiding comments on
two aspects of the development initiatives you have mentioned:

1. Developing ³nancial service entities. If you decide that it is feasible to proceed with o²ering basic banking services for the friends,
you should make it abundantly clear that they are entirely free to
accept or ignore such services. No measure of pressure of any kind
should be put on them to comply with your plans. Anyone accepting the services should feel equally free to withdraw his involvement at any time.

2. Creating a network of fee-for-service companies. There can be no
doubt that the ability of the Bahá’í community to give tangible
expression to its principles will enhance its expansion and consolidation while at the same time providing valuable services to human
ity. Your approach should be guided by the understanding that all
the teachings of our Faith are a gift from God to which all people
are entitled; and our ³rst obligation as Bahá’ís is to present them as
e²ectively as we can without regard for material reward. In a word,
the principles of the Faith are not a commodity for sale.

Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly 21
“Where, however, the social application of principles or teachings of the
Faith calls for a degree of formal training, involving the employment of
various measures of expertise and the use of prepared material, physical facilities, etc., or requiring establishment of academic or other social institutions, it is reasonable for fees to be charged for services rendered. Nonetheless, for a Bahá’í, such activities should be conducted primarily as a service to
humanity and there should be no pro³t motive involved. It is practical, of
course, that the fee structure be such as to enable reasonable returns from
which can be drawn the means to extend the service being rendered. Under
no circumstances should such service projects be regarded as channels of
revenue for the Bahá’í funds.

“You will need to be certain that the human and other resources exist to
ensure the success of such services, because failure to live up to the expectations awakened by your stated objectives can bring disrepute upon the community. As your proposals in this respect have largely to do with the public,
the ³nancial arrangements must be able to withstand rigorous public scrutiny. In general, your steps in these matters will need to be measured and
gradual, each one building on the success of the previous one.”
ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, APRIL 26, 1993, TO A NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLY

Assistance for the Treasurer
The Universal House of Justice wrote in 1985:
“A prime requisite for all who have responsibility for the care of the funds of
the Faith is trustworthiness. This, as Bahá’u’lláh has stressed, is one of the
most basic and vital of all human virtues, and its exercise has a direct and
profound in·uence on the willingness of the believers to contribute to the
Fund.
“Regarding the local funds, it is suggested that until such time as the friends
have developed the habit of contributing regularly and freely, any Local
Spiritual Assembly which has a large community might appoint a small committee to assist the local Treasurer in the discharge of his responsibilities.
Such committees could be appointed after consultation with the Auxiliary
Board member or assistant for the area. Great care must be taken in the
appointment of the members of the committees; they must be both trustworthy and conscientious and must be imbued with awareness of the importance of maintaining the con³dentiality of contributions to the funds.”
FROM A MEMORANDUM OF COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ATTACHED TO A LETTER FROM THE
UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE AUGUST 7, 1985 TO ALL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES

A Treasury Committee would serve a number of functions, as suggested by the
House of Justice:

22 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• to render general assistance to the Treasurer, as needed, to issue receipts or
keep the accounts

• to arrange inspirational talks and discussions at Nineteen Day Feasts or at
specially called meetings

• to receive donations of money on behalf of the local Treasurer and make
deposits under the Treasurer’s supervision

• to receive gifts in kind, arranging for their sale and for handing over the
proceeds to the local Treasurer

• to receive written pledges from the friends

Confidentiality of Information
As noted in the previous quotations, regardless of the arrangements made for
assistance in the management of the Treasury, the con³dential nature of the friends’
contributions should be of the highest priority. Trustworthiness is a prime requisite for the Treasurer; it is also the standard that all the friends, whether members
of the Local Spiritual Assembly or not, must uphold.

Depending on the size of the community, the tasks associated with the role of
Treasurer can be daunting but the responsibility is not con³ned to the Treasurer
alone. The Local Spiritual Assembly shares this important trust and needs to support its Treasurer in achieving goals which promote the good of the entire community. In addition to a committee of helpers, the friends are free to seek the aid
of bankers, trust o¹cers and other professionals in the management of the local
Treasury and even in relation to their personal ³nances. An alert Treasurer will
bring such resources to the Assembly’s attention and, in consultation, work out a
plan to bring new expertise to the friends.

Beyond these most basic and vital requisites, must the Treasurer be an accountant, bookkeeper or some other professional in the ³eld of ³nances? Not necessarily. The role of the Treasurer includes, but reaches beyond collection of and
accounting for the contributions of the friends and the general ³nancial transactions required to execute the ³nancial component of community building.

Ideally, the o¹ce of the Treasurer serves many additional purposes. The Treasurer
is the local community’s educator about the Funds and contributing; the Treasurer is advisor, providing or arranging for ³nancial counsel for the local Spiritual
As-sembly in the development of its plans; and perhaps most important, the Treasurer is an inspirer of the friends.

Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly 23
Principle The Treasurer As Educator
There are so many ways that the Treasurer can serve your community as educator
in all aspects of the Funds. You are responsible for having available, and disseminating as necessary, information addressing questions the friends may have about
the Funds—what they are, what they support and how contributions are made.
Many sources are available for reference and study to help you meet this requirement of your job (see the Bibliography in Appendix E).

Regular reporting on the status of the Funds to the Local Spiritual Assembly at its
meetings, and to the community at feasts, helps the entire community to be invested in the process of building the treasury and increases the awareness of their
crucial role in its development. Using graphs, hand prepared or by computer, or
any other audio or visual aid, will help the friends to focus on and better understand the information the Treasurer and the Assembly are sharing.

Perhaps the most important aspect of your education work is that of ensuring
that new believers have proper knowledge of the Funds and are aware of what a
privilege it is to contribute and of the blessings that accrue as a result of giving:

“Real growth of your material resources will come about through two primary means: increase in the number of believers, and increase in the e²ectiveness of the education of the believers concerning their spiritual obligations, among which is ³nancial support of Bahá’í institutions.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, APRIL 26, 1993

“. . . no believer should be unaware of the privilege of contributing to the
advancement of the Cause of God, irrespective of his material circumstances.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, SEPTEMBER 17, 1992

“. . . there is, we believe, a worldwide need for appreciation of this basic
principle of our Faith: that contributing to the Fund should constitute an
integral part of the spiritual life of every Bahá’í and be regarded as the ful³llment of a fundamental spiritual obligation. In too many countries we have
encountered a reluctance among the teachers of the Cause to include, in
their presentation of the Teachings, support of the Fund as a natural part of
Bahá’í life.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, NOVEMBER 18, 1991

Failure to Educate Friends in This Aspect Tantamount to Depriving Them of
Spiritual Bene³ts
“A corollary to the sacred obligation of the friends to contribute to the Funds
of the Faith, is the direct and unavoidable responsibility of each Local and
National Assembly to educate them in the spiritual principles related to Bahá’í

24 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
contributions. Failure to educate the friends in this aspect of the Faith is
tantamount to consciously depriving them of the spiritual bene³ts accruing
from giving in the path of God.”
FROM LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO ALL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES
RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM THE B AHÁ’Í INTERNATIONAL FUND, APRIL 13, 1975

“The Assemblies should not hesitate, nor be di¹dent, in speaking of the
Fund to the believers. The friends in the mass teaching areas, however poor
or illiterate they may be, are full and equal members of the Bahá’í community; they should know their blessings and responsibilities. The mighty ones
of this world rejected the call of Bahá’u’lláh, and it is now upon us ordinary
men and women that He has conferred the inestimable bounty of raising up
the Kingdom of God on earth. Service to God and His Cause is the heart of
the life of every true believer and contributing to the Fund is a vital aspect of
such service.”
FROM LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO ALL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES,
DECEMBER 29, 1970

Redouble Fund Education E²orts
“Thousands upon thousands of believers will need to be aided to express the
vitality of their faith through constancy in teaching the Cause and by supporting the plans of their institutions and the endeavors of their communities. . .

“The magnitude of the tasks the Bahá’í community is being summoned to
perform during the Four Year Plan will call for a considerable outlay of funds.
The pressing demands of the Arc Projects will continue to place severe constraints on the International Funds of the Faith. Yet, the Universal House of
Justice will do its utmost to make available to the Counselors and the National Spiritual Assemblies the ³nancial means necessary for the discharge of
the tasks of expansion and consolidation in areas requiring assistance. This
will include funds for the all-important work of the Auxiliary Boards.

“As experience has shown, however, the expenditure of money does not, by
itself, bring results. The challenge before you is to help develop in the various institutions and agencies involved in the execution of the Plan the capacity to expend funds in a judicious and e²ective manner. In addition, you
must redouble your e²orts to educate every member of the Bahá’í community—the new and the old believer, the youth and the adult—on the spiritual signi³cance of contributing to the Fund.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO THE CONFERENCE OF CONTINENTAL BOARDS OF COUNSE-
LORS, DECEMBER 24, 1996

“In the visits made to the villages, the visiting teacher meets with the local
communities to give them basic Bahá’í knowledge, such as living the Bahá’í
life, the importance of teaching, prayer, fasting, Nineteen Day Feasts, Bahá’í
elections, and contributions to the Fund. The question of contributions to

Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly 25
the Fund is of utmost importance, so that the new believers may quickly feel
themselves to be responsible members of the community.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, WELLSPRING OF GUIDANCE, PP. 34–35

Continuous Fund Appeals Foster Sense of Belonging
“The Universal House of Justice has been carefully studying the progress of
the Faith and the extent of universal participation of the friends in areas
where mass teaching has been going on. We have noted that many National
Spiritual Assemblies have, in consultation with the Hands of the Cause in
their continents, adopted various measures to deepen the knowledge of the
friends to nurse them into maturity and to initiate them into the workings
of the administration and the full support of the institutions of the Faith.

“As it has already been pointed out…it is important for the National Spiritual Assemblies to work out ways and means of creating a sense of belonging
in the hearts of the believers. One of the ways this can be done is to bring to
their attention the needs of the Fund.

“The National Assembly should neither feel embarrassed nor ashamed in
turning to the friends, continuously appealing to them to exemplify their
faith and devotion to the Cause by sacri³cing for it, and pointing out to
them that they will grow spiritually through their acts of self-abnegation,
that the fear of poverty should not deter them from sacri³cing for the Fund,
and that the assistance and bounty of the Source of all good and of all
wealth are unfailing and assured.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, LETTER TO A NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY, FEBRUARY 9,
1967

• Consult with your Assembly to ensure that the Funds are included in
Application deepenings for new believers.

• Place particular emphasis on the Sacred Writings regarding the importance of supporting the Faith with our material resources and the blessings which will accrue as a result of our giving in unity:

“The unity of the believers, rich and poor alike, in their support of the Fund
will be a source of spiritual con³rmations far beyond our capacity to envisage.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, SEPTEMBER 17, 1992

Principle The Treasurer As Advisor
Although the following quotations from letters of the Universal House of Justice
refer speci³cally to national Treasurers, these directions apply equally well to local
Treasurers:

26 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
“The Treasurer must be sure to render regular and accurate ³nancial statements to the National Spiritual Assembly so that it can properly plan its
work within the means available to it.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, JULY 13, 1981

“The Treasurer should carefully monitor the use of the Fund so that he can
warn the Assembly in good time if there is danger of over-spending.”
IBID

In your capacity as Treasurer, you have, at any given time, a unique perspective on
the ³nancial picture for your Spiritual Assembly. As it plans for each new undertaking, you should be prepared to advise the Assembly on its current and future
³nancial commitments and additional commitments which any new endeavor
might incur.

Volunteers can be of great assistance, especially as the Assembly’s plans or programs become more complex. The Treasurer can be in the best position to engage
Application
someone, either a quali³ed volunteer or a professional, to help the Assembly make
its plans. Should the services of a professional be warranted, contracting such
services should follow consultation and go forward with express approval of the
local Spiritual Assembly.

Some Guidelines for Treasurers
“In general terms the House of Justice feels that there are certain matters to
which Treasurers should give particular attention.

1. There is the relationship between the National Assembly and the
individual believers and local communities. Through whatever correspondence he conducts with contributors to the National Fund
and with committees which are drawing on the Fund for their work,
the National Treasurer can be a powerful in·uence in establishing
links of loving unity within the community.

2. The Treasurer must be sure to render regular and accurate ³nancial
statements to the National Spiritual Assembly so that it can properly plan its work within the means available to it.

3. It is the Treasurer’s responsibility to prepare the annual ³nancial
report in time for the National Spiritual Assembly to consider it
before presenting it at Convention. He also has to prepare the annual budget for the consideration and approval of the National
Assembly.

4. The Treasurer should carefully monitor the use of the Fund so that
he can warn the Assembly in good time if there is danger of overspending.

Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly 27
5. In book-keeping, a system must be adopted to ensure that earmarked funds are kept absolutely distinct from those that are at the
free disposition of the Assembly, and there should be safeguards to
prevent the inadvertent spending of earmarked funds on matters
other than those for which they are intended.

6. In addition to keeping accurate records of income and expenditure, the Treasurer should see that the assets of the Assembly are
protected and that both assets and liabilities are carefully recorded.

7. The Treasurer should advise the Assembly to set aside su¹cient
sums on a regular basis to provide for the repair and maintenance
of properties owned by the Faith, so that these can be kept in good
condition and so that the normal work of the Cause is not interrupted by sudden requirements of large sums for repairs. Usually
the task of maintaining the properties is assigned to a special committee or committees, which should be consulted by the Assembly
and can suggest a suitable amount to be set aside annually.

8. While it is within the discretion of a National Spiritual Assembly
to require only one signature on checks drawn on the National
Fund, experience has shown that it is better practice to require at
least two signatures. This is a protection not only to the Fund itself
but also to the Treasurer. The funds of the Faith are a sacred trust,
and Assemblies should be meticulous in handling and accounting
for them.”
FROM A LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO A NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY, JANUARY 11, 1977

Principle The Treasurer As Inspirer
The most important duty of the Treasurer may be her role in creating opportunities through which the friends can be inspired to reach a deeper understanding
and appreciation of the spiritual dynamics of giving and the possibilities for the
community when all the friends are uni³ed in giving.

When the Treasurer’s reports at Feast are planned with care and presented with
enthusiasm, and when a setting is created for the friends to make their contributions in a private and digni³ed manner, these occasions hold great potential for
lifting the vision of the friends to new heights.

Be visionary. Study the Writings about the Funds and giving. Meditate on them
and pray for good health and vitality for your community. Form a vision of a
thriving Bahá’í community where the friends are giving universally and sacri³cially
and making possible the growth and development of the community while at the
same time contributing to the growth and development of the Cause of God

28 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
worldwide. Share this vision with the friends in your community and encourage
them to be visionaries, too.

Appeal or Solicitation? Principle

Your community has set an ambitious goal for contributions to the Funds of the
Faith. The year is almost up and the total is about one-third short of the target.
What do you do?

Some Treasurers respond to this situation by becoming increasingly blunt and
assertive in their interactions with the believers; others study the methods of organizations outside the Bahá’í community and, knowingly or not, import approaches
and methods that are actually at odds with the Faith’s principles. One of a Treasurer’s
challenges is to exert every e²ort to ensure a plentiful supply of material resources,
of money, while at the same time being extremely careful not to infringe on the
believers’ freedom to determine how and how much to give.

The Guardian had this reminder for us:
“In connection with the Institution of the National Fund and the budgetary
system set forth in the minutes of the National Spiritual Assembly, I feel
urged to remind you of the necessity of ever bearing in mind the cardinal
principle that all contributions to the Fund are to be purely and strictly
voluntary in character. It should be made clear and evident to every one that
any form of compulsion, however slight and indirect, strikes at the very root
principle underlying the formation of the Fund ever since its inception. While
appeals of a general character, carefully worded and moving and digni³ed in
tone are welcome under all circumstances, it should be left entirely to the
discretion of every conscientious believer to decide upon the nature, the
amount, and purpose of his or her contribution for the propagation of the
Cause.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, DIRECTIVES OF THE GUARDIAN, PP. 13–14

When the friends are being pressured, the dialogue risks becoming a solicitation.
Here are some of the de³nitions of “solicitation”:

1. To entreat or petition (a person) for, or to do, something; to urge, importune; to ask earnestly or persistently. 2. To incite or move, to induce or persuade, to some act of lawlessness or insubordination. 3. To incite, draw on,
allure, by some specious representation or argument.
SELECTED DEFINITIONS FROM THE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY

The Guardian indicates in another passage that “no coercion or solicitation of
funds is to be tolerated in the Cause”—an emphatic statement!

Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly 29
It may be helpful to think of the Treasurer’s work as bringing information to the
Application believers so they can make their own choices. That information can be shared in
a variety of ways, some of them quite dramatic, but the best process leaves the
friends free to choose.

Moreover, as we will see below, you are not trying to induce the Bahá’ís to give up
something they really want to keep; you are o²ering them an easy way to ful³ll
their own hopes for service to Bahá’u’lláh and to strengthen their Bahá’í identity.

Principle Does Guilt Increase Contributions?
One of the approaches Treasurers are sometimes tempted to try is to make the
believers feel guilty in the hope they will give more. The approach can be subtle or
“in your face”, but in either case, it is both contrary to the spiritual basis of the
Bahá’í Fund and just plain ine²ective.

Good fund-raisers understand that guilt is a poor motivator. You may see a shortlived increase, but over the long term there are better ways. The Master, ‘Abdu’l-
Bahá, gave us a better rule:

“Strive, therefore, to create love in the hearts in order that they may become
glowing and radiant. When that love is shining, it will permeate other hearts
even as this electric light illumines its surroundings. When the love of God
is established, everything else will be realized. This is the true foundation of
all economics. Re·ect upon it. Endeavor to become the cause of the attraction of souls rather than to enforce minds. Manifest true economics to the
people. Show what love is, what kindness is, what true severance is and generosity. This is the important thing for you to do. Act in accordance with the
teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.”
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ, PROMULGATION OF UNIVERSAL PEACE, P. 239

Create programs that involve the friends: brunch with the Local Spiritual Assem-
Application bly; education events of various kinds; community and social events—these will
all a²ect giving.

The Assembly and the Treasurer can experiment with:

• Stories, new or old, of giving and sacri³ce, as well as music, to set a ³tting
tone

• Include information and discussion about the Funds in the community
newsletter

• Share quotes from the Writings with the friends about the nature of giving and its importance to their spiritual development

30 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• Include information about the status of the Local, National and International Funds, highlighting any triumphs—goals met, projects made possible by the gifts of the friends, etc.

You may also wish to organize deepenings in conjunction with new believers classes
as well as stand-alone classes. Subjects may range from

• What are the Di²erent Funds?

• The Real Nature of Sacri³ce

• Money as a Tool for Growth

• Þuqúqu’lláh (with your area representative of the Þuqúq)

Young Believers Can Give, Too!
“Any Bahá’í can give to the Cause’s Funds, adult or child…. Bahá’í children
have always given to the Cause, everywhere.” Application
LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI, DATED FEBRUARY 12, 1949, IN BAHÁ’Í FUNDS:
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ADMINISTRATION, P.16

“The initiatives that youth can take in various fields of development, education and administration is great indeed. It is essential that, from an early age,
they learn to shoulder their responsibilities, including their sacred duty to
contribute generously to the funds of the Faith.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, LETTER DATED 17 DECEMBER 1998 TO NATIONAL YOUTH
COMMITTEE OF INDIA

“In addition, you must redouble your efforts to educate every member of
the Bahá’í community—the new and the old believer, the youth and the
adult—on the spiritual significance of contributing to the Fund.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, LETTER DATED 24 DECEMBER 1996 TO THE CONFERENCE OF
CONTINENTAL BOARDS OF COUNSELORS, STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT, P.25 (146)

It is important to educate young believers early about the spiritual nature of giving and its vital role in one’s spiritual life. It is also a wonderful opportunity to
teach children, junior youth, and youth that money is a tool to spiritualize the
world. Perhaps a local Assembly’s Treasurer could facilitate a discussion on the
fundamentals of contributing to the Bahá’í Funds and/or appoint a young believer as assistant Treasurer.

There are a variety of creative ways to engage young friends in discovering and
rediscovering the spiritual signi³cance of giving and the joys and blessings it brings
to one’s life. Use of materials from popular culture, such as movies or music with
themes relating to wealth and poverty, are also very useful to supplement the
learning process.

Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly 31
Liang the Lion has been teaching young believers about the many aspects of the
Bahá’í Funds through Liang’s Adventures, The American Bahá’í and Brilliant Star
magazine. You may wish to copy and distribute the activities found in these publications for the younger friends, and you may also use the following pages to
share Liang’s message with your community.

Excerpts from “Talks ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Delivered in New York” lend themselves to a
general discussion among youth and adults about poverty and wealth (see the end
of this chapter). Perhaps a few moments at Feast could be set aside for a short
deepening on this subject.

32 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
“…make me a cause of bounty to the human world, and crown
my head with the diadem of eternal life….” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
(diadem = crown or headband worn as a symbol of dignity or royalty)

LIANG the LION
Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly 33
34 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
O SON OF SPIRIT!

I created thee rich,

why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty?

Noble I made thee,

wherewith dost thou abase thyself?

Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly
~ Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh

Talks ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Delivered
in New York
1 July 1912
Talk at 309 West Seventy-Eighth Street, New York

(Notes by Howard MacNutt)

What could be better before God than thinking of the poor? For the poor are
beloved by our heavenly Father. When Christ came upon the earth, those who
believed in Him and followed Him were the poor and lowly, showing that the
poor were near to God. When a rich man believes and follows the Manifestation
of God, it is a proof that his wealth is not an obstacle and does not prevent him
from attaining the pathway of salvation. After he has been tested and tried, it will
be seen whether his possessions are a hindrance in his religious life. But the poor
are especially beloved of God. Their lives are full of di¹culties, their trials continual, their hopes are in God alone. Therefore, you must assist the poor as much
as possible, even by sacri³ce of yourself.

No deed of man is greater before God than helping the poor. Spiritual conditions
are not dependent upon the possession of worldly treasures or the absence of
them. When one is physically destitute, spiritual thoughts are more likely. Poverty is a stimulus toward God. Each one of you must have great consideration for
the poor and render them assistance. Organize in an e²ort to help them and
prevent increase of poverty. The greatest means for prevention is that whereby the
laws of the community will be so framed and enacted that it will not be possible
for a few to be millionaires and many destitute.

One of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings is the adjustment of means of livelihood in human
society. Under this adjustment there can be no extremes in human conditions as
regards wealth and sustenance. For the community needs ³nancier, farmer, merchant and laborer just as an army must be composed of commander, o¹cers and
privates. All cannot be commanders; all cannot be o¹cers or privates. Each in his
station in the social fabric must be competent—each in his function according to
ability but with justness of opportunity for all.

Lycurgus, King of Sparta, who lived long before the day of Christ, conceived the
idea of absolute equality in government. He proclaimed laws by which all the
people of Sparta were classi³ed into certain divisions. Each division had its separate rights and function. ³rst, farmers and tillers of the soil. Second, artisans and
merchants. Third, leaders or grandees. Under the laws of Lycurgus, the latter were
not required to engage in any labor or vocation, but it was incumbent upon them
to defend the country in case of war and invasion. Then he divided Sparta into
nine thousand equal parts or provinces, appointing nine thousand leaders or
grandees to protect them. In this way the farmers of each province were assured of

36 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
protection, but each farmer was compelled to pay a tax to support the grandee of
that province.

The farmers and merchants were not obliged to defend the country. In lieu of
labor the grandees received the taxes. Lycurgus, in order to establish this forever as
a law, brought nine thousand grandees together, told them he was going upon a
long journey and wished this form of government to remain e²ective until his
return. They swore an oath to protect and preserve his law. He then left his kingdom, went into voluntary exile and never came back. No man ever made such a
sacri³ce to ensure equality among his fellowmen. A few years passed, and the
whole system of government he had founded collapsed, although established upon
such a just and wise basis.

Di²erence of capacity in human individuals is fundamental. It is impossible for
all to be alike, all to be equal, all to be wise. Bahá’u’lláh has revealed principles
and laws which will accomplish the adjustment of varying human capacities. He
has said that whatsoever is possible of accomplishment in human government
will be e²ected through these principles.

When the laws He has instituted are carried out, there will be no millionaires
possible in the community and likewise no extremely poor. This will be e²ected
and regulated by adjusting the di²erent degrees of human capacity. The fundamental basis of the community is agriculture, tillage of the soil. All must be producers. Each person in the community whose need is equal to his individual producing capacity shall be exempt from taxation. But if his income is greater than
his needs, he must pay a tax until an adjustment is e²ected. That is to say, a man’s
capacity for production and his needs will be equalized and reconciled through
taxation. If his production exceeds, he will pay a tax; if his necessities exceed his
production, he shall receive an amount su¹cient to equalize or adjust. Therefore,
taxation will be proportionate to capacity and production, and there will be no
poor in the community.

Bahá’u’lláh, likewise, commanded the rich to give freely to the poor. In the Kitábi-Aqdas it is further written by Him that those who have a certain amount of
income must give one-³fth of it to God, the Creator of heaven and earth.

— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp.216–217

Chapter 2—The Treasurer and the Assembly 37
“Wealth & Poverty”
Discussion Questions
(Many of the questions follow the reading of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talk in New York in
1912 from The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 216–217)

1. How does the following quote by Bahá’u’lláh’s son help us to dispel the
myths we hold about the rich and the poor?

“Spiritual conditions are not dependent upon the possession of worldly
treasures or the absence of them.” —Abdu’l-Bahá

2. What is the greatest means for prevention of the extremes of wealth and
poverty?

3. Why did King Lycurgus’ plan fail?

4. Why is absolute equality impracticable or unworkable?

5. How is the Bahá’í attitude different from our current society’s general
view about “hierarchies?”

6. What must the rich do?

7. What must the poor do? Based on the following quote by Bahá’u’lláh,
should they live off of the rich?

“O MY SERVANTS! Ye are the trees of My garden; ye must give forth
goodly and wondrous fruits, that ye yourselves and others may profit therefrom. Thus it is incumbent on every one to engage in crafts and professions, for therein lies the secret of wealth, O men of understanding! For
results depend upon means, and the grace of God shall be all-su¹cient
unto you. Trees that yield no fruit have been and will ever be for the
fire.” —from The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah

8. How do we as a society ensure that neither the poor nor the rich are
discriminated against? What can we do as individuals?

38 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Our contributions to the Faith
are the surest way
of lifting once and for all time
the burden of hunger
and misery from mankind.
—On Behalf of Shoghi Effendi

40 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
3. The Bahá’í Funds
What are the various Bahá’í Funds? What do they do? The following is meant to
introduce these institutions of the Cause and discuss in very general terms how
contributions to each of them are used to further the Faith’s mission.

Which Fund Do I Support?
Giving is about relationships: the relationship with God, with His Manifestation,
with the Administrative Order ordained by Bahá’u’lláh, and with the community.
Giving to the Fund represents one way in which those many relationships can be
expressed. On this most basic level, which of the various Bahá’í Funds one supports is unimportant—they are all facets of a single gem, re·ecting the love we
bear for the Cause of God.

It is also true, however, that Bahá’u’lláh’s Administrative Order operates internationally, regionally, nationally and locally. Institutions have been created at every
level and their activities cost money. We cannot separate the spiritual mission of
these institutions from their material needs, hence each institution is associated
with its own Fund.

In addition, special-purpose funds are occasionally created, whether by the Head
of the Faith or by other institutions pursuing a speci³c purpose. The seeming
multiplication of funds, in turn, has confused much of the dialogue about giving
in the American community over the last several years. Friends who are trying to
do the right thing, but who feel pulled in di²erent directions by apparently competing loyalties, ask with increasing urgency, “Which fund do I support?”

What are the principles involved in answering this question? There are at least
three to which we turn now.

Believers’ Discretion in Giving Principle

First, there is the freedom of the individual to give as she or he sees ³t. The
Guardian wrote that “it should be left entirely to the discretion of every conscien-

Chapter 3—The Bahá’í Funds 41
tious believer to decide upon the nature, the amount, and purpose of his or her
contribution for the propagation of the Cause.” (Bahá’í Administration, p. 101)
The giver often expresses these wishes through earmarking, a more detailed discussion of which can be found below. Also, it is good to observe that the Guardian did not say we can decide “whether” to contribute; that we will all give is
implicit in his statement.

A brief note of caution is in order. Just as Bahá’u’lláh taught that an excess of
freedom can be harmful, so too can an excess of earmarking harm the Faith’s
progress. “. . . (T)he friends should recognize,” wrote the Guardian’s secretary,
“that too much labeling of contributions will tie the hands of the Assembly and
prevent it from meeting its many obligations in various ³elds of Bahá’í activity.”
In February, 1997, the Universal House of Justice advised the friends that the
amount of unrestricted contributions to the Bahá’í International Fund had declined; as a result, the House of Justice “enforced stringent economy at the Bahá’í
World Center and also felt compelled to limit the funds available to meet the
needs of the Faith in other parts of the world.”

One of the responses of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States to
this unfortunate circumstance at the Bahá’í World Center was to encourage the
friends to reduce their level of earmarked contributions by incorporating into its
overall national goal speci³c contribution targets for the International and Continental Bahá’í Funds. While the friends remain free to specify the nature of their
gifts, there is also a mechanism for systematically identifying and meeting the full
range of our national community’s obligations.

Principle Earmarking and Accounting for
Earmarked Contributions
Givers Encouraged to Make Unrestricted Gifts
“Both orally and in his letters Shoghi E²endi has tried to encourage the
friends to contribute to the Central Fund and has made an e²ort to explain
the advantages that we would have in having a large Central Fund and in
giving regular appropriations to each of the di²erent activities of the Cause.
And yet in spite of that, Shoghi E²endi has expressly stated that the friends
are not in the least required to send their contributions unlabelled but are
absolutely free to state whether they wish it to go to the Central Fund or to
some speci³c fund such as the Temple. And moreover the friends must be
assured that funds that are labeled will never be used except for the speci³ed
purpose. Mrs. . . ’s aim in that letter is to encourage them to send unlabelled
contributions which as long as they do not at all require the funds is quite in
conformity with Shoghi E²endi’s desire.”
LETTER OF FEBRUARY 19, 1926 ON BEHALF OF THE GUARDIAN TO CORINNE TRUE

42 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
“With regard to the National Fund, it must not be felt that the believers are
required to send unlabelled contributions to the Fund but that it is only extremely desirable to do so. Individuals are free to specify the purpose of their
donations.”
IBID, ADDENDUM IN THE GUARDIAN’S HANDWRITING

“Regarding your question about contributions: it is up to the individual to
decide; if he wishes to donate a sum for a speci³c purpose, he is free to do so;
but the friends should recognize that too much labeling of contributions
will tie the hands of the Assembly and prevent it from meeting its many
obligations in various ³elds of Bahá’í activity.”
JUNE 23, 1950 LETTER FROM SHOGHI EFFENDI TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
BAHÁ’ÍS OF CANADA, MESSAGES TO CANADA, P. 14

“Whatever is contributed to the National Assembly for a speci³c purpose
should be expended for that purpose only, but I would encourage the friends
to send unlabelled contributions in order not to tie the hands of the National Assembly although I do not in the least require them to do so. I will
pray for your success from all my heart.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, DAWN OF A NEW DAY, P. 15

Freedom to Specify Purpose of Gift
“With regard to the Bahá’í Fund, recently established amongst the friends, I
trust that the matter now stands clear to everyone throughout the country.
As I have previously intimated, although individual friends and local Assemblies are absolutely free to specify the object and purpose of their donations to the National Spiritual Assembly, yet, in my opinion, I regard it as of
the utmost vital importance that individuals, as well as local Assemblies,
throughout the land should, in view of the paramount importance of National Teaching and as an evidence of their absolute con³dence in their national representatives, endeavor, however small at ³rst, to contribute freely
towards the upkeep and increase of the National Bahá’í Fund, so that the
members of the National Assembly may at their full discretion expend it for
whatever they deem urgent and necessary.”
FROM A LETTER BY THE GUARDIAN DATED NOVEMBER 23, 1923 TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES, BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION, P. 57

When Earmarking Instruction Cannot Be Observed
“The beloved Guardian was very emphatic that contributions to Bahá’í funds,
given for speci³ed purposes, may be used only for those purposes, unless the
donor consents to a change. If the Assembly cannot use the contribution for
the purpose speci³ed, it may refuse to accept it. Alternatively it could consult the donor and suggest that he release the contribution for general purposes or transfer it to another speci³ed one, but no pressure should be exerted to force his acquiescence. On the other hand, once money has been
contributed to an Assembly, it is the property of that Assembly, even though
earmarked for a speci³c purpose, and the donor has no right to change its

Chapter 3—The Bahá’í Funds 43
purpose unilaterally. The Assembly, however, may, at its own discretion,
accept his request to do so.”
FROM A LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO A NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY, DECEMBER 30, 1984

Assembly Must Determine Whether Gift Supports Budget or Is Separate
“We fully realize the problem of additional clerical work in forwarding small
contributions to the Holy Land. . . but care must be taken not to violate for
any reason the right of the individual believer to earmark his contribution.

“The need, therefore, is to make clear to the individual believers and local
Spiritual Assemblies how they should express their earmarkings so that the
National Assembly can know whether a contribution is intended to be towards any particular segment of the national budget or to be a separate contribution merely passed through the National Assembly. In view of the
Guardian’s statement* one should assume that, unless there is an indication
to the contrary, an earmarked contribution is intended to be over and above
the allocation made out of the National Fund.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED
STATES, JANUARY 18, 1968

*. . . you mentioned the sum of . . . as being included in the . . . allocated
from your Assembly’s Budget to the World Centre. The principle involved is
as follows: The Guardian feels that your Assembly when allocating its annual budget, and having stipulated what sum is for the purposes of the International Centre of the Faith, should immediately pigeon-hole that sum
to be at the Guardian's disposal. Any monies received as contributions from
the Bahá'ís for the International Centre should not be credited to this account which represents a national joint contribution, and has nothing to do
with individual or local contributions forwarded to the World Centre in
your care.
FROM A LETTER WRITTEN BY THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO A NATIONAL SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLY, AUGUST 21, 1980: (MULTIPLE AUTHORS: LIGHTS OF GUIDANCE, P. 265)

“In general, although it is permitted for the friends to earmark contributions, it is apparent that it is often better that the friends allow the Assembly
to use their contributions without restricting them.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, P. 24

Contributions to Every Fund May Be Sent Directly
“I am moved to renew my fervent plea addressed to all national and local
Assemblies and believers. . . to arise and determinedly gird up their loins to
contribute, through curtailment of budgets, adequate appropriations from
national and local funds, as well as direct sustained individual donations, to
insure uninterrupted ³nancial support, however great the sacri³ce involved,
however heavy the burdens, however distracting the successive crises of the
present hour.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, MESSAGES TO THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD, P. 9

44 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
“Emergence of independent sovereign state in Holy Land . . . as well as
projected acquisition of extensive properties in close neighborhood of the
Most Holy Tomb of Bahá and the precincts of the Shrine on Mount Carmel,
Haifa . . . demand henceforth reorientation and necessitate increasing ³nancial
support by Bahá’í National Communities of East and West, through curtailment of national and local budgets. . . Moreover, participation of individual
believers, through contributions directly transmitted to the Holy Land are
imperative and beyond the scope of the jurisdiction of National and local
Assemblies.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, MESSAGES TO THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD, P. 14

“Appeal to the twelve National Assemblies and individuals to insure a steady
augmentation of these [Continental] Funds through annual assignment in
National budgets and by individual contributions.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, MESSAGES TO THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD, P. 59

Believer’s Prerogative of Contributing Directly to All the Funds
“In educating the friends to be conscious of contributing to the fund as a
fundamental element of Bahá’í life, the Assembly should make them aware
of the individual believer’s prerogative of contributing directly to all the
funds of the Faith: international, continental and national as well as local.”
ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, LIGHTS OF GUIDANCE, P. 259

Accounting for Earmarked Contributions
“Care must be taken that the purpose of earmarking is not defeated. Thus
the use of earmarked funds to defray the expense of particular items in your
budget has the e²ect of reducing, pro tanto, the amount of general contributions needed to be applied to the budget. In e²ect, this practice may result in there being no di²erence between an earmarked contribution and
one not earmarked. For example: A friend may earmark a contribution for
the Bahá’í International Fund. To apply this to the contribution to the Bahá’í
International Fund from your National Fund would be wrong unless the
earmarking so speci³es. Funds earmarked merely to the Bahá’í International
Fund should be sent to the World Center in addition to whatever contribution is made from the National Fund.”
FROM A LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO A NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY,
JANUARY 29, 1971 (MULTIPLE AUTHORS: LIGHTS OF GUIDANCE, P. 264)

“This question of proper accounting for earmarked funds is very important.
The account books of any Assembly should be designed in such a way that
will always clearly distinguish between earmarked funds and funds freely at
the disposition of the Assembly, so that there will be no danger of the
Assembly’s inadvertently commingling them and spending earmarked funds
for the wrong purpose.”
FROM A LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO A NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY,
AUGUST 6, 1984 (MULTIPLE AUTHORS: LIGHTS OF GUIDANCE, P. 265)

“We have been asked to call your attention to the principle that earmarked

Chapter 3—The Bahá’í Funds 45
funds such as those for the purchase or maintenance of properties, for special teaching projects, etc., should not be used for other purposes, but should
be held in a special account until expended for the purpose for which they
were given. This is true whether the funds are from the World Center, from
individuals or from other sources. If the project for which the funds have
been given is abandoned, the contribution should be returned to the donor
unless he agrees that it may be used for other purposes. Strict adherence to
the principles regarding the earmarking of funds is extremely important for
many reasons, including the maintaining of the con³dence of the friends in
matters pertaining to the Fund.”
FROM A LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO A NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY,
JANUARY 21, 1979 (MULTIPLE AUTHORS: LIGHTS OF GUIDANCE, P. 264)

Principle Achieving the Greatest Good
Concomitant with the great freedom we enjoy in relation to our giving is the need
to focus our resources so as to achieve the greatest good. A broad river will have
greater e²ect than a hundred small creeks. The beloved Guardian expressed it this
way:
“…I cannot help observing that, driven by their impetuous eagerness to
establish the undisputed reign of Bahá’u’lláh on this earth, they may by an
undue multiplication of their activities, and the consequent dissipation of
their forces, defeat the very purpose which animates them in the pursuit of
their glorious task. Particularly do I feel that this necessity of a careful estimation of the present resources at our disposal and of cautious restraint in
handling them applies in a peculiar manner to the swiftly expanding activities of the American believers….”
BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION, PP. 140–141

Principle Priorities in Giving
This concept of focusing our resources leads to the fourth principle, which is that
there are priorities in giving. “The beloved Guardian has explained that the general and national interests of the Cause take precedence over local ones; thus
contributions to local funds are secondary to those to national funds,” wrote the
Universal House of Justice in August 1985. In 1993 we received this wonderful
explanation of priorities by the Supreme Body:

“The ³xing of priorities is dependent on many factors, relating both to the
Cause as a whole and to each individual in his or her own circumstances.

“As far as the Cause is concerned, all the work must be kept going; all the
funds need to be supported, both directly by the believers, and also by the

46 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
making of contributions by Bahá’í institutions from one fund to another,
which do not take the place of contributions from individuals—the source
of the life-blood of the Cause.

“At the level of the individual believer, attention to the needs of the funds of
the Faith parallels the principles which govern multiple loyalties. The ³rst
loyalty of a Bahá’í is to the whole of mankind, for the bene³t of the part is
best achieved through the welfare of the whole. But this widest loyalty does
not eliminate the lesser loyalties of love for one’s country, for the area in
which one lives, or for one’s family. They all constitute a network of interdependent and mutually bene³cial loyalties. So it is with the individual believer’s
relationship to the International, Continental, National and Local Funds.

“Although the setting of priorities for contributing is a matter for personal
judgement, the individual believer will certainly bear in mind the priorities
of the work of the Cause as a whole.”

We see, therefore, that there is a hierarchy of priority which begins with the Universal House of Justice and its two sources of funding, the Bahá’í International
Fund and the Right of God; which continues to the Continental Bahá’í Funds,
and then on to National and Funds. Every other appeal, however worthy the
purpose, can reasonably be said to come after all these other needs are fully met.

Striking the right balance among these four principles is the job of each individual and each Assembly, based on their information and the promptings of
their hearts.

Now let us look at the various Funds, what they do, and how we can support
them.

Bahá’í International Fund
The Bahá’í International Fund supports the vast array of work of the Universal
House of Justice. It is used, among other things, to ³nance the operations of the
Bahá’í World Center and of the Bahá’í International Community worldwide,
assist various National Spiritual Assemblies, fund agencies for Bahá’í social and
economic development, and support programs carried out in conjunction with
various United Nations organizations.

Continental Bahá’í Fund
The Continental Bahá’í Fund supports the propagation and protection work of
the International Teaching Center, the Continental Boards of Counselors, the
Auxiliary Boards and their assistants. The Universal House of Justice wrote:

Chapter 3—The Bahá’í Funds 47
“Nor should the believers, individually or in their Assemblies, forget the
vitally important Continental Funds which provide for the work of the Hands
of the Cause of God and their Auxiliary Boards. This divine institution, so
assiduously fostered by the Guardian, and which has already played a unique
role in the history of the Faith, is destined to render increasingly important
services in the years to come.”
LETTER DATED DECEMBER 18, 1963

Giving to the International Funds
The Bahá’ís have several options for making contributions to the international
funds of the Faith (the Bahá’í International Fund and the Continental Bahá’í
Fund).

First, the friends may send contributions for the International Funds directly to
the World Center at the following address:

Bahá’í International Fund
P.O. Box 155
Haifa 31 001
ISRAEL

O²erings for the Continental Bahá’í Fund are presently sent to the Bahá’í National Center in Evanston, which has agreements with the Trustee of the Continental Fund to deposit such gifts. The address of the National Spiritual Assembly
under “Giving to the National Bahá’í Fund,” above should be used, with a note
specifying that the gift is for the Continental Fund.

Second, the friends are free to earmark a portion of their Local Fund contributions for any of the international or continental Funds, and the local Treasurer
will pass those contributions along on their behalf.

Third, believers may make contributions to the Local Fund which will become
part of the Local Assembly’s budget for international contributions.

Fourth, contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund can be earmarked for the international Funds (“non-discretionary” contributions). Fifth, friends can make
contributions to the National Fund (i.e. “discretionary” contributions) which will
become part of the budget of the National Assembly in support of the international funds.

Donors should keep in mind that contributions made directly to international
funds, or “non-discretionary” contributions, are not tax deductible. Donors will
also want to note that International contributions made through the Bahá'í Na-

48 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
tional Center in Evanston are available to the Universal House of Justice no more
than 24 hours after they are received. Checks sent to Haifa may be delayed in the
banking system as much as three weeks or more.

The National Bahá’í Fund
This fund supports the work of the National Spiritual Assembly. It is used to
promote national proclamation, expansion, and consolidation of the Faith; to
maintain national properties, including the House of Worship in Wilmette, “the
holiest House of Worship ever to be raised to the glory of Bahá’u’lláh”; to promote external a²airs work and defend believers wherever they are persecuted; and
to support the international institutions of the Faith.
“Regarding the state of the National Fund, which you have reported is su²ering from a general slackness in contributions from both individual believers
and the Local Assemblies and groups: It is only evident that unless the ·ow
of donations is regularly maintained by means of generous and continual
support by all the believers, individually and collectively, the National Fund
will never be able to meet the needs and requirements of the Cause, particularly in these days when the national activities of the American believers are
assuming such wide and increasing proportions.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, LETTER DATED 3 FEBRUARY, 1941

Giving to the National Bahá’í Fund
Bahá’ís may make contributions to the National Fund in any one of three ways.
First, the friends can send contributions payable to the National Bahá’í Fund
directly to the Treasurer at the Bahá’í National Center at the following address:

O¹ce of the Treasurer
Bahá’í National Center
1233 Central Street
Evanston, IL 60201

An origional (suitable for photocopying) page of the National Bahá’í Fund contribution forms is located at the end of Chapter 6.

Second, the friends are free to earmark a portion of their Local Fund contributions for the National Bahá’í Fund. Such contributions are given to the local
Treasurer and receipted locally.

Third, friends can make contributions to the Local Fund which will become part
of the budget of the Local Assembly and used in meeting the goal for the Assembly’s
contribution to the National Bahá’í Fund.

Chapter 3—The Bahá’í Funds 49
The Local Bahá’í Fund
The local Fund supports the work of the Local Spiritual Assembly and the administration of the community’s a²airs. The Universal House of Justice wrote:
“The universal participation of the believers in every aspect of the Faith—in
contributing to the Fund, in teaching, deepening, living the Bahá’í life, administering the a²airs of the community, and, above all, in the life of prayer
and devotion to God—will endow the Bahá’í community with such strength
that it can overcome the forces of spiritual disintegration which are engul³ng
the non-Bahá’í world, and can become an ocean of oneness that will cover
the face of the planet.”
LETTER DATED DECEMBER 29, 1970

Giving to the Local Bahá’í Fund
The friends are privileged to make contributions to their Local Fund and support
their Local Spiritual Assembly and the a²airs of their home community. Contributions to the Local Fund become part of the budget of the Local Spiritual Assembly unless otherwise earmarked. The Local Assemblies use their discretion to
set goals for the National, Continental and International Funds.

A Note About Bahá’í Identification
(BID) Numbers
In order to process contributions, it is very helpful if the memo section of each
contribution check clearly shows the donor’s Bahá’í identi³cation number. If the
friends wish for their contribution to be credited jointly with another believer,
they need to complete a contribution slip (see form at the end of Chapter 6) with
the individual BID and full legal name of each person included, along with all
BIDs listed in the memo section of the check.

ACS Subscriptions
The National Spiritual Assembly has an automatic contribution system (ACS)
that can process monthly contributions to the Fund directly from the believer’s
checking account. Friends using the ACS have found it to be a great help in
making regular contributions to any or all of the national and international Funds.
The system aids the National Assembly by reducing processing costs and providing a steady, year-round ·ow of contribution income.

50 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
To enroll, an individual or assembly would complete the Individual or Group/
Local Spiritual Assembly portion of the ACS enrollment form, found periodically in The American Bahá’í or available from the O¹ce of the Treasurer (see
form at the end of Chapter 5).

Deputization
“Center your energies in the propagation of the Faith if God. Whoso is
worthy of so high a calling, let him arise and promote it. Whoso is unable, it
is his duty to appoint him who will, in his stead, proclaim this Revelation,
whose power hath caused the foundations of the mightiest structures to quake,
every mountain to be crushed into dust, and every soul to be dumfounded.”
—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, GLEANINGS P. 196-197

Contributions for Deputization of Homefront Pioneers

Individuals can donate their contributions to the Local Spiritual Assembly earmarked for the Deputization Fund.

If the donor wants tax deductibility for the contribution, the donor must give
discretion to the Local Spiritual Assembly for his or her contribution. If the donor
does not give discretion to the institution, the contribution is not tax deductible.

The treasurer of the Local Spiritual Assembly must keep deputization funds in a
separate account until such time as the funds are used. The Local Spiritual Assembly will decide and approve the recipients of these funds. After careful consideration and consultation, the Assembly may choose the provide funds for that person, or to assist that person to find ways to raise the needed funds. The recipient(s)
of deputization funds should account to the Local Spiritual Assembly with a detailed expense report.

Contributions for Deputization of International Pioneers

Individuals can donate their contributions directly to the National Spiritual Assembly or through the Local Spiritual Assembly to the National Fund.

Individuals may not take a charitable tax deduction from their federal income tax
if they sponsor a specific individual. Any contribution stating that it is the ‘wish,
hope and desire that…’ for the designation of earmarking of a contribution will
permit the Treasurer’s Office to provide a receipt for that contribution. While the
National Spiritual Assembly will most likely honor the request, the wording above
ultimately permits the National Spiritual Assembly discretion on the disbursement of the contributed funds.

Chapter 3—The Bahá’í Funds 51
For the dissemination of deputization funds from the National Spiritual Assembly there is an application, and certain criteria established with the Office of
International Pioneering that must be met. Believers are encouraged to arrange
automatic deductions for ongoing contributions earmarked for deputization.

Contributions for Deputization of Training Institute Teachers

The Universal House of Justice, in recognition of the importance of training
institutes and the critical need for trained teachers, offered the following guidance in its Ridván 1996 message:
Just as one deputizes another to teach in one’s stead by covering the expenses
of a pioneer or traveling teacher, one can deputize a teacher serving an institute, who is, of course, a teacher of teachers. To do so, one may make contributions to the Continental Bahá’í Fund, as well as to the Local, National
and International funds, earmarked for this purpose.
—TRAINING INSTITUTES, GUIDANCE FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, PP. 7–8

52 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
The unity of the believers, rich and poor alike,
in their support of the Fund
will be a source of spiritual confirmations
far beyond our capacity to envisage.
—The Universal House of Justice

54 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
4. Fund-raising and
Planned Giving
So far we have talked about principles of the Faith regarding the Fund, and about
some of the possible applications of these principles. Many Treasurers have asked
for information about fund-raising and planned giving, so let’s take a look at
those subjects now.

Fund-raising Is About Principle
Relationships and the Heart
Most local communities have developed their own approaches to raising money
among Bahá’ís for Bahá’í purposes. No veteran believer in the United States will
be unfamiliar with the various methods we use so widely: auctions, pot-luck dinners and bake sales, pledges, and so on. Many friends, however, and a signi³cant
number of Treasurers, have asked whether these methods are appropriate or adequate, and whether there is anything we can learn from the fund-raising profession. The discussion that follows attempts to integrate Bahá’í principles with some
of those basic to the fund-raising profession in general.

The ³rst thing to understand about fund-raising is that it is a spiritual process
with material aspects and not the other way around. This means that our success
will depend, not on our competence in using some method, but on whether our
words and actions are consistent with the standards established in the Teachings.
There are many methods used by professionals in the larger community. Some of
them can be very useful to us; others, though widely used elsewhere, would be
destructive to our work. Our methods need to be characterized by dignity and
careful attention to the e²ect they will have on the spiritual well-being and feelings of the believers. Achieving our ³nancial goals is important, but not if we
sacri³ce our values along the way.

“…The House of Justice feels that it is important for the friends never to
lose sight of the fact that contributing to the funds of the Faith is a spiritual
responsibility and privilege of profound significance in the spiritual life of

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 55
the individual believer, and care must be taken not to trivialize this aspect of
Bahá’í life by applying to it too many ‘gimmicks’ or treating it with a lack of
dignity. At the same time, the Assemblies should not dampen the enthusiasm of those friends who, having only slender financial resources, devise
imaginative ways of earning money for the work of the Faith.

“Within this framework, there is clearly a difference in the range of activities
open to individuals and those which it would be befitting and dignified for
a Spiritual Assembly to engage in or sponsor.”
ENCLOSED WITH A LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE,
JUNE 26, 1982

“Such gatherings for collections of funds are permissible if it is done with a
true spirit of sacrifice, not when the audience is especially aroused to a frenzy
and mob psychology is used to induce them to pay.

“Shoghi Effendi has repeatedly stated that no pressure should be used upon
the friends and psychological pressure falls under that category. But there is
much difference between such gatherings often used by religious bodies, and
a true quiet, prayerful atmosphere when a person is, of his own accord, aroused
to make some sacrifice. The distinction is very delicate, but it is for the Chairman to use his power to see that one desirable form is not corrupted into the
other. All the activities of the Cause should be carried through in a dignified
manner.”
WRITTEN OF BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI, MAY 28, 1932, IN BAHÁ’Í FUNDS: CONTRIBUTIONS AND
ADMINISTRATION, P. 8

“I need not enlarge at the present moment upon what I have stated in the past,
that contributions to the local and national Funds are of a purely voluntary
character; that no coercion or solicitation of funds is to be tolerated in the
Cause; that general appeals addressed to the communities as a body should be
the only form in which the financial requirements of the Faith are to be met;
that the financial support accorded to a very few workers in the teaching and
administrative fields is of a temporary nature; that the present restrictions imposed on the publication of Bahá’í literature will be definitely abolished; that
the World Unity activity is being carried out as an experiment to test the
efficacy of the indirect method of teaching; that the whole machinery of assemblies, of committees and conventions is to be regarded as a means, and not
an end in itself; that they will rise or fall according to their capacity to further
the interests, to coordinate the activities, to apply the principles, to embody
the ideals and execute the purpose of the Bahá’í Faith.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, WORLD ORDER OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, P.9

“There is clearly no objection to an Assembly’s giving contributions in kind
to a professional auctioneer to sell and then to use the proceeds for the Fund.
Whether it would be proper to hold such an “ordinary auction” among Bahá’ís
would depend upon the Assembly’s judgment as to whether a properly dignified atmosphere could be observed and also whether it could be construed

56 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
as bringing pressure to bear upon the friends to contribute which would, of
course, be undesirable. In general the House of Justice prefers not to encourage such auctions for the Fund.”
FROM A LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO A NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY CITED IN A LETTER TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF MALAYSIA, MAY
26, 1982

A spiritual process also requires us to rely on unseen powers. These powers exist to
help accomplish the purposes for which we are raising money. The fact that these
Principle
powers are available to us also encourages us to adopt ambitious goals, and to act
with the con³dence that the goals will be met. Our contact with these forces will
change our lives and increase our appetite for the actions that call spiritual power
into our lives. Our increasing reliance on spiritual power, in turn, will help to
build our communities. It is this mystical dynamic we seek to engage when we
attempt to mobilize money in support of the Faith, and which makes our fundraising so much more important than mere ³nance. If we understand that fundraising can promote every Bahá’í value and every Bahá’í goal, then we can really
begin to integrate money into our service to the Faith.

A statement by the beloved Master captures the essence of this most basic fundraising concept, and should stand as a sure safeguard against any tendency to
become material, crass or harsh in our e²orts to ensure that ³nancial needs are
met. Although the passage is quoted elsewhere, it is so essential that it merits
repeating here:
“Strive, therefore, to create love in the hearts in order that they may become
glowing and radiant. When that love is shining, it will permeate other hearts
even as this electric light illumines its surroundings. When the love of God
is established, everything else will be realized. This is the true foundation of
all economics. Re·ect upon it. Endeavor to become the cause of the attraction of souls rather than to enforce minds. Manifest true economics to the
people. Show what love is, what kindness is, what true severance is and generosity. This is the important thing for you to do. Act in accordance with the
teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. All His Books will be translated. Now is the time
for you to live in accordance with His words. Let your deeds be the real
translation of their meaning. Economic questions will not attract hearts.
The love of God alone will attract them. Economic questions are most interesting; but the power which moves, controls and attracts the hearts of men
is the love of God.”
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ, PROMULGATION OF UNIVERSAL PEACE, P. 239

The Master’s advice serves, too, as a hint that relationships are all-important in
the fund development work. If the loving relationship between two individuals is
a close one, they can discuss almost anything; even mistakes are taken in stride.
This fact is as true at the personal level as it is at the institutional level; the Universal House of Justice speaks (May 19, 1994) of the “feeling among the individuals
composing the community that the Assembly is a part of themselves,” and says
that such a feeling is key in maintaining a climate of love and unity in the community.

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 57
Relationships take time to develop, so your fund-raising program needs to grow
out of a constant e²ort to build relationships between the friends and the Assembly. Conversely, without a close, loving relationship between the individuals and
the institutions, fund-raising programs become much harder to carry out. The
Treasurer has a central role to play in imagining how to build such relationships
and then in actually building them.

The speci³c method your Assembly, or the friends in your community, may choose
for fund-raising can best be understood by asking how it a²ects the relationships
you are building. First, what are the principles and teachings involved? If the
Assembly is satis³ed on that score, then it would ask itself how the friends will
respond. If a certain type of fund-raiser is comfortable for your community and is
consistent with Bahá’í principles, then it may be all right; if there are any concerns at all about whether it is undigni³ed or divisive, then you might think of
some other way to focus on the goals.

The best professionals understand the value of relationship-building in fund development. One of the most well-known fund-raisers says he never solicits because that is too much like begging, a profession he de³nitely would not choose
for himself. He reports, however, that the people he approaches, who are generally quite well-to-do, often just want to be listened to; they have cares and concerns that no one suspects or cares about. Then, this professional says, he still
doesn’t ask for money, though now he has the ear of the person; rather he informs
his listener until the listener asks how he can help.

Principle Focusing Communications
Relationships can be developed better when we try to match our communications
to the audience and to the task in hand. A few moments’ consultation should be
enough for the Assembly to realize that it is addressing several di²erent audiences,
even within the local community: various age groups, diverse cultural backgrounds,
varying levels of active commitment to local programs, and women and men are
just some of the characteristics Bahá’u’lláh has combined in your locality. Di²erent
life experiences lead people to hear things di²erently. An alert Assembly recognizes this reality and shapes its communications to reach as many of the various
elements in the community as possible.

The Universal House of Justice pointed out the need for this approach when they
said:
“The same presentation of the teachings will not appeal to everybody; the
method of expression and the approach must be varied in accordance with
the outlook and interests of the hearer. An approach which is designed to
appeal to everybody will usually result in attracting the middle section, leaving both extremes untouched.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, PROMINENT PEOPLE, P. 4

58 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
This advice was in the context of teaching, but it would seem evident that the
same principle applies in fund communications with the believers, too.

The foregoing is not meant to suggest that we adopt practices used in the general
community which are inherently divisive. It is common, for example, to see charities give preferential treatment to those with more money: special activities, free
tickets and dinners, and so on. People are induced to give more by o²ering to
upgrade them from one “giving club” to another. Donors’ names are attached to
buildings, furnishings, programs and even paving stones. These methods are of
course quite alien to the Bahá’í way.

On the other hand, let us assume that a local community has a thorough, ongoing series of general communications and programs to ensure that the believers all Application
know the Fund targets and requirements. Such e²orts could be complemented by
special gatherings devoted, say, to one of the permanent Bahá’í schools: invitations might go from the Treasurer or a willing community member to those who
have expressed a special interest in that school, or individuals might be asked to
prepare a deepening on the Guardian’s statements about the school. A ³eld trip
might be set up for children to visit the school and explore ways they could support it. A member of the school’s advisory committee might be asked to visit;
groups of di²erent sizes or compositions could meet with that person, in addition
to a general community meeting. Lots of possibilities could be imagined, but the
common thread is that each is designed to build or enhance the relationship the
friends feel to, in this case, the school, so they can see what their personal role
might be in helping the school achieve its mandate. It can be one thing to know
the goal; it might be a very di²erent thing to know what I can do to help meet the
goal.

There Are Different Kinds of Money
All money is green, right? But that apparent sameness is actually misleading. There
are di²erent kinds of money, because people come by it, and use it, in di²erent
ways. That’s fortunate, because the institutions need di²erent kinds of money.

People will share some kinds of money easily, but they won’t share other kinds
until a real relationship, and the trust that goes with it, has developed. The believer’s
relationship with the institutions is, by de³nition, a strong one, but we know that
e²ort is also required to strengthen and maintain it. As the Guardian wrote:

“Let it be made clear to every inquiring reader that among the most outstanding and sacred duties incumbent upon those who have been called Principle
upon to initiate, direct and coordinate the a²airs of the Cause, are those that
require them to win by every means in their power the con³dence and
a²ection of those whom it is their privilege to serve.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION, P. 143

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 59
We might therefore be unwise simply to assume that these relationships will take
care of themselves. Systematic thought needs to be given to ways of caretaking
the spiritual links that ·ow from our common allegiance to the Cause.

What are the di²erent “kinds” of money?

One kind comes from current earnings (a monthly pay-check, interest income on
investments, etc.). It comes in and goes out each month and is used by the earner
to pay current obligations. The Faith’s institutions have current obligations they
must pay, too, so this kind of money ³ts that need exactly. This is short-term
money for short-term uses, and it presently represents the bulk of the income to
the various Funds.

The other kind of money is long-term—savings and investments of various kinds.
Both individuals and institutions use long-term money to meet long-term needs.
For the individual, those needs might be education, a home purchase or improvement, or retirement savings. For the institutions, such needs might be buildings,
permanent programs or endowments.

Because it is harder for people to get and keep this second kind of money, they
tend to be more attached to it. They will share it in an emergency, or if they are
moved to support a long-term goal or objective. This is money people expect to
live out their lives on; they want to try to make a lasting di²erence when they give
it, not buy paper-clips and pay this month’s phone bill. The contributions from
savings can be much larger than short-term money; but these large amounts are
shared where trust exists, where a shared long-term goal is involved.

The institutions have both short- and long-term needs and requirements. There
can be a power in understanding the di²erence between the two, and in matching
long-term tasks with long-term money and vice versa. What does this mean in
practical terms, though?

Let us say a local Assembly wants to get a center. They are considering a campaign
Application to raise $500,000. The community is composed mainly of relatively young people
living o² their monthly wages. If the friends feel they are already giving as much
as they can and are not big savers, an attempt to launch a local center campaign
would need to account for this economic fact. The campaign’s time-frame might
need to be longer. A Treasurer tempted to stand up in Feast and lament the lack of
progress toward the center goal may alienate friends who feel they are already
doing everything they can; more discretion would be required so as not to damage the relationships between the believers and their Assembly. Consultation will
help strike the right balance: the friends’ capacity is probably greater than they
think it is, but there are real limits, too, and they will a²ect the community’s
readiness to move into its own center. The local Assembly has the job of assessing
the real situation as best it can.

Communication styles can also be tailored, not just in accordance with the di²erent
Application characteristics of the friends, but also with the di²erent kinds of resources they

60 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
command. Meeting short-term operating needs might be accomplished by mailings and short presentations at the Nineteen-Day Feast. A long-term objective
would likely require special meetings and other events designed to get unity of
thought on the program’s long-term bene³ts to the community and the Faith.
More e²ective education and communication, matching the resource and the
task, should assist in meeting all the goals.

Special Events and Campaigns
Much of what has been discussed above assumes the long haul, that is the ongoing, constant e²ort made to build relationships. As those relationships develop,
the friends will come spiritually closer to the heart of the Faith and that closeness
will be re·ected in giving, teaching, service of all kinds. We will begin to see the
mature response the Universal House of Justice hoped to see in our giving behavior, a pattern that is not characterized by the feast and famine cycle we have witnessed for so long.

The emergency campaign, what some call “crying wolf,” usually undermines the
community’s e²ort to show that mature response. There may sometimes be a
wolf to cry about, but most times the impulse is best avoided.

At the same time, there is a value in special events and campaigns. The Campaign
of Glorious Privilege, which ran in the United States between 1994 and 1996,
Application
stands out as an excellent example of how a campaign can build community.

The ³rst step was for the Local Spiritual Assembly to assess the real capacity of its
community. Many did this with the help of trained volunteers who were prepared
to challenge assumptions about the needs of the Arc Projects and the friends’
ability to meet those needs. Relying on a degree of latent or unseen capacity and
on the spiritual forces Bahá’u’lláh promises, many Assemblies felt moved to choose
goals that even astonished themselves. They then set about designing an event, or
a series of events, that would galvanize the community, raise its sights, and meet
the goal.

Most communities found that their goals were easy to achieve because they began
with universal participation. The events took on the character of a celebration.
Everyone was invited and everyone had a task. Because that pattern was set from
the beginning, the actual giving part became an extension of the activity already
done. The lasting value of the campaign was its community-building aspect, enhanced by a shared sense of power and victory. It was thus no surprise to hear of
communities reaching for new levels in teaching, deepening, and service, once
they had had a glimpse of how much they really could do.

Let’s look to the wealth of guidance offered by the Guardian and the Universal
House of Justice for further direction regarding fund-raising:

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 61
“…Appeals of a general character, carefully worded and moving and dignified in tone are welcome under all circumstances…”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION, P. 101

“Undoubtedly there will be a time on the program of each Conference during which the needs of the Fund will be called to the attention of the friends,
and facilities will be provided where the believers can quietly give contributions or record pledges. There should be no public display of contributing or
pledging.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED
STATES, APRIL 3, 1967

“We have considered your letter of March 25, 1970 informing us of the
programs you intended to launch in support of the fund for the erection of
the Panama Temple.

“…We feel that the friends should be encouraged to approach their responsibility to contribute to the various funds in a mature manner, and that we
should not have to resort to various devices for this purpose.

“There is certainly no objection to the friends devising, on their own, ways
and means of reminding themselves of the need to contribute, including the
use of coin boxes. And there is no objection to the friends discussing their
ideas among themselves, but we think that there should be no organized
program adopted along the lines you propose. Conversely, the National Assembly should do nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the friends. Rather,
they should seek to lead the friends slowly and lovingly to a true understanding of Bahá’í stewardship and sacrifice.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED
STATES, APRIL, 3, 1970

“…the devoted followers of Bahá’u’lláh have…every opportunity to contribute regularly and sacrificially to the work of the Cause. It is to a greater
realization of the privilege and responsibility of supporting the multiple activities of our beloved Faith that we call you all at this critical time in world
history, and remind you that to support the Bahá’í funds is an integral part
of the Bahá’í way of life. The need is not only now, but throughout the years
to come, until our exertions, reinforced by confirmations from on high, will
have overcome the great perils now facing mankind and have made this world
another world – a world whose splendor and grace will surpass our highest
hopes and greatest dreams.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, LETTER DATED JANUARY, 3, 1985

“I feel that only such goods as are owned by believers, whether made by
Bahá’ís or non-Bahá’ís, may be sold in the interests of the Temple or any
other Bahá’í institutions, thus maintaining the general principle that nonbelievers are not, whether directly or indirectly, expected to contribute to
the support of institutions that are of a strictly Bahá’í character. As to the
manner of the disposal of Bahá’í property (items owned by individual be-

62 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
lievers) for such purposes, and the channel through which the sale may be
effected, I feel that no rigid rule should be imposed. Individual Bahá’ís are
free to seek the help of private individuals or of Spiritual Assemblies to act as
intermediary for such transactions. We should avoid confusion on one hand
and maintain efficiency on the other, and lay no unnecessary restrictions
that would fetter individual initiative and enterprise.”
WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI, JANUARY 4, 1929, IN BAHÁ’Í FUNDS: CONTRIBUTIONS
AND A DMINISTRATION, P. 15

“As to the sale of personal items for the benefit of Bahá’í funds, we begin
with the principle that any believer may sell personal services or goods to
anyone and do with the proceeds as he wishes, including giving any or all of
them to Bahá’í purposes. In doing so, however, he should not represent to
non-Bahá’ís that such a sale is for the benefit of a Bahá’í fund as it is also a
principle that it is improper to solicit funds from non-Bahá’ís in the name of
the Faith for any purpose. This includes the sale of food and admission to
entertainment.”
WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, JANUARY 15, 1984 IN LIGHTS OF
GUIDANCE, P. 252

“First there is the principle that any believer may sell personal services or
property to anyone and do with the proceeds as he wishes, including giving
any or all of them to Bahá’í purposes. Thus if a Bahá’í concert artist gives a
concert to which admission is charged, he is free, if he so wishes, to give the
money so earned to the Fund or to any charity of his choice. In giving the
concert, however, he should not represent to non-Bahá’ís that the concert is
for the benefit of the Bahá’í Fund or is given on behalf of Bahá’ís for a
charity, which brings us to the second principle: that it is improper for Bahá’ís
to solicit funds from non-Bahá’ís in the name of the Faith for any purpose.
If a non-Bahá’í insists on making a monetary contribution it may be accepted with the express understanding that it will be used only for charitable
or philanthropic purposes, but such contributions should be discouraged,
not encouraged.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE: FROM A LETTER TO A LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY, MARCH 19,
1973

“In reviewing your Minutes for 15 March 1967, we note Item 25-8 which
the Treasurer suggests a lottery as a means of disposing of a Persian carpet
which had been given to you by one of the believers. We do not feel this is an
appropriate way in which to raise funds…

“As to participation in Bingo games by a Local Spiritual Assembly with the
intention of contributing to the Fund, we do not feel it is appropriate for
funds for the Faith to be raised through games of chance or raffles.”
ENCLOSED WITH A LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE U NIVERSAL HOUSE OF J USTICE,
NOVEMBER 20, 1980

“There is, however, a wide range of fund-raising activities in which Bahá’ís
may engage. For example, Bahá’í institutions are free to approach govern-

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 63
ments or institutions which hold themselves out as wishing to fund charitable activities, to apply for grants to assist in specific humanitarian projects.
A Bahá’í School which has both Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í pupils is free to raise
funds for its own development by such activities as concerts, etc… or by
appeals to parents; in this instance, a humanitarian institution is clearly identified, and the funds are being collected in its name rather than in the name
of the Faith. Another example is that of a Bahá’í who wishes to sell an item
he owns to the general public for a fair market price; he is free to use the
proceeds for any purpose he wishes, including contributing them all or part
to the Bahá’í Fund provided he does not represent to the public that the sale
is being conducted for the benefit of the Faith.

“There would be no objection to the Bahá’í community’s joining with others to give a concert or undertake some other similar activity to raise funds
for a deserving charity. Such activities or even the making of donations to
humanitarian work should be, and should be seen to be, acts of sincere assistance and co-operation. In choosing to engage in such fund-raising, a Bahá’í
community would need to ensure that assisting the charity would not have
partisan political implications or support purposes contrary to the interests
of the Faith. It would need to watch carefully that its involvement in such
activities does not divert its energies from the vital work of teaching the
Faith and consolidating its Institutions.”
FROM A LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO THE NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF CANADA, DATED AUGUST 20, 1987

Principle Saying Thank You
Most professional “shops” pay a lot of attention to saying thank you, to acknowledging gifts. They understand the importance of this discipline in building good
relationships. They may even have detailed speci³cations—a letter before 48 hours,
signed by someone in the organization appropriate to the size or importance of
the gift, is a common approach.

In a Bahá’í context, it is not quite so simple. We pay less attention to the amount
and instead think about the level of sacri³ce involved; con³dentiality is carefully
preserved; and the relationships run between the believers and the institution,
not an individual serving the institution. We generally do not know what sacri³ce
is involved, and do we really know whether a donation represents generosity? So
how can we properly acknowledge a gift?

An acknowledgment needs to be in a form the donor appreciates—that is the key
Application concept to remember. Saying thank you for a large amount just because of its size
is not something most believers really appreciate; they know the Teachings as well
as the Treasurer does.

64 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
A general mention at Feast, however, that contributions that month, or even a
special contribution received during the month, has made a certain success possible, might be more well-received. A letter from the Local Spiritual Assembly to
someone who has demonstrated staunch support over a period of time would suit
some of the friends. Some celebration of a particular sacri³ce and the spirit in
which it is given may be appropriate in certain cases; a short note to a child that
can help build behaviors that will bless and protect the young person all their lives
is almost always welcome.

The above examples suggest that:

• Most friends want to know their o²ering has made a di²erence

• The Treasurer’s sense of grace, kindness and balance is essential

• Acknowledgments are a “case by case” matter

The Professionals
and the General Public
There is a bibliography (see Appendix E) that gives titles of some of the books the
O¹ce of the Treasurer has found helpful in its own attempts at service. These are
by professional authors who are not (yet!) members of the Bahá’í community. We
would urge you to ³nd and read these books. Not everything in them is suited to
the Bahá’í work; you will want always to ³lter what you discover there through
the Teachings. But there is much of value that will enhance your service to your
community and help you establish links with people at lots of other non-pro³t
organizations (an activity you will ³nd rewarding in many ways). When in doubt
about any method, consult!

Many Assemblies have approached the national O¹ce of the Treasurer asking
about raising money for local charities of various kinds. This type of activity can
be a useful addition to the proclamation and external a²airs work of the Local
Spiritual Assembly.

It is surprising, however, how many local Treasurers feel that while we cannot
solicit contributions from the Bahá’ís, solicitation and some of the more hardedged fund-raising techniques are ³ne for these other pursuits! Su¹ce it to say,
Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings are intended for everyone; a spiritual principle works in
every situation, and actions that do not rest on spiritual principle will always lead
to problems.

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 65
The following chart may be useful as your community consults about the next
fundraiser:

FUNDRAISER FEASIBILITY

lays
es

alks
s
she

Sal
s

s
s/P
tion

ner
es/W
Wa
age

cert
Auc

Din
Car

Rac
Before planning a fundraising event for the Baha'i Funds,

Gar

Con
we can ask ourselves…"Does the event…"

1. strive to create love in the hearts of the believers?
2. build and strengthen relationship between believers & institutions?
3. uphold the dignity of the Faith?
4. preserve the devotional aspect of giving to the Fund?
5. remain consistent with Baha'i Principles?
6. promote unity among believers?

We are always encouraged to turn to the Sacred Writings and our Local Spiritual Assemblies for guidance.

The Treasurer, particularly in larger communities, may be called upon to answer
questions about estate planning and/or planned giving. While it is not necessary
to be an expert in either ³eld, it would be a service to your community if you have
an awareness of the resources which are needed and their availability should the
friends have questions concerning these matters.

Estate Planning
The phrase estate planning seems to imply for most of us a complicated ³nancial
process which only applies to those expecting to leave large amounts of property
or cash when they pass. In fact, estate planning is simply the process of arranging
our a²airs to facilitate the orderly disposition of our property at passing. Most of
us have some property, such as Bahá’í books or a few treasured items, which we
would wish to have passed to someone close to us. This must surely be one of the
reasons why Bahá’u’lláh requires that we prepare a will:
“Unto everyone hath been enjoined the writing of a will. The testator should
Principle head this document with the adornment of the Most Great Name, bear witness therein unto the oneness of God in the Dayspring of His Revelation,

66 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
and make mention, as he may wish, of that which is praiseworthy, so that it
may be a testimony for him in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation
and a treasure with his Lord, the Supreme Protector, the Faithful.”
BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, THE KITÁB-I-AQDAS

Preparation of a Will Application

To convey their wishes clearly, it is highly recommended that the friends engage
the services of an attorney who is knowledgeable in the preparation of wills. Holographic (handwritten) wills are not legal in some states and can be more easily
contested in others. There are computer software packages available for will preparation which may be used as an assistance in gathering necessary information and
in organizing one’s thoughts, but in all cases it is advisable to have an attorney
review any document by whatever means it is prepared.

Bequests
A bequest is a gift made through the believer’s will to the Bahá’í Faith. Every
Bahá’í has the opportunity to make a bequest. Over the years the Institutions of
the Faith have bene³ted from the generosity of a great many believers who, in
meeting their obligation to have a will and testament, have also chosen to leave a
portion of their worldly goods to the Faith.

Types of Bequests
If you make a bequest to the Bahá’í Faith in your will, you may choose to make
the bequest in any of the following ways. An attorney will be able to help you
decide which type of bequest best meets your wishes for supporting the Faith.

Speci³c Bequest:

A bequest of a speci³c item which is distinguishable from all other items, for
example, “my Bahá’í library”, “my oriental rug”, or “my shares in XYZ Mutual Fund.”

General Bequest:

A bequest of property that is similar to all other items of the same kind,
usually cash.

Devise:

A bequest of real property.

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 67
Residual Bequest:

A bequest of all or a portion of the rest of the estate after speci³c and general
bequests are distributed.
Contingent Bequest:

A bequest to take e²ect only if the primary intention cannot be met or if the
bene³ciary predeceases you, the donor.
Percentage Bequest:

A bequest based on a percentage of the residue (what is remaining in the
estate after all other expenses and bequests are met) or a percentage of a
particular asset.

Questions & Answers
Q. AM I REQUIRED TO LEAVE A BEQUEST TO THE FAITH AS A
BAHÁ’Í?

A. No. We are required to have a last will and testament, however, we are
not required to make a bequest to the Faith. Bahá’u’lláh makes it clear
in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas that at our passing we are free to have our estate
distributed as we see ³t.

Q. SHOULD I BEQUEATH MY ESTATE AS OUTLINED IN THE
KITÁB-I-AQDAS?

A. Bahá’u’lláh has granted us the right of leaving our possessions to whom
ever we wish. The estate distribution outlined in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas is
to be used in the event that one dies intestate - without a will. Until
such time as the laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas are completely in force,
however, estate distribution is determined by civil law if there is no
will.

Q. WHAT TYPE OF BEQUEST IS BEST?

A. As with all our other contributions to the Faith, our bequests can be
whatever we wish and are completely con³dential if we so desire. There
are a number of forms that a bequest can take. (See list on previous
page). The choice is dependent on one’s circumstances and preferences
and is completely up to each believer.

Q. SHOULD I INFORM THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
THAT I AM LEAVING A BEQUEST?

A. It is always helpful for the National Spiritual Assembly to know of your

68 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
planned bequest so that the Spiritual Assembly will have the opportunity to extend its appreciation to you. The decision to inform the Assembly or not is, however, your choice.

If You Choose To Make a Bequest. . .
Like any other contribution to the Bahá’í Faith, you can make the bequest to the
Local, National, Continental, International Fund, or a portion to each Fund. In
designating the Fund(s) that you wish to bene³t from your gift, use the following
legal titles:

The Universal House of Justice, Haifa, Israel
Continental Bahá’í Fund for the Americas
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States,
an Illinois not-for-pro³t corporation
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of (locality - name and state)

Unlike contributions during your lifetime, bequests made directly to international
organizations are tax deductible (per Section 2055 of the Internal Revenue Code).
However, bequests to the Universal House of Justice and the Continental Bahá’í
Fund for the Americas can be cleared through probate more e¹ciently if they are
made to “National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States for the
bene³t of the Universal House of Justice (or the Continental Bahá’í Fund).” This
precludes the necessity of forwarding the release documents to the World Centre,
or to the Continental Bahá’í Fund, for review and signatures.

For additional information on preparing your will, see the pamphlet entitled
“The Writing of a Will” (see excerpts at the end of this chapter).

Planned Giving
Planned giving, sometimes referred to as gift planning, is the process of establishing the means and methods to make a large gift, usually to charity, in this case the
Faith, and usually after death. Planned giving is often a part of the estate plan,
particularly when the gift is made as a bequest or when a gift annuity is established through the National Spiritual Assembly.

Planned giving can be as simple as naming the Bahá’í Faith in one’s will. It can
involve establishing a gift annuity through the National Bahá’í Fund or contributing to a pooled income fund set up by the National Fund (not yet available).
Planned giving can also be more complex, including a variety of trust arrangements. The more complex vehicles usually require the expertise of professional
estate planners or attorneys. Making gifts of appreciated securities (stocks) is also
a type of planned giving (see Chapter 6). The bene³ts to the believer often range

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 69
from considerable current and/or future tax savings on an estate, to avoiding probate entirely. (Probate is the legal process—often a lengthy one—of settling the
a²airs of the deceased.)

The most important thing for the local Treasurer to know, and to be able to
convey to the friends, is that there are ways for the believers to arrange their a²airs
to bene³t themselves in life, and their families at their passing, and that many of
these methods also a²ord an opportunity to make gifts to the Faith larger than
they may ever have dreamed possible.

Estate Planning and Planned Giving
Resources from the Office of the
Treasurer
The following materials are available from the O¹ce of the Treasurer. Multiple
copies are available at a nominal cost.

• A Planned Giving packet is filled with information about making gifts
using the methods described above.

• The Writing of a Will is a brochure explaining the importance of having a
will and the ³rst steps to take in meeting this law of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.

• Where There’s A Will is an outline for presentation of a wills workshop, is
also available. The Local Spiritual Assembly and/or its Treasurer may wish
to arrange wills workshops on an annual basis to assist the friends in meeting this obligation. Quali³ed attorneys, Bahá’í or non-Bahá’í, can be engaged to conduct these workshops using this outline. Non-Bahá’í attorneys should be familiar with the Bahá’í Faith and its teachings and regulations (e.g. the burial laws) regarding wills. Any presenter should be gently
reminded that this occasion is not for the purpose of soliciting business.

• Ways to Give is a brochure which describes many of the ³nancial arrangements available including some detail about how each one works. This
booklet is a useful handout at wills workshops.

In addition, the Treasurer can assist the local Assembly to:

• Make available written information about wills preparation. The Trea-
Application surer should have available copies of The Writing of a Will available by the
dozen at a nominal cost.

• Plan a wills workshop at least once each year for the community. Order a
free copy of Where There’s a Will, a lesson outline for wills workshops.

70 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• Plan a separate wills workshop for youth with particular emphasis on writing the testimony. Holographic (handwritten) wills are su¹cient for this
purpose.

• Explore the possibility of engaging an attorney to hold a wills clinic to
prepare wills for those whose wills are simple—particularly youth.

• Research the sources of estate planning and planned giving information
in your community and compile a list of the speci³c services o²ered by
each. These would include bank trust o¹cers, attorneys, estate planning
consultants, insurance brokers and the Development sta² in the O¹ce of
the Treasurer at the Bahá’í National Center. (Be careful not to endorse
any particular bank, attorney, or estate planner, however, as this could
represent a responsibility for the Local Spiritual Assembly.)

• Consider o²ering informational meetings with a panel of experts where
the friends can learn more about these matters. Include an estate planner
and an attorney on your panel. Again, be cautious not to endorse, or appear to endorse, any particular professional and be clear with the panel
participants, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í, that it is inappropriate to use this
occasion to solicit business.

The following section contains excerpts from The Writing of a Will for the reader’s
easy reference.

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 71
72 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Unto everyone hath been enjoined

the Writing of a Will

“The execution of the provisions of the will causes the spirit of the deceased to rejoice in the Abhá Kingdom.”
—WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 73
Importance of the Will and Testament
“Unto everyone hath been enjoined the writing of a will. The testator should
head this document with the adornment of the Most Great Name, bear witness therein unto the oneness of God in the Dayspring of His Revelation,
and make mention, as he may wish, of that which is praiseworthy, so that it
may be a testimony for him in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation
and a treasure with his Lord, the Supreme Protector, the Faithful.”
—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, THE KITÁB-I-AQDAS

Disposing of Possessions
“A person has full jurisdiction over his property. If he is able to discharge the
Þuqúqu’lláh, and is free of debt, then all that is recorded in his will, and any
declaration or avowal it containeth, shall be acceptable. God, verily, hath
permitted him to deal with that which He hath bestowed upon him in whatever manner he may desire.”
—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, THE KITÁB-I-AQDAS

The Advantages of a Will
• A will specifies who is to receive your possessions when you die. Through
a will you can assure that your property goes to the people and institutions most important to you during your life. A will is an efficient means
for assuring that your Bahá’í books and archival materials go where you
wish.

• Having a will avoids intestacy, which is the condition of being without a
will at death. Currently in the United States, in cases of intestacy, civil
laws dictate the distribution of the estate without regard to the wishes of
the deceased. There is no provision for a bequest to the Faith without a
will.

• The will provides a vehicle for giving to the Funds of the Faith. The will
is one of the least expensive and easiest methods of preserving this benefit
to the Faith.

• Your will can nominate the persons to serve as guardians of your children, and facilitate your desire that they be reared as Bahá’ís.

• A will allows your estate to be passed on in an efficient and effective way,
reducing taxes where possible and providing proper management of assets.

• Through a will you select the individual to administer your estate.

• A will allows you to provide financial security for those beneficiaries who
have special circumstances, such as minor children, disabled or elderly
persons, and those who cannot manage their inheritance.

74 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• In your will you can name an executor to carry out its provisions. The
person you name as executor should be someone who knows your family
and business circumstances well. This will enable the executor to manage
your estate according to your wishes.

Five Steps to a Successful Will Plan
1. CAREFUL REFLECTION. Think carefully about your true objectives. Desires often conflict with necessities. Practical considerations may differ
from ideals. Equity among beneficiaries may be financially impractical.
A husband may think, “I want to leave everything to my wife!” Upon
reflection, however, he may realize his real objective is providing financial security for his family. A mother may think, “I want to leave $20,000
to my daughter.” Her real objective, however, may be to put her daughter through college. The point is that in preparing your will, think first
about your ultimate objectives. Write down the things you would like
to accomplish through your will, leaving aside how it is to be done.
Consider the following letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi:
“. . . even though a Bahá’í is permitted in his will to dispose of his
wealth in the way he wishes, yet he is morally and conscientiously bound
to always bear in mind, while writing his will, the necessity of his upholding the principle of Bahá’u’lláh regarding the social function of
wealth, and the consequent necessity of avoiding its over-accumulation
and concentration in a few individuals or groups of individuals.”

2. CONSULTATION. Talk over your objectives with your family and advisors;
get their advice on what your will should provide. Be candid about
your feelings and the needs of your beneficiaries. Your advisors will need
specific facts about your assets, income and obligations—as well as your
objectives. The more information you give them the more they can help.
At this point, decide the specifics of your will: the amounts, percentages or specific properties to be bequeathed to each beneficiary; whether
bequests are to be outright or in trust; contingency provisions; persons
to be nominated such as executors, trustees, etc.

3. SKILLFUL DRAFTING. A will is a legal document and must therefore be
drafted carefully. You must include all the important provisions that will
assure your objectives are met. Be concerned about various contingencies, the legal powers of your executors, the source of funds for paying
debts, costs and taxes, possible common disaster, apportionment provisions, and the exact names of all beneficiaries. Make sure that your will
is drafted, signed and witnessed as required by state law. It is advisable to
have a lawyer draft your will if your estate is complex (e.g., includes a
business, large real estate holdings, partnership interest, etc.). The will
should include the Testimony, prepared and given to the drafter for inclusion in the will. The Testimony is a personal statement of one’s belief as described by Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas: “The testator should

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 75
head this document with the adornment of the Most Great Name, bear
witness therein unto the oneness of God in the Dayspring of His Revelation, and make mention, as he may wish, of that which is praiseworthy, so that it may be a testimony for him in the kingdoms of Revelation
and Creation and a treasure with his Lord, the Supreme Protector, the
Faithful.”

4. REVIEW YOUR WILL. Your lawyer will probably draft your will based on
current conditions, laws, asset values, planning techniques, and finan
cial needs and objectives. These factors can and do change. Your will
must change with them. To be safe, take the time, at least once every
other year, to review your will in light of your current circumstances.

5. SAFEKEEPING. Your carefully written will may be meaningless unless it
can be found at the time of your death. You should always keep the
original will in an easily accessible place in order to be able to destroy it
if you write a new will. Your own safety deposit box may not be the best
place to keep your will because, in many states, safety deposit boxes are
sealed immediately upon the death of the lessee. A better place
would be a fireproof home safety box, but this is only useful if you have
left instructions with trusted individuals as to the location of the box
and how to open it. However you decide to safeguard your will it is
important that is can be located quickly when it is needed.

Checklist for Preparing Your Will
You will need to disclose fully to your lawyer all the facts concerning your property. You also need to supply personal information about yourself and your family, and others to whom you wish to give part of your estate. All of your lawyer’s
questions are intended to obtain from you the information needed to draw up a
will that meets your particular needs and desires. Your lawyer has the legal duty to
maintain in strictest confidence the information you give. Before preparing your
will or visiting your lawyer, make a list of your personal affairs. This will assist the
preparation of your will. Make several copies of the list. Keep one where your
spouse, executor or close friends can find it in an emergency. This list will be
extremely helpful to your executor in administering your affairs. This list should
include:

1. Your legal name.
2. Address of your permanent residence. (If you have more than one residence, list the address of each.)
3. Date and place of birth.
4. Social Security number.
5. Name and address of your employer and your accountant.

76 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
6. The full legal names (do not use nicknames), addresses, and ages of
your immediate family members, indicating their relationship to you
(e.g., sister, cousin). It is also important to identify any family member
who is unable to manage his or her own affairs.

7. Your spouse’s legal name.

8. Date and place of marriage. Place where your marriage license can be
found. If you have been married previously, note the name of any deceased or former spouse(s) (only necessary if there is financial obligation currently such as alimony). If divorced, which court granted the
final divorce decree; the date of decree, whether contested, and who
brought the action. If legally separated, give all pertinent details and
place where the separation agreement can be found. Provide a copy of
the prenuptial agreement if you entered into one.

9. The full names and birth dates of your children (both natural and
adopted). If they are beneficiaries, at what age should they receive their
distribution? If one predeceases you, how should this share be distributed?

10. The full names and addresses of any other intended beneficiaries.

11. Do you have the right to exercise a power of appointment under someone’s
will or trust? Show your lawyer a copy of the document granting that
power.

12. Where are your income and gift tax returns kept? Provide your attorney
with copies of your tax returns for the past two years. Also provide name
and address of preparer.

13. Regarding real estate which you own, but only if the property goes to a
specific beneficiary and is not included in the residue of the estate, provide the following:

(a) Present value.

(b) Your cost-basis.

(c) Any mortgage on the property by yourself? Jointly? With whom?

(d) Provide a legal description of any property you own.

14. Regarding your personal assets (other than real estate) provide the following:

(a) Approximate value of each.

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 77
(b) Debts owed to you. If any debts owed to you are in the form of
legal notes, make copies.

(c) Is the property jointly owned?

(d) List in detail valuable items (jewelry, antiques, oriental rugs, etc.,
and items of sentimental value).

(e) Designate to whom you wish to give each of these assets. It is
preferable to dispose of assets in shares or percentages rather than
by individual asset.

15. Also provide the following information or documents are they apply to
you:

(a) Pension, profit sharing, stock options, or any other employment
benefits. Which benefits are payable upon your death?

(b) The approximate amount of your debts. Give names and addresses
of persons to whom you are indebted and the basis of your liability.

(c) The names and addresses of those you wish to serve as your executor, trustee (if any), and guardians (if any). List at least one alternate for each.

(d) Copies of any employment contracts, buy-sell agreements or stock
purchase plans you have.

(e) Life insurance policies owned by you on your life (indicate owner),
and policies owned by you on the life of others.

(f) Annuity policies owned by you including name and address of
each company, policy number, principal beneficiaries, and whether
loans were made on any of the policies.

Burial
The following sample paragraph, incorporating all the requirements which are
binding on western believers at this time, may be used to state the desire for a
Bahá’í burial:

Being of the Bahá’í Faith, it is my desire to be buried in accordance with Bahá’í
law. In brief, that law states that the body should not be carried more than one
hour’s journey from the place of death to the place of burial; that the body should
not be cremated; that the prayer for the dead be recited if the deceased is a Bahá’í
of fifteen years of age or more; that the body not be embalmed unless required by
civil law; and that the funeral be carried out in a simple and dignified manner.

78 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Sample Memorandum to Accompany
a Husband and Wife’s Will

Being of the Bahá’í Faith, we request our executors and the members of our family upon our deaths to abide by the following:

1. Under no circumstances shall our bodies be cremated.

2. A Bahá’í funeral service should be conducted for us.

3. We should be buried at some suitable plot within one hour’s journey
from the place of our deaths.

4. Unless required by the laws of the United States or of the state in which
we are domiciled at our deaths, our bodies should not be embalmed.

5. All of our religious papers, books and correspondence shall be given
and entrusted to the local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the area
in which we are domiciled at our deaths or the nearest Assembly thereto,
unless our wills shall stipulate a different distribution.

6. Our children should be reared as Bahá’ís.

Name Date

Chapter 4—Fund-raising and Planned Giving 79
80 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
The greatest need of all peoples
is for the Faith itself,
so that they may know the destiny
towards which they as individuals
and as members of society
must strive, and will learn from the teachings
those virtues and methods which will enable them
to work together in harmony, forbearance
and trustworthiness . . .
—The Universal House of Justice

82 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
5. Budgets, Goals, and
Audits

Preparing a Budget
Anything worth achieving is worth planning for. This is especially true when our
meager resources must accomplish so much. Tackling the immense job of building the Kingdom involves setting and meeting goals. Goal-setting involves planning what the Assembly wants to do and how it will be accomplished. It is not
enough to spend money; as the House of Justice advised the Counselors at the
outset of the Four Year Plan, funds must be spent “judiciously” in order to get the
best result with the least investment of resources.

Who Prepares the Budget and When?
Although the Treasurer plays an important role in preparing the budget, the Assembly as a body is responsible for developing the ³nancial plan, as the budget is
often described. The task of preparing the budget should begin in February or
March with local committees submitting estimates of resources they will need
during the coming year.

Alternatively, the Assembly may advise its committees how much it is prepared to
provide during the coming year, based on its assessment of goals and income, and
ask them how they will spend an allocated portion of the total in order to get the
best results. The Assembly, possibly with the aid of a Budget Committee, then
develops a proposed budget. To assist with this task, the Assembly will receive a
packet of materials each year from the O¹ce of the Treasurer including the Budget Worksheet and the Financial Report to the National Spiritual Assembly.

The Budget Worksheet
In March the Assembly should prepare the Budget Worksheet. Please look at the
materials at the end of this chapter for a sample of this form. You should feel free
to modify the worksheet to suit your community’s needs.

In the ³rst column of the worksheet, list the estimated actual income and expenses for the remainder of the current year (how much you think your total

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 83
income and expenses will be for each category through April 30—the end of the
Bahá’í ³scal year). You would total the amount you have taken in or spent to date
in each category and add to this the amount you expect to receive or spend by the
end of the year. The resulting numbers, though approximate, will be accurate
enough to help compare last year’s budget (listed in the second column) to actual,
and to assist in planning a budget for the coming year.

Set Goals for Contributions to the Various Funds
The Local Spiritual Assembly needs to set a goal for its own contributions to the
various Funds, and in the case of the National Bahá’í Fund, advise its chosen
commitment level to the National Spiritual Assembly. In addition, the community will need targets for its joint support to the international, national and local
work of the Faith.

In order to set these goals, the Assembly should consult on the amount of money
it plans to provide to the Funds during the year. One method of estimating this
amount is to use contributions of recent years as a guideline. The Assembly would
wish to consider increasing its goals, at least to offset the effects of inflation. When
the Assembly arrives at goals that are challenging, divide this amount by nineteen.
The resulting number is called the Monthly Contributions Goal; individual goals
for the major Funds may be set that would add up to the monthly contributions
goal.

Contribute Regularly to All Bahá’í Funds
There are priorities for contributions which have been set by the Guardian and
the Universal House of Justice. Regular giving to all the senior Funds should be a
consistent pattern for the Local Fund, just as it is for the National Bahá’í Fund.
This continuous and regular ·ow of money through the Administrative Order
strengthens the Cause both in this country and throughout the world.

Once your Assembly decides the monthly amount it wishes to contribute to the
National Bahá’í Fund and the International and Continental Funds, it is then the
Treasurer’s obligation to make sure this contribution is sent with unfailing regularity.

The third column of the worksheet is used to develop a proposed budget for the
new year. To prepare such a budget, we suggest that the Assembly use a procedure
similar to the following:

• Decide some short- and long-range goals for the growth and development
of the community. These goals will be modified as programs are actually
carried out and circumstances change, but by consulting about some of
the alternatives, the Assembly and community increase their capacity to
use new circumstances for the Faith’s bene³t.

• Review committee requests for resources (or make tentative resource allocations).

84 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• Include an annual payment (currently $100) to cover the cost of the
Liability Insurance the National Spiritual Assembly provides for each Local Spiritual Assembly and Group (see the Request for Certificate of Insurance at the end of this chapter).

• Estimate available resources such as money, manpower, supplies and equipment. A good way to estimate how much money you will have to work
with is to look at past years’ levels of contributions. Then adjust this number up or down according to the current condition of your community.

• Make plans to win your community’s goals; these should be as speci³c as
possible with room for ·exibility. Decide how and when the plans will be
carried out. Ideas can come from the Assembly, its committees and from
the community, either at the Feast, or through meetings specially called
for this purpose.

• Estimate the cost of each plan.

• Arrange the plans in order of importance.

• If it looks as if your plans are going to cost more than you will have (which
is usually the case), now is the time to balance the budget. Try adjusting
your plans, cutting unnecessary costs or ³nding less-costly ways of accomplishing the same goal—creativity is important here! Some projects may
have to be eliminated, starting with those of lesser importance.

• Fill in the dollar amounts for each category of the proposed budget.
(NOTE: After the ³rst five steps have been completed, the Assembly may
want to appoint several individuals—a budget committee—to develop a
proposed budget for the approval of the entire Assembly.)

The Financial Report to the National Spiritual Assembly
The Budget Worksheet is a tool to assist the Assembly in preparing its Financial
Report to the National Spiritual Assembly. After Ri¤ván, the Assembly should
review, revise if necessary, and approve the proposed budget and then prepare and
submit the Financial Report to the National Spiritual Assembly. This report (please
see example at the end of this chapter) asks you to list actual income and expenses
for the recently completed ³scal year and to give the Assembly’s ³nal, approved
budget (including the monthly contributions goal) for the new ³scal year. A copy
of this report should be sent to the National Spiritual Assembly no later than
June 30th.

Use the Budget as a Guide
Since the budget takes the Assembly’s plans and goals and expresses them in ³-
nancial terms, it also becomes the basis for everything the Treasurer does during
the year. Checking the budget regularly ensures that resources are being used as
intended. There may be times during the year when the Assembly will want to
make changes in its budget due to changing conditions in the community.

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 85
Automatic Contribution System
One of the best ways to support your community’s contribution goals is to utilize
the Automatic Contribution System (ACS). The ³nancial stability provided by
the ACS plays a vital role in the National Spiritual Assembly’s e²orts to build a
sound ³nancial foundation for the national and international work of the Cause.
Assemblies, Groups and individuals who give in this regular, systematic way ³nd
it to be a wonderful way to simplify their work, and a great way to ensure that
their giving goals are met.

Individuals, Groups and Assemblies may use the Automatic Contribution Enrollment Form at the end of this chapter to enroll in this program. A voided check
(not a deposit ticket) should be included with the form to ensure the accuracy of
the account and bank information. Once the contribution information is received
and processed by the O¹ce of the Treasurer’s accounting department at the Bahá’í
National Center, automatic withdrawals are made between the 20th and 30th days
once per Gregorian month.

If for some reason funds are not available in the account at the time of withdrawal, the automatic debit will be reversed, and the O¹ce of the Treasurer will
be noti³ed. The automatic withdrawal will be reset to retry at the normal time the
following month. Your bank account should be reconciled each month with this
in mind.

Community Honor Roll
Local Spiritual Assemblies and Registered Groups who demonstrate excellent patterns of giving to the National Bahá’í Fund by meeting the following criteria are
featured in the annual Community Honor Roll publication:

• Give 15 times (or more) during at least 12 of 19 Bahá’í months; or

• Give (through the ACS) during at least 10 of 12 Gregorian months between March and February of the Bahá’í year

In addition to the criteria mentioned above, Local Spiritual Assemblies and Registered Groups who submit their community goals (through the Financial Report
to the National Spiritual Assembly) and annual audits for the ³scal year ending
April 30th (due by June 30th) are recognized. Communities who demonstrate such
regularity, consistency, responsibility and reliability in giving show mature and
uni³ed action so appreciated by the National Spiritual Assembly.

86 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Communicating Goals
to the Community
There is a variety of ways the Assembly can encourage and support the local
community in reaching and celebrating their contribution goals. Some years ago
a “Candle Chart” was created as a visual aid used to assist communities in “seeing”
how their contributions to the Fund make a di²erence.

The “Heart Chart” and the two-page “My Diary of Giving and Growing” (published in the July/August 1998 issue of Brilliant Star) were designed to be used as
fund teaching tools for children and youth (see both at the end of this chapter).
Perhaps one of these ideas could be useful in teaching your community about the
importance of regular giving. Maybe they will inspire one of the friends to create
a new visual aid for tracking your community’s fund contribution goals!

Contributions In Honor
and In Memory
The O¹ce of the Treasurer, on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly, o²ers
a unique way of remembering loved ones who have passed on, as well as friends
and relatives who may be celebrating a special occasion.

Friends can honor or remember the important people in their lives and at the
same time help to meet their community goals by completing the necessary information requested on the “In Honor” or “In Memory” forms (see the end of this
chapter for the originals). Local Assemblies and Groups can use this method, as
well, as a way of expanding the options the friends have in sending their gifts to
the various Funds.

The Annual Audit
Preparing for the Audit
Throughout the year the Treasurer prepares for the annual audit by following
these steps:

• Canceled checks and deposit tickets should be in order and bundled with
their bank statements

• Bank accounts should be reconciled monthly

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 87
• Paid bills should be put in order by date

• Contribution receipts should be in numerical order

Who Are the Auditors and What Do They Do?
We generally assume that a Bahá’í Treasurer is not only honest, but is capably
handling the a²airs of the Fund at all times. Though honesty and thoroughness
are expected, an audit of the Treasurer’s records protects the Assembly, the believers, and the Treasurer. Furthermore, the audit provides an opportunity for two
independent observers to evaluate the Treasurer’s methods and make constructive
suggestions for improvement.

The Assembly should appoint at least two individuals (not necessarily Assembly
members) to check the Assembly’s ³nancial records shortly after April 30th each
year. The Treasurer should not serve as an auditor, but should be available to
assist. The auditors should perform the following tasks:

• Use the audit procedures provided at the end of this chapter

• Check and total all receipts for the year and make sure that the same
amount was deposited in the bank and that deposits were made on a timely
basis

• Be sure the bills were paid promptly and accurately, comparing canceled
checks with the copies of the bills

• Prepare a statement for the Assembly reporting the results of the audit including suggestions the auditors may have for improving the Treasurer’s
system. Use the “sample only” form on the last page of the Audit Procedures to serve as an example of a written report.

What if the Books Don’t Balance?
Suppose the auditors have just spent many hours going over the books. They
know there is an error, but they do not know where. What should they do?

If the auditors ³nd errors, they should report them to the Assembly. It is then the
Assembly’s task to decide whether to make an adjusting entry in the books or to
investigate the situation further. It is usually best to make a correcting entry for
errors of only a few dollars which cannot easily be traced back to their point of
origin. It is important, however, for the cash journal’s CASH IN BANK to agree
with the bank’s records at the beginning of the new ³scal year. Carrying an error
into the next year’s books only complicates matters.

The Assembly may want to authorize an audit at other times during the year—
after a change in Treasurer, for instance. For large communities, the Assembly

88 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
may hire the services of a quali³ed Public Accountant. Until your community has
a center or other property, it is probably su¹cient to appoint two Bahá’ís to audit
the financial records.

What about Confidentiality?
The Treasurer maintains records of receipts and disbursements on behalf of the
Local Spiritual Assembly. These records are the property of the Assembly and, as
such, are available to that body at any time. These records are held in con³dence
within the institution. No individual is given access to them except with the permission of the Local Spiritual Assembly.

It is up to the Assembly to select individuals who will maintain the con³dential
nature of the records they examine as auditors. An audit assures the believers and
the Assembly that money is being handled properly. It does not jeopardize the
con³dentiality of an individual’s contributions.

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 89
AUTOMATIC CONTRIBUTION SYSTEM (ACS)
For Individuals, Bahá’í Groups and Spiritual Assemblies

Checking Account Information: (Please send a voided check from this account)

Name of Bank _________________________________________________________

Account Number _______________________________________________________

Bank account of local Spiritual Assembly, Bahá’í Group or Individual
Bahá’í Locality Code or Bahá’í ID # ________________

I, ____________________________________, representing our local Spiritual Assembly, our
Bahá’í Group or myself, authorize the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United
States to withdraw from our community’s, or my personal, checking account the sum of
$ ____________________ each Gregorian month (12 times yearly) to be distributed as follows:

FUND ¡OLD AMOUNT NEW AMOUNT

National Bahá’í Fund $ __________ $ __________
International Bahá’í Fund $ __________ $ __________ DISCRETION
World Center Endowment $ __________ $ __________
*Yes ____ ** No ____
Continental Bahá’í Fund $ __________ $ __________

The Regional Bahá’í Council $ __________ $ __________ *By answering “yes”, you give discretion for
your contributions to the National Spiritual
Assembly.
Kingdom Project $ __________ $ __________
**By answering “no”, remember that a
contribution to a Fund or agency outside of
Bahá’í International Radio $ __________ $ __________ the United States may not be tax deductible.
Service:Payam-e-Doost

Other: __________________ $ ___________ $ ___________
Other: __________________ $ ___________ $ ___________

TOTAL $____________ $ ___________
¡Use for changing already existing automatic contribution only

Please enclose the completed form and a voided check (not a deposit slip)
from the bank account that you wish to use

Signature _____________________________ Officer if LSA _____________________ Date ________
Home Phone __________________________ Work Phone ____________________________________

Please forward to:

Bahá’í National Center
Office of the Treasurer
Attn: ACS
1233 Central Street Rev 10/4/04
Evanston, IL 60201-1611

90 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 91
FINANCIAL REPORT TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
FOR PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR ___________________________
___ Local Spiritual Assembly
___ Bahá’í Group of ___________________________________________ State ____ ID No. ____________

Number of Bahá’ís in the community as of April 30, ____________

________ Adults (21 and up) ________ Youth (15-20) ________Pre-Youth (11-14) ________ Children (0-10)

Actual Income and Budget Budget
Expenses from From Previous For Current
Previous Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Fiscal Year

BEGINNING BALANCE __________________ __________________ __________________

INCOME
Contributions: Local Fund __________________ __________________ __________________
Center Fund __________________ __________________ __________________
Earmarked __________________ __________________ __________________

Other Income __________________ __________________ __________________

TOTAL Income + Beginning Balance __________________ __________________ __________________

EXPENSES
Bahá’í International Fund __________________ __________________ __________________
World Center Endowment Fund __________________ __________________ __________________
Continental Bahá’í Fund __________________ __________________ __________________
National Bahá’í Fund * __________________ __________________ __________________*Goal
Kingdom Project Fund __________________ __________________ __________________
Regional Bahá’í Council __________________ __________________ __________________

Teaching / Proclamation __________________ __________________ __________________
Feast / Holy Days __________________ __________________ __________________
Children / Youth Programs __________________ __________________ __________________
Education / Institute Training / Deepening __________________ __________________ __________________
Scholarships / Deputization __________________ __________________ __________________
Administrative Expenses __________________ __________________ __________________
Property Expenses __________________ __________________ __________________
Other Expenses __________________ __________________ __________________
Other Expenses __________________ __________________ __________________

TOTAL Expenses __________________ __________________ __________________

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE __________________ __________________ __________________
(Land, Building & Equipment etc.)

ENDING CASH BALANCE __________________ __________________ __________________

Person Completing report:
Name and Office ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________ City _______________________ State ____ ZIP _____
Home Phone ___________________________________________ Work Phone __________________________________
This report must be reviewed and approved by the incoming Assembly/Group. When completed, please return by
June 30 to the Bahá’í National Center, Office of the Treasurer, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201

revised 09//2004

92 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
D In Honor E
“And if, at any time, any gift were presented to Him that gift was accepted as a token of His grace unto him that offered it.”
-- Bahá’u’lláh
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Name of individual honored:

Honor card to be sent to:

Street Address:____________________________________________________________________________

City: ____________________________________ State:____________ Zip:__________________________

This contribution is for: National Fund International Fund Continental Fund Kingdom Project Fund

Occasion (optional):
Examples: Birthday, Graduation, Marriage, Birth of baby, Anniversary, Bahá’í declaration,
Hospitality, Pioneering, Firesides given, Services rendered, Healing

Names of contributor(s) making gift:

Bahá’í ID number(s)

In Honor cards are a wonderful way to mark special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries,
or to recognize friends and loved ones “just because.” Send your completed form to:

Office of the Treasurer
Bahá’í National Center
1233 Central Street
Evanston, IL 60201

We make every effort to meet requested deadlines, but it is not always possible to do so.
Please allow 3 weeks from the date you mail your request for the recipient to receive their card.

No financial information is ever shown on an In Honor card.
The amount of your contribution is absolutely confidential.

Please complete all sections, and be sure that all names and addresses are spelled correctly.
If no address is provided, no card will be sent.

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 93
D In Memory E
“The progress of man’s spirit in the divine world, after the severance of its connection with the body of dust, is
through the bounty and grace of the Lord alone, or through the intercession and sincere prayers of other human
souls, or through the charities and important good works which are performed in its name..” -- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Name of individual deceased:

Memorial card to be sent to:
Name

Street Address

City State Zip

This contribution is for: National Fund International Fund Continental Fund Kingdom Project Fund

Names of contributor(s) making gift:

Bahá’í ID number(s)

In Memory cards are a beautiful and spiritual way to remember friends and loved ones
who have entered the Abhá Kingdom. Send your completed form to:

Office of the Treasurer
Bahá’í National Center
1233 Central Street
Evanston, IL 60201

We make every effort to meet requested deadlines, but it is not always possible to do so.
Please allow 3 weeks from the date you mail your request for the recipient to receive their card.

No financial information is ever shown on an In Memory card.
The amount of your contribution is absolutely confidential.

Please complete all sections, and be sure that all names and addresses are spelled correctly.
If no address is provided, the card will be sent to the person making the contribution.

94 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
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Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits
96 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 97
98 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Form SS-4 Application for Employer Identification Number
EIN
(For use by employers, corporations, partnerships, trusts, estates, churches,
(Rev. December 2001) government agencies, Indian tribal entities, certain individuals, and others.)
Department of the Treasury OMB No. 1545-0003
Internal Revenue Service
See separate instructions for each line.
Keep a copy for your records.

1 Legal name of entity (or individual) for whom the EIN is being requested
Type or print clearly.

2 Trade name of business (if different from name on line 1) 3 Executor, trustee, “care of” name

4a Mailing address (room, apt., suite no. and street, or P.O. box) 5a Street address (if different) (Do not enter a P.O. box.)

4b City, state, and ZIP code 5b City, state, and ZIP code

6 County and state where principal business is located

7a Name of principal officer, general partner, grantor, owner, or trustor 7b SSN, ITIN, or EIN

8a Type of entity (check only one box) Estate (SSN of decedent)
Sole proprietor (SSN) Plan administrator (SSN)
Partnership Trust (SSN of grantor)
Corporation (enter form number to be filed)
National Guard State/local government
Personal service corp. Farmers’ cooperative Federal government/military
Church or church-controlled organization REMIC Indian tribal governments/enterprises
Other nonprofit organization (specify)
Group Exemption Number (GEN)

Other (specify)

8b If a corporation, name the state or foreign country State Foreign country
(if applicable) where incorporated

9 Reason for applying (check only one box) Banking purpose (specify purpose)

Started new business (specify type)
Changed type of organization (specify new type)

Purchased going business
Hired employees (Check the box and see line 12.) Created a trust (specify type)

Compliance with IRS withholding regulations Created a pension plan (specify type)

Other (specify)

10 Date business started or acquired (month, day, year) 11 Closing month of accounting year

12 First date wages or annuities were paid or will be paid (month, day, year). Note: If applicant is a withholding agent, enter date income will
first be paid to nonresident alien. (month, day, year)


13 Highest number of employees expected in the next 12 months. Note: If the applicant does not Agricultural Household Other
expect to have any employees during the period, enter “-0-.”


14 Check one box that best describes the principal activity of your business. Health care & social assistance Wholesale–agent/broker
Construction Rental & leasing Transportation & warehousing Accommodation & food service Wholesale–other Retail
Real estate Manufacturing Finance & insurance Other (specify)
15 Indicate principal line of merchandise sold; specific construction work done; products produced; or services provided.

16a Has the applicant ever applied for an employer identification number for this or any other business? Yes No
Note: If “Yes,” please complete lines 16b and 16c.
16b If you checked “Yes” on line 16a, give applicant’s legal name and trade name shown on prior application if different from line 1 or 2 above.
Legal name
Trade name

16c Approximate date when, and city and state where, the application was filed. Enter previous employer identification number if known.
Approximate date when filed (mo., day, year) City and state where filed Previous EIN
..
..
Complete this section only if you want to authorize the named individual to receive the entity’s EIN and answer questions about the completion of this form.

Third Designee’s name Designee’s telephone number (include area code)
Party ( )
Designee Address and ZIP code Designee’s fax number (include area code)

( )
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this application, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete.
Applicant’s telephone number (include area code)
Name and title (type or print clearly)
( )
Applicant’s fax number (include area code)
Signature
Date
( )
For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see separate instructions. Cat. No. 16055N Form SS-4 (Rev. 12-2001)

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 99
Form SS-4 (Rev. 12-2001) Page 2

Do I Need an EIN?
File Form SS-4 if the applicant entity does not already have an EIN but is required to show an EIN on any
return, statement, or other document.1 See also the separate instructions for each line on Form SS-4.

IF the applicant... AND... THEN...
Started a new business Does not currently have (nor expect to have) Complete lines 1, 2, 4a–6, 8a, and 9–16c.
employees

Hired (or will hire) Does not already have an EIN Complete lines 1, 2, 4a–6, 7a–b (if applicable),
employees, including 8a, 8b (if applicable), and 9–16c.
household employees

Opened a bank account Needs an EIN for banking purposes only Complete lines 1–5b, 7a–b (if applicable), 8a,
9, and 16a–c.

Changed type of Either the legal character of the organization Complete lines 1–16c (as applicable).
organization or its ownership changed (e.g., you
incorporate a sole proprietorship or form a
partnership)2

Purchased a going Does not already have an EIN Complete lines 1–16c (as applicable).
business3

Created a trust The trust is other than a grantor trust or an Complete lines 1–16c (as applicable).
IRA trust4

Created a pension plan as Needs an EIN for reporting purposes Complete lines 1, 2, 4a–6, 8a, 9, and 16a–c.
a plan administrator5

Is a foreign person needing Needs an EIN to complete a Form W-8 (other Complete lines 1–5b, 7a–b (SSN or ITIN
an EIN to comply with IRS than Form W-8ECI), avoid withholding on optional), 8a–9, and 16a–c.
withholding regulations portfolio assets, or claim tax treaty benefits6

Is administering an estate Needs an EIN to report estate income on Complete lines 1, 3, 4a–b, 8a, 9, and 16a–c.
Form 1041

Is a withholding agent for Is an agent, broker, fiduciary, manager, tenant, Complete lines 1, 2, 3 (if applicable), 4a–5b,
taxes on non-wage income or spouse who is required to file Form 1042, 7a–b (if applicable), 8a, 9, and 16a–c.
paid to an alien (i.e., Annual Withholding Tax Return for U.S.
individual, corporation, or Source Income of Foreign Persons
partnership, etc.)

Is a state or local agency Serves as a tax reporting agent for public Complete lines 1, 2, 4a–5b, 8a, 9, and 16a–c.
assistance recipients under Rev. Proc. 80-4,
1980-1 C.B. 5817

Is a single-member LLC Needs an EIN to file Form 8832, Classification Complete lines 1–16c (as applicable).
Election, for filing employment tax returns, or for
state reporting purposes8
Is an S corporation Needs an EIN to file Form 2553, Election by a Complete lines 1–16c (as applicable).
Small Business Corporation9
For example, a sole proprietorship or self-employed farmer who establishes a qualified retirement plan, or is required to file excise, employment, alcohol, tobacco,
or firearms returns, must have an EIN. A partnership, corporation, REMIC (real estate mortgage investment conduit), nonprofit organization (church, club,
etc.), or farmers’ cooperative must use an EIN for any tax-related purpose even if the entity does not have employees.
However, do not apply for a new EIN if the existing entity only (a) changed its business name, (b) elected on Form 8832 to change the way it is taxed (or is
covered by the default rules), or (c) terminated its partnership status because at least 50% of the total interests in partnership capital and profits were sold or
exchanged within a 12-month period. (The EIN of the terminated partnership should continue to be used. See Regulations section 301.6109-1(d)(2)(iii).)
Do not use the EIN of the prior business unless you became the “owner” of a corporation by acquiring its stock.
However, IRA trusts that are required to file Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return, must have an EIN.
A plan administrator is the person or group of persons specified as the administrator by the instrument under which the plan is operated.
Entities applying to be a Qualified Intermediary (QI) need a QI-EIN even if they already have an EIN. See Rev. Proc. 2000-12.
See also Household employer on page 4. (Note: State or local agencies may need an EIN for other reasons, e.g., hired employees.)
Most LLCs do not need to file Form 8832. See Limited liability company (LLC) on page 4 for details on completing Form SS-4 for an LLC.
An existing corporation that is electing or revoking S corporation status should use its previously-assigned EIN.

100 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Department of the Treasury
Instructions for Form SS-4 Internal Revenue Service

(Rev. September 2003)
For use with Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2001)
Application for Employer Identification Number.
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.

IRS website at www.irs.gov/businesses and click on
General Instructions Employer ID Numbers under topics.
Use these instructions to complete Form SS-4,
Application for Employer Identification Number. Also see Telephone. You can receive your EIN by telephone and
Do I Need an EIN? on page 2 of Form SS-4. use it immediately to file a return or make a payment.
Call the IRS at 1-800-829-4933. (International applicants
Purpose of Form must call 215-516-6999.) The hours of operation are 7:00
a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The person making the call must be
Use Form SS-4 to apply for an employer identification
authorized to sign the form or be an authorized designee.
number (EIN). An EIN is a nine-digit number (for
See Signature and Third Party Designee on page 6.
example, 12-3456789) assigned to sole proprietors,
Also see the TIP below.
corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts, and other
entities for tax filing and reporting purposes. The If you are applying by telephone, it will be helpful to
information you provide on this form will establish your complete Form SS-4 before contacting the IRS. An IRS
business tax account. representative will use the information from the Form
An EIN is for use in connection with your SS-4 to establish your account and assign you an EIN.
Write the number you are given on the upper right corner
!
CAUTION
business activities only. Do not use your EIN in
place of your social security number (SSN). of the form and sign and date it. Keep this copy for your
records.
Items To Note If requested by an IRS representative, mail or fax
Apply online. You can now apply for and receive an EIN (facsimile) the signed Form SS-4 (including any Third
online using the internet. See How To Apply below. Party Designee authorization) within 24 hours to the IRS
address provided by the IRS representative.
File only one Form SS-4. Generally, a sole proprietor
should file only one Form SS-4 and needs only one EIN, Taxpayer representatives can apply for an EIN
regardless of the number of businesses operated as a on behalf of their client and request that the
sole proprietorship or trade names under which a TIP
EIN be faxed to their client on the same day.
business operates. However, if the proprietorship Note: By using this procedure, you are
incorporates or enters into a partnership, a new EIN is authorizing the IRS to fax the EIN without a cover sheet.
required. Also, each corporation in an affiliated group
must have its own EIN. Fax. Under the Fax-TIN program, you can receive your
EIN applied for, but not received. If you do not have an EIN by fax within 4 business days. Complete and fax
EIN by the time a return is due, write ‘‘Applied For’’ and Form SS-4 to the IRS using the Fax-TIN number listed on
the date you applied in the space shown for the number. page 2 for your state. A long-distance charge to callers
Do not show your SSN as an EIN on returns. outside of the local calling area will apply. Fax-TIN
numbers can only be used to apply for an EIN. The
If you do not have an EIN by the time a tax deposit is
numbers may change without notice. Fax-TIN is
due, send your payment to the Internal Revenue Service
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Center for your filing area as shown in the instructions for
the form that you are filing. Make your check or money Be sure to provide your fax number so the IRS can fax
order payable to the ‘‘United States Treasury’’ and show the EIN back to you. Note: By using this procedure, you
your name (as shown on Form SS-4), address, type of are authorizing the IRS to fax the EIN without a cover
tax, period covered, and date you applied for an EIN. sheet.

How To Apply Mail. Complete Form SS-4 at least 4 to 5 weeks before
you will need an EIN. Sign and date the application and
You can apply for an EIN online, by telephone, by fax, or
mail it to the service center address for your state. You
by mail depending on how soon you need to use the EIN.
will receive your EIN in the mail in approximately 4
Use only one method for each entity so you do not
weeks. See also Third Party Designee on page 6.
receive more than one EIN for an entity.
Online. You can receive your EIN by internet and use it Call 1-800-829-4933 to verify a number or to ask
immediately to file a return or make a payment. Go to the about the status of an application by mail.
Cat. No. 62736F

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 101
Where To Fax or File For information about workshops in your area, call
1-800-829-4933.
If your principal business, Call the Fax-TIN number
office or agency, or legal shown or file with the Related Forms and Publications
residence in the case of an “Internal Revenue Service
individual, is located in: Center” at: The following forms and instructions may be useful to
filers of Form SS-4:
Connecticut, Delaware, District • Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income
of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Tax Return
Maine, Maryland,
Attn: EIN Operation • Instructions for Form 990-T
Massachusetts, New
P. 0. Box 9003 • Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Business
Holtsville, NY 11742-9003
York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Fax-TIN 631-447-8960 • Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Farming
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, • Instructions for Form 1041 and Schedules A, B, D,
South Carolina, Vermont, G, I, J, and K-1, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and
Virginia, West Virginia
Trusts
Attn: EIN Operation • Form 1042, Annual Withholding Tax Return for U.S.
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,
Cincinnati, OH 45999 Source Income of Foreign Persons
Michigan
Fax-TIN 859-669-5760 • Instructions for Form 1065, U.S. Return of
Partnership Income
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona,
Arkansas, California,
• Instructions for Form 1066, U.S. Real Estate
Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) Income Tax
Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa,
Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota,
Return
Mississippi, Missouri, • Instructions for Forms 1120 and 1120-A
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
Attn: EIN Operation • Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation
New Mexico, North Dakota,
Philadelphia, PA 19255 • Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of
Fax-TIN 215-516-3990 Representative
Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto
Rico, South Dakota, • Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, • Form 8832, Entity Classification Election
Washington, Wisconsin, For more information about filing Form SS-4 and
Wyoming related issues, see:
• Circular A, Agricultural Employer’s Tax Guide
If you have no legal Attn: EIN Operation
(Pub. 51)
residence, principal place of Philadelphia, PA 19255
business, or principal office Telephone 215-516-6999
• Circular E, Employer’s Tax Guide (Pub. 15)
or agency in any state: Fax-TIN 215-516-3990
• Pub. 538, Accounting Periods and Methods
• Pub. 542, Corporations
• Pub. 557, Exempt Status for Your Organization
• Pub. 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records
How To Get Forms and Publications • Pub. 966, Electronic Choices for Paying ALL Your
Phone. You can order forms, instructions, and Federal Taxes
publications by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. • Pub. 1635, Understanding Your EIN
Call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). You should • Package 1023, Application for Recognition of
receive your order or notification of its status within 10 Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
workdays. Revenue Code
• Package 1024, Application for Recognition of
Personal computer. With your personal computer and Exemption Under Section 501(a)
modem, you can get the forms and information you need
using the IRS website at www.irs.gov or File Transfer
Protocol at ftp.irs.gov.
CD-ROM. For small businesses, return preparers, or
Specific Instructions
others who may frequently need tax forms or Print or type all entries on Form SS-4. Follow the
publications, a CD-ROM containing over 2,000 tax instructions for each line to expedite processing and to
products (including many prior year forms) can be avoid unnecessary IRS requests for additional
purchased from the National Technical Information information. Enter “N/A” (nonapplicable) on the lines that
Service (NTIS). do not apply.
To order Pub. 1796, Federal Tax Products on Line 1—Legal name of entity (or individual) for whom
CD-ROM, call 1-877-CDFORMS (1-877-233-6767) toll the EIN is being requested. Enter the legal name of the
free or connect to www.irs.gov/cdorders. entity (or individual) applying for the EIN exactly as it
appears on the social security card, charter, or other
Tax Help for Your Business applicable legal document.
IRS-sponsored Small Business Workshops provide Individuals. Enter your first name, middle initial, and
information about your Federal and state tax obligations. last name. If you are a sole proprietor, enter your

102 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
individual name, not your business name. Enter your necessary, complete Form W-7, Application for IRS
business name on line 2. Do not use abbreviations or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to obtain an
nicknames on line 1. ITIN.
Trusts. Enter the name of the trust. You are required to enter an SSN, ITIN, or EIN unless
Estate of a decedent. Enter the name of the estate. the only reason you are applying for an EIN is to make an
Partnerships. Enter the legal name of the partnership entity classification election (see Regulations sections
as it appears in the partnership agreement. 301.7701-1 through 301.7701-3) and you are a
nonresident alien with no effectively connected income
Corporations. Enter the corporate name as it from sources within the United States.
appears in the corporation charter or other legal
document creating it. Line 8a—Type of entity. Check the box that best
describes the type of entity applying for the EIN. If you
Plan administrators. Enter the name of the plan are an alien individual with an ITIN previously assigned to
administrator. A plan administrator who already has an you, enter the ITIN in place of a requested SSN.
EIN should use that number.
Line 2—Trade name of business. Enter the trade This is not an election for a tax classification of
name of the business if different from the legal name.
The trade name is the ‘‘doing business as ’’ (DBA) name.
!
CAUTION
an entity. See Limited liability company
(LLC) on page 4.

Use the full legal name shown on line 1 on all Other. If not specifically listed, check the ‘‘Other’’ box,
!
CAUTION
tax returns filed for the entity. (However, if you
enter a trade name on line 2 and choose to use
enter the type of entity and the type of return, if any, that
will be filed (for example, “Common Trust Fund, Form
the trade name instead of the legal name, enter 1065” or “Created a Pension Plan”). Do not enter “N/A.” If
the trade name on all returns you file.) To prevent you are an alien individual applying for an EIN, see the
processing delays and errors, always use the legal name Lines 7a-b instructions above.
only (or the trade name only) on all tax returns. • Household employer. If you are an individual, check
Line 3—Executor, trustee, ‘‘care of’’ name. Trusts the ‘‘Other’’ box and enter ‘‘Household Employer’’ and
enter the name of the trustee. Estates enter the name of your SSN. If you are a state or local agency serving as a
the executor, administrator, or other fiduciary. If the entity tax reporting agent for public assistance recipients who
applying has a designated person to receive tax become household employers, check the ‘‘Other’’ box
information, enter that person’s name as the ‘‘care of’’ and enter ‘‘Household Employer Agent.’’ If you are a trust
person. Enter the individual’s first name, middle initial, that qualifies as a household employer, you do not need
and last name. a separate EIN for reporting tax information relating to
household employees; use the EIN of the trust.
Lines 4a-b —Mailing address. Enter the mailing
• QSub. For a qualified subchapter S subsidiary (QSub)
address for the entity’s correspondence. If line 3 is
check the ‘‘Other’’ box and specify ‘‘QSub.’’
completed, enter the address for the executor, trustee or
• Withholding agent. If you are a withholding agent
“care of” person. Generally, this address will be used on
required to file Form 1042, check the ‘‘Other’’ box and
all tax returns.
enter ‘‘Withholding Agent.’’
File Form 8822, Change of Address, to report Sole proprietor. Check this box if you file Schedule
TIP any subsequent changes to the entity’s mailing C, C-EZ, or F (Form 1040) and have a qualified plan, or
address. are required to file excise, employment, alcohol, tobacco,
or firearms returns, or are a payer of gambling winnings.
Lines 5a-b —Street address. Provide the entity’s Enter your SSN (or ITIN) in the space provided. If you are
physical address only if different from its mailing address a nonresident alien with no effectively connected income
shown in lines 4a-b. Do not enter a P.O. box number from sources within the United States, you do not need to
here. enter an SSN or ITIN.
Line 6—County and state where principal business
Corporation. This box is for any corporation other
is located. Enter the entity’s primary physical location.
than a personal service corporation. If you check this
Lines 7a-b —Name of principal officer, general box, enter the income tax form number to be filed by the
partner, grantor, owner, or trustor. Enter the first entity in the space provided.
name, middle initial, last name, and SSN of (a) the
principal officer if the business is a corporation, (b) a If you entered “1120S” after the “Corporation”
general partner if a partnership, (c) the owner of an entity
that is disregarded as separate from its owner
!
CAUTION
checkbox, the corporation must file Form 2553
no later than the 15th day of the 3rd month
(disregarded entities owned by a corporation enter the of the tax year the election is to take effect.
corporation’s name and EIN), or (d) a grantor, owner, or Until Form 2553 has been received and approved, you
trustor if a trust. will be considered a Form 1120 filer. See the Instructions
If the person in question is an alien individual with a for Form 2553.
previously assigned individual taxpayer identification Personal service corp. Check this box if the entity is
number (ITIN), enter the ITIN in the space provided and a personal service corporation. An entity is a personal
submit a copy of an official identifying document. If service corporation for a tax year only if:

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 103
• The principal activity of the entity during the testing should use the name and EIN of its owner for all Federal
period (prior tax year) for the tax year is the performance tax purposes. However, the reporting and payment of
of personal services substantially by employee-owners, employment taxes for employees of the LLC may be
and made using the name and EIN of either the owner or the
• The employee-owners own at least 10% of the fair LLC as explained in Notice 99-6. You can find Notice
market value of the outstanding stock in the entity on the 99-6 on page 12 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 1999-3 at
last day of the testing period. www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb99-03.pdf. (Note: If the
Personal services include performance of services in LLC applicant indicates in box 13 that it has employees
such fields as health, law, accounting, or consulting. For or expects to have employees, the owner (whether an
more information about personal service corporations, individual or other entity) of a single-member domestic
see the Instructions for Forms 1120 and 1120-A and Pub. LLC will also be assigned its own EIN (if it does not
542. already have one) even if the LLC will be filing the
Other nonprofit organization. Check this box if the employment tax returns.)
nonprofit organization is other than a church or • A single-member, domestic LLC that accepts the
church-controlled organization and specify the type of default classification (above) and wants an EIN for filing
nonprofit organization (for example, an educational employment tax returns (see above) or non-Federal
organization). purposes, such as a state requirement, must check the
“Other” box and write “Disregarded Entity” or, when
If the organization also seeks tax-exempt applicable, “Disregarded Entity —Sole Proprietorship” in
!
CAUTION
status, you must file either Package 1023 or
Package 1024. See Pub. 557 for more
the space provided.
• A multi-member, domestic LLC that accepts the default
information. classification (above) must check the “Partnership” box.
If the organization is covered by a group exemption • A domestic LLC that will be filing Form 8832 to elect
letter, enter the four-digit group exemption number corporate status must check the “Corporation” box and
(GEN). (Do not confuse the GEN with the nine-digit EIN.) write in “Single-Member” or “Multi-Member” immediately
If you do not know the GEN, contact the parent below the “form number” entry line.
organization. Get Pub. 557 for more information about Line 9—Reason for applying. Check only one box. Do
group exemption numbers. not enter “N/A.”
Plan administrator. If the plan administrator is an
Started new business. Check this box if you are
individual, enter the plan administrator’s SSN in the
starting a new business that requires an EIN. If you
space provided.
check this box, enter the type of business being started.
REMIC. Check this box if the entity has elected to be Do not apply if you already have an EIN and are only
treated as a real estate mortgage investment conduit adding another place of business.
(REMIC). See the Instructions for Form 1066 for more
information. Hired employees. Check this box if the existing
business is requesting an EIN because it has hired or is
Limited liability company (LLC). An LLC is an entity
hiring employees and is therefore required to file
organized under the laws of a state or foreign country as
employment tax returns. Do not apply if you already
a limited liability company. For Federal tax purposes, an
have an EIN and are only hiring employees. For
LLC may be treated as a partnership or corporation or be
information on employment taxes (e.g., for family
disregarded as an entity separate from its owner.
members), see Circular E.
By default, a domestic LLC with only one member is
disregarded as an entity separate from its owner and You may be required to make electronic
must include all of its income and expenses on the
owner’s tax return (e.g., Schedule C (Form 1040)). Also !
CAUTION
deposits of all depository taxes (such as
employment tax, excise tax, and corporate
by default, a domestic LLC with two or more members is income tax) using the Electronic Federal Tax
treated as a partnership. A domestic LLC may file Form Payment System (EFTPS). See section 11, Depositing
8832 to avoid either default classification and elect to be Taxes, of Circular E and Pub. 966.
classified as an association taxable as a corporation. For
more information on entity classifications (including the Created a pension plan. Check this box if you have
rules for foreign entities), see the instructions for Form created a pension plan and need an EIN for reporting
8832. purposes. Also, enter the type of plan in the space
provided.
Do not file Form 8832 if the LLC accepts the
Check this box if you are applying for a trust
!
CAUTION
default classifications above. However, if the
LLC will be electing S Corporation status, it TIP EIN when a new pension plan is established. In
must timely file both Form 8832 and Form addition, check the “Other” box in line 8a and
2553. write “Created a Pension Plan” in the space
provided.
Complete Form SS-4 for LLCs as follows:
• A single-member domestic LLC that accepts the Banking purpose. Check this box if you are
default classification (above) does not need an EIN and requesting an EIN for banking purposes only, and enter
generally should not file Form SS-4. Generally, the LLC the banking purpose (for example, a bowling league for

104 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
104 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
depositing dues or an investment club for dividend and See the Instructions for Form 1065 for more
interest reporting). information.
Changed type of organization. Check this box if the REMICs. REMICs must have a calendar year as their
business is changing its type of organization. For tax year.
example, the business was a sole proprietorship and has Personal service corporations. A personal service
been incorporated or has become a partnership. If you corporation generally must adopt a calendar year unless:
check this box, specify in the space provided (including • It can establish a business purpose for having a
available space immediately below) the type of change different tax year, or
made. For example, ‘‘From Sole Proprietorship to • It elects under section 444 to have a tax year other
Partnership.’’ than a calendar year.
Purchased going business. Check this box if you Trusts. Generally, a trust must adopt a calendar year
purchased an existing business. Do not use the former except for the following:
owner’s EIN unless you became the “owner” of a • Tax-exempt trusts,
corporation by acquiring its stock. • Charitable trusts, and
Created a trust. Check this box if you created a trust, • Grantor-owned trusts.
and enter the type of trust created. For example, indicate Line 12—First date wages or annuities were paid or
if the trust is a nonexempt charitable trust or a will be paid. If the business has or will have employees,
split-interest trust. enter the date on which the business began or will begin
Exception. Do not file this form for certain to pay wages. If the business does not plan to have
grantor-type trusts. The trustee does not need an EIN for employees, enter “N/A.”
the trust if the trustee furnishes the name and TIN of the Withholding agent. Enter the date you began or will
grantor/owner and the address of the trust to all payors. begin to pay income (including annuities) to a
See the Instructions for Form 1041 for more information. nonresident alien. This also applies to individuals who
Do not check this box if you are applying for a are required to file Form 1042 to report alimony paid to a
trust EIN when a new pension plan is nonresident alien.
TIP
established. Check ‘‘Created a pension plan.’’ Line 13—Highest number of employees expected in
the next 12 months. Complete each box by entering the
Other. Check this box if you are requesting an EIN for number (including zero (“-0-”)) of “Agricultural,”
any other reason; and enter the reason. For example, a “Household,” or “Other” employees expected by the
newly-formed state government entity should enter applicant in the next 12 months. For a definition of
“Newly-Formed State Government Entity” in the space agricultural labor (farmwork), see Circular A.
provided.
Lines 14 and 15. Check the one box in line 14 that best
Line 10—Date business started or acquired. If you describes the principal activity of the applicant’s
are starting a new business, enter the starting date of the business. Check the “Other” box (and specify the
business. If the business you acquired is already applicant’s principal activity) if none of the listed boxes
operating, enter the date you acquired the business. If applies.
you are changing the form of ownership of your business,
enter the date the new ownership entity began. Trusts Use line 15 to describe the applicant’s principal line of
should enter the date the trust was legally created. business in more detail. For example, if you checked the
Estates should enter the date of death of the decedent “Construction” box in line 14, enter additional detail such
whose name appears on line 1 or the date when the as “General contractor for residential buildings” in line 15.
estate was legally funded. Construction. Check this box if the applicant is
Line 11—Closing month of accounting year. Enter engaged in erecting buildings or other structures, (e.g.,
the last month of your accounting year or tax year. An streets, highways, bridges, tunnels). The term
accounting or tax year is usually 12 consecutive months, “Construction” also includes special trade contractors,
either a calendar year or a fiscal year (including a period (e.g., plumbing, HVAC, electrical, carpentry, concrete,
of 52 or 53 weeks). A calendar year is 12 consecutive excavation, etc. contractors).
months ending on December 31. A fiscal year is either 12 Real estate. Check this box if the applicant is
consecutive months ending on the last day of any month engaged in renting or leasing real estate to others;
other than December or a 52-53 week year. For more managing, selling, buying or renting real estate for
information on accounting periods, see Pub. 538. others; or providing related real estate services (e.g.,
Individuals. Your tax year generally will be a calendar appraisal services).
year. Rental and leasing. Check this box if the applicant is
Partnerships. Partnerships must adopt one of the engaged in providing tangible goods such as autos,
following tax years: computers, consumer goods, or industrial machinery and
• The tax year of the majority of its partners, equipment to customers in return for a periodic rental or
• The tax year common to all of its principal partners, lease payment.
• The tax year that results in the least aggregate deferral Manufacturing. Check this box if the applicant is
of income, or engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical
• In certain cases, some other tax year. transformation of materials, substances, or components

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 105
into new products. The assembling of component parts of principal officer, if the applicant is a corporation, (c) a
manufactured products is also considered to be responsible and duly authorized member or officer having
manufacturing. knowledge of its affairs, if the applicant is a partnership,
Transportation & warehousing. Check this box if the government entity, or other unincorporated organization,
applicant provides transportation of passengers or cargo; or (d) the fiduciary, if the applicant is a trust or an estate.
warehousing or storage of goods; scenic or sight-seeing Foreign applicants may have any duly-authorized person,
transportation; or support activities related to these (e.g., division manager), sign Form SS-4.
modes of transportation.
Finance & insurance. Check this box if the applicant Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice.
is engaged in transactions involving the creation, We ask for the information on this form to carry out the
liquidation, or change of ownership of financial assets Internal Revenue laws of the United States. We need it to
and/or facilitating such financial transactions; comply with section 6109 and the regulations thereunder
underwriting annuities/insurance policies; facilitating such which generally require the inclusion of an employer
underwriting by selling insurance policies; or by providing identification number (EIN) on certain returns,
other insurance or employee-benefit related services. statements, or other documents filed with the Internal
Health care and social assistance. Check this box if Revenue Service. If your entity is required to obtain an
the applicant is engaged in providing physical, medical, EIN, you are required to provide all of the information
or psychiatric care using licensed health care requested on this form. Information on this form may be
professionals or providing social assistance activities used to determine which Federal tax returns you are
such as youth centers, adoption agencies, individual/ required to file and to provide you with related forms and
family services, temporary shelters, etc. publications.
Accommodation & food services. Check this box if We disclose this form to the Social Security
the applicant is engaged in providing customers with Administration for their use in determining compliance
lodging, meal preparation, snacks, or beverages for with applicable laws. We may give this information to the
immediate consumption. Department of Justice for use in civil and criminal
Wholesale –agent/broker. Check this box if the litigation, and to the cities, states, and the District of
applicant is engaged in arranging for the purchase or Columbia for use in administering their tax laws. We may
sale of goods owned by others or purchasing goods on a also disclose this information to Federal and state
commission basis for goods traded in the wholesale agencies to enforce Federal nontax criminal laws and to
market, usually between businesses. combat terrorism.
Wholesale –other. Check this box if the applicant is We will be unable to issue an EIN to you unless you
engaged in selling goods in the wholesale market provide all of the requested information which applies to
generally to other businesses for resale on their own your entity. Providing false information could subject you
account. to penalties.
Retail. Check this box if the applicant is engaged in You are not required to provide the information
selling merchandise to the general public from a fixed requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork
store; by direct, mail-order, or electronic sales; or by Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB
using vending machines. control number. Books or records relating to a form or its
Other. Check this box if the applicant is engaged in instructions must be retained as long as their contents
an activity not described above. Describe the applicant’s may become material in the administration of any Internal
principal business activity in the space provided. Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return
information are confidential, as required by section 6103.
Lines 16a-c. Check the applicable box in line 16a to
indicate whether or not the entity (or individual) applying The time needed to complete and file this form will
for an EIN was issued one previously. Complete lines vary depending on individual circumstances. The
16b and 16c only if the “Yes” box in line 16a is checked. estimated average time is:
If the applicant previously applied for more than one
Recordkeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 min.
EIN, write “See Attached” in the empty space in line 16a
Learning about the law or the form . . . . . . . . . 22 min.
and attach a separate sheet providing the line 16b and
Preparing the form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 min.
16c information for each EIN previously requested.
Copying, assembling, and sending the form to
Third Party Designee. Complete this section only if you the IRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 min.
want to authorize the named individual to receive the
entity’s EIN and answer questions about the completion If you have comments concerning the accuracy of
of Form SS-4. The designee’s authority terminates at the these time estimates or suggestions for making this form
time the EIN is assigned and released to the designee. simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. You can
You must complete the signature area for the write to the Tax Products Coordinating Committee,
authorization to be valid. Western Area Distribution Center, Rancho Cordova, CA
Signature. When required, the application must be 95743-0001. Do not send the form to this address.
signed by (a) the individual, if the applicant is an Instead, see How To Apply on page 1.
individual, (b) the president, vice president, or other

Printed on recycled paper

106 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
106 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
of the

BAHÁ'ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES
536 SHERIDAN ROAD, WILMETTE, ILLINOIS 60091-2849 • (847) 869-9039 • EMAIL: FINANCE@USBNC.ORG

OFFICE OF THE TREASURER February 8, 2005

To: All Local Spiritual Assemblies

Subject: General Liability Insurance Policy Period: 11/01/04 – 11/01/05

Dear Bahá’í friends,

Every year, the National Spiritual Assembly purchases general liability insurance for
Local Spiritual Assembly-sponsored events. This coverage is obtained in the interest of
economy since it is very likely the cost to each Assembly for the same coverage would be
far greater if purchased individually. We are asking each Local Spiritual Assembly to
help defray the cost by paying $100.00 for the policy period. Please make your check
payable to “Bahá’í Services Fund” and as a reference on the check write: “LSA
Liability Insurance.” Please send your payment to: National Bahá’í Fund, 112
Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091-2800.

Please note, if your Assembly owns or leases a Bahá’í Center you are not covered by our
national policy. We advise that you purchase a casualty insurance policy on your
building and contents and as part of your policy include a provision for public liability
insurance. If you have such a policy, you need not send us the above-mentioned $100,
but we request that you send The Office of the Treasurer the name and address of your
insurance company, address and value of your property, policy period, and type and
limits of coverage.

For your reference, enclosed is information on our general liability coverage, a blank
Request for Certificate of Insurance form, and accompanying instructions. Please include
as much information about the event as possible. This form is also available online from
the Treasurers page of the Bahá’í Administrative website (www.usbnc.org).

Please make your requests as far in advance as possible. Be aware that requests for other
than simple proof of coverage may require additional time to process. Certificates will be
sent directly to the event venue unless otherwise requested.

Please direct questions or concerns regarding liability insurance coverage to Bahá’í
National Center, Office of the Treasurer – Insurance, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL
60201, (847) 733-3469

Please retain this letter in your files for reference.
With loving Bahá’ís greetings,

Jeremy Phelan
Controller

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 107
Information on the National Spiritual Assembly general liability coverage:

1. Coverage period: November 1, 2004 to November 1, 2005

2. Company: ZE/Usi Insurance Services, Inc.
Policy No. CPO 5449656-02

3. Limits: $3,000,000 general aggregate
$1,000,000 products and completed work
$1,000,000 personal and advertising injury
$1,000,000 each occurrence
$ 5,000 medical expense (any one person)

4. Exclusions: The following events and/or activities are excluded from coverage:

Amusement rides
Athletics, including horseback riding
Children and teens, other than Sunday schools
Camps/Adventure camps
Overnight stays
Water activities
Over 50 people in attendance, other than Feasts and Sunday schools
Alcoholic beverages
Haunted House
Parades/floats
Fireworks/pyrotechnics

To download a Request for Certificate of Insurance form, log into the Baha’i
Administrative Website (www.usbnc.org). Select NSA Departments/R-Z/Treasurer/
Community Resources.

Mail, email or fax completed Request for Certificate of Insurance forms to:

ZE/Usi Insurance Services Email: colleen.flores@zurichna.com
Attention Colleen Flores Phone: 312-879-9200
641 W. Lake Street, 5th Floor Toll Free: 877-447-7286
Chicago, IL 60661 Fax: 312-879-9300

108 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
ZE/USI INSURANCE SERVICES – REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE

Dates of Event:____________________________ Certificate Need by Date:__________________________________

Sponsoring Local Spiritual Assembly:________________________________________________________________

BLC #:____________Address:_______________________________________________________________________

Contact Person:___________________________________ Email Address:___________________________________

Phone #:________________________________ Fax #:_________________________________________

Name & Address where event is to be held:

Name & Address of Venue requesting Certificate:

Contact Person:___________________________________ Email Address:___________________________________

Phone #:________________________________ Fax #:_________________________________________

Does the Venue have an Additional Insured Requirement: Yes_____ No____ If yes, please include a copy of their
insurance requirements from the contract, along with any hold harmless agreement wording.
Has the venue/service provider provided you with a certificate as evidence of their insurance? Yes____ No_____

Event Description: Type of Event:

Describe all Activities:

Type of Entertainment:

Describe any Athletic Type Activities:

Purpose of Event:__________________________________________________________________________________
Expected Attendance (#):__________________________________ Age Group of Attendees:_____________________
Expected $ Receipts (if any):________________________ Is Transportation Provided: Yes________ No_________

If this is a Sunday School please provide the following information by class:
# of Classes:_________ #of Teachers & Assistants:_________ # of Students:_________ Ages:___________

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 109
ZE/USI INSURANCE SERVICES – INSTRUCTIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE

THIS INSURANCE ONLY APPLIES TO LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES COVERED UNDER THE
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY’S GENERAL LIABILITY POLICY.

1. Complete the Request for Certificate of Insurance in full. If a question does not apply mark it accordingly.
Please do not leave anything blank.
2. A typed request is preferred. If printed please do so clearly and legibly.
3. Address information should include the street address, city, state and zip code.
4. Contact names for both the Assembly and Venue should reflect accurate email addresses along with the phone
and fax numbers.
5. Many venues require special “additional insured” wording and hold harmless agreements. These are usually
contained in the lease or contract agreement between the Assembly and the venue. In order to meet these
requirements we must have a copy of this lease and/or contract. We cannot include a venue as an additional
insured without prior review of this contract. We may issue a certificate evidencing you have coverage only if
this information is provided. Many certificates have to be reissued at the last minute in order to meet additional
insured requirements. IN ORDER TO MEET YOUR TIME FRAMES THIS INFORMATION MUST BE
SUBMITTED AS FAR IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE.
6. In lieu of any other delivery instructions, we will forward a copy of the certificate on your behalf directly to the
venue via email first and fax as an alternative.
7. Description of the event is critical. The more detail provided, the faster the certificate will be issued. If this is
an overnight retreat, youth camp, etc. it is imperative to include the safety measures in place to protect the
participants. This would include certification information on lifeguards, camp personnel, boating instructors/
supervisors, participant waivers, hold harmless agreements, etc.
8. A Waiver of Liability form is required for all participants engaging in any type of athletic activity. This
includes all children and adults. Athletic activities would include swimming, horseback riding, canoeing/
boating of any kind, archery, sports of any type, etc. Please secure this waiver on all participants of these types
of activities and maintain a copy with your event file.
9. We require a certificate of insurance from the venue evidencing that they carry their own general liability
insurance coverage. We do not require that the Spiritual Assembly be added as an additional insured. Please
obtain a certificate from the venue and maintain it in your files for the specific event.
10. Any event sponsoring or participating in a parade event must have the insurance secured through a Special
Event policy. This is provided through another carrier that has its own questionnaire separate from this one. It
takes a minimum of one week to secure this coverage and usually costs between $400 to $700 to purchase.
11. Requests for certificates received after 4:00pm CST on a Friday afternoon cannot be handled until the
following Monday.
12. PLEASE BE DILIGENT IN FORWARDING CERTIFICATE REQUESTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH
AS MUCH LEAD TIME AS ALLOWABLE. This will insure that you have the appropriate certificate when
you need it.
13. Thank you for your cooperation in following the above instructions and tips. We will do everything we
possibly can to meet your deadlines as long as we are given detailed, accurate information. ZE/USi generates
certificates for over 1,100 Local Spiritual Assemblies and tries to process them in date order of the specific
event. It is important to communicate that you need a certificate to accompany a contract in a specific time
frame in order to secure the venue.

ZE/USI INSURANCE SERVICES CONTACT INFORMATION

Colleen M. Flores, Director Business Development
Address: 641 W. Lake Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661
Phone #: 312-879-9200
Toll Free Phone #: 877-447-7286 Ext. 9705
Fax #: 312-879-9300
Email Address: colleen.flores@zurichna.com

110 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
AUDIT PROCEDURES

Name of Bahá'í Community __________________________________________________________________

City ___________________________________ State ___________ Date Audit Performed ___________

LSA/Group ID No. _______________________ Audit Period (Fiscal Year) __________________________

“It is important for your Assembly, in the future, to explain to the persons who are entrusted with the money of the Faith that in
view of the National Assembly’s obligation to protect Bahá’í funds, the Assembly will hold them responsible for all monies they
receive, and they should therefore render proper accounts to the National Spiritual Assembly, be faithful custodians of God's
trust, and be assured that such honesty and faithfulness will be richly rewarded from on High.”
Letter from The Universal House of Justice, 18 May 1980

An annual audit of the financial records is one of the most important obligations of the Local Spiritual Assembly or Registered
Group. These Audit Procedures are designed to assist you as "…faithful custodians of God's trust…"

Through your local treasurer, all Local Spiritual Assemblies and Registered Groups are responsible for following the uniform
system of record keeping recommended by the National Spiritual Assembly (or a comparable system) and for obtaining
reasonable assurance that transactions have been recorded properly in the cash journal. In addition, it should be noted
whether or not your local treasurer is fulfilling his or her responsibility to make regular reports to your Local Assembly (or
Registered Group) and to the community.

The audit must be performed by at least two individuals, other than the treasurer, who are selected by the Local Assembly or
Group. If the situation warrants, a certified public accounting firm may be hired to carry out this vital function.
After performing the audit, the auditors most do the following:

1. Prepare a report (similar to the example on page 8) indicating the financial condition of your community and
the underlying soundness of its financial records.
2. Make appropriate recommendations for any improvement in the record keeping of the local Bahá'í Fund.
3. Make a copy of the written report and submit it to the audited Local Assembly, along with a copy of the
worksheet "Auditing Procedures Check List" used to perform the audit.
4. Mail the original written report and the worksheet “Auditing Procedures Checklist” plus a copy of all
correspondence submitted to the Local Spiritual Assembly or Registered Group to:

National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of the United States
Office of The Treasurer - AUDIT
1233 Central Street
Evanston, Illinois 60201

The results of each year’s audit should reach the Office of the Treasurer no later than June 30th, which is two months after the
end of the fiscal year.

Thank you for performing this essential responsibility of the Local Spiritual Assembly or Registered Group.

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 111
AUDITING PROCEDURES CHECKLIST
1. Obtain a general familiarity with the accounting records and procedures outlined in the Stewardship and
Development Manual (available from the Bahá'í Distribution Service at 800-999-9019)

These items should be obtained from the Treasurer prior to the audit:
q All bank statements, reconciliation of the bank statements, canceled checks and deposit tickets for the period being
audited (probably May 1 through April 30)
q All paid and outstanding bills
q Duplicate receipt book(s) for receipts issued for all money coming into the Local Fund
q “Monthly Reports of Income & Expenses” from the Local Treasurer to LSA/Group
q Local Treasurer’s reports to the Community at Feast (note: this can be the same as the report to the Local Spiritual
Assembly/Group)
q Treasurer’s Cash Journal
q Any additional items used by the Treasurer in performance of his or her duties
q Previous year’s audit report. The opinion letter from last year’s auditors should be reviewed to confirm whether all of
the recommendations were implemented.

CASH BALANCES AND BANK RECONCILIATION

2. Establish the beginning and ending cash bank balance

These figures can be taken from the April bank statements for the beginning and end of the fiscal year. Record the balance
for the 30th given on the statement. If balance given on the bank statement is not for April 30th, use the last balance
indicated before the 30th.

Beginning bank balance (ending balance April of last year) $_______________ (1)

Ending bank balance (ending balance April of this year) $_______________ (2)

Now reconcile the beginning and ending bank balance to the cash journal (or check book) as of April 30th.

Beginning bank balance (same as line 1 above) $_______________ (3)

(Add) Deposits recorded in the cash journal which
were made before April 30th (last year) but not
recorded on last years’ April bank statement + $_______________ (4)

(Subtract) Checks recorded in the cash journal which
were written before April 30th (last year) but not
cleared through the bank by the 30th - $_______________ (5)

Reconciled beginning bank balance = $_______________ (6)

Ending bank balance (same as line 2 above) $_______________ (7)

(Add) Deposits recorded in the cash journal which
were made before April 30th (this year) but not
recorded on the April bank statement + $______________ (8)

(Subtract) Checks recorded in the cash journal which
were written before April 30th (this year) but not
cleared through the bank by April 30th - $______________ (9)

Reconciled ending bank balance $______________ (10)

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 113
You should also ascertain that the Treasurer has been reconciling the bank account on a monthly basis by reviewing several
monthly bank reconciliation’s performed during the year. If this procedure has not been performed regularly, include a
recommendation in your report to the local Spiritual Assembly or Group that this be done.

Does the Treasurer reconcile the bank statements each month? Yes____ No____

3. Establish the beginning and ending cash journal balances

Examining the cash journal, compare the beginning cash balance for the year under review to the ending cash balance for
the previous year. These should be the same. Also check to make sure the beginning cash journal balance equals the
beginning reconciled bank balance.

Previous year's ending cash journal balance (if available) $__________________

Beginning cash journal balance $__________________

Reconciled beginning bank balance (from line 6, part 2) $__________________

These three figures should agree. Explain any discrepancy:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Make sure the ending cash journal balance equals the ending reconciled bank balance. When discrepancies occur look for:
bank service charges, returned checks due to insufficient funds, transposed numbers, etc.

Ending cash journal balance $________________

Reconciled ending bank balance (from line l0, part 2) $________________

These should agree. Explain any discrepancy:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

INCOME AND DISBURSEMENTS

4. Verify that bank deposits were correctly recorded in the cash journal

Add all the deposits shown on the monthly bank statements within the time period being audited to obtain a year-end
total. Compare this figure to the final year-to-date entry in the cash journal for deposits.

Total deposits per bank statements $_______________

Total deposits per cash journal $_______________

These should agree. Explain any discrepancy:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

If the total recorded in the cash journal differs from the bank statement total, do a month-by-month check of the cash
journal entries for errors.

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 115
Compare the date of randomly selected deposits to the date that the contributions being deposited were received.
Determine if there were any unusual delays in depositing money in the bank. (Note: We recommend that the Treasurer
make separate deposits for each Bahá’í month, not allowing money from one Bahá’í month to be deposited with another
Bahá’í month. This makes checking for errors much easier, not only for the auditors but for the Treasurer as well. If this
procedure is not followed, the auditor should recommend it to the Assembly.)

Are there unusual delays in making bank deposits? Yes____ No____

Does the Treasurer deposit monies contributed
during each Bahá’í month separately? Yes____ No____

Comments:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Compare total receipts to total bank deposits

Make sure all revenue has been receipted, including anonymous contributions, expense refunds, etc. Be sure receipts are
numbered and prepared in duplicate. (Note: We recommend the use of pre-numbered carbon receipts.) Assure that
receipts are prepared and worded appropriately, as described in the Stewardship and Development Manual.

Are receipts prepared for all revenue? Yes____ No____

Are receipts numbered and prepared in duplicate? Yes____ No____

Comments:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Determine the total dollar amount of receipts written during the period under review by adding together the receipts in
the receipt book. The total receipt figure must then be adjusted by subtracting the total dollar amount for contributed
expenses. (Remember that contributed expenses are receipted but are not indicated as bank deposits.) The adjusted
receipt total should then agree with total deposits as recorded on the bank statements.

Total receipts per receipt book $______________

(Subtract) Total "contributed expenses” - $______________

Adjusted figure (receipts minus contributed expenses) = $______________

Total deposits per bank statement $______________

The last two figures should agree. Explain any discrepancy:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Note: If the total deposited into the bank is greater than the total of receipts issued, this may indicate that receipts were
not issued for all incoming monies. If this is the case, include a recommendation in your report that receipts be issued for
all incoming monies.)

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 117
As a last step, review the "Other Income" column in the cash journal for any significant entries. Examine the
corresponding receipt and other supporting documentation to determine that the item is properly recorded. If an entry in
the "Other Income" column was for an earmarked contribution to another Fund, check to be sure that the contribution
was properly forwarded.

Are there any problems with entries in the "Other Income" column? Yes____ No____

Comments:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Verify checks and expenses

Randomly review a number of checks for the proper authorized signature(s). Select several expenses recorded in the cash
journal and compare the amount recorded to the amount on the canceled check and the amount owed as shown on the
supporting bill or invoice. Examine the bill or invoice and determine the nature of the expense. Verify that the amount
has been allocated to the proper expense category. Be sure to examine the supporting documentation for any sizable
checks and checks payable to individuals.

Are there any evident problems uncovered by the spot check
of canceled checks and supporting documentation? Yes____ No____

Comments:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Make sure the Treasurer is utilizing pre-numbered checks. If not, make a recommendation that this be done.

Is the Treasurer using pre-numbered checks? Yes____ No____

When reviewing the checks and receipts documenting the community's monthly contribution to the Bahá’í Funds, verify
that such contributions are being forwarded on a regular and timely basis. Be sure to indicate any problems in your
report.

Are monthly contributions to the Bahá'í Fund forwarded regularly and on time? Yes____ No____

Comments:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Balance the cash journal entries

Utilizing the final year-to-date totals, reconcile the cash journal using the procedure for checking the accuracy of the
journal entries found in the Stewardship and Development Manual. If there are any problems not accounted for by the
treasurer and resolved in a timely manner, use month-by-month checks to determine the source of the error.

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 119
Beginning cash balance $______________

(Add) Deposit + $______________

(Subtract) Checks - $______________

Ending cash balance = $______________

Beginning cash balance $______________

(Add) Income + $______________

(Subtract) Expenses - $______________

Ending cash balance = $______________

8. Review reporting procedures

Ensure that the Treasurer is reporting accurately to the Spiritual Assembly or Group by reviewing the “Monthly Report of
Income and Expenses.” If possible, make sure the monthly totals in the cash journal agree with the appropriate report.

Is the Treasurer reporting properly to the Assembly (or Group) each month? Yes____ No____

If possible, make sure the final year-to-date totals in the cash journal agree with the amounts shown in the annual
“Financial Report to the National Spiritual Assembly.”

Do the cash journal figures agree with the amounts
reported to the National Assembly? Yes____ No____

Comments:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

9. If in-kind gifts were received by the Assembly or Group during the year, they should be examined closely. The
auditors should review the following:

q Receipts issued to the donor of the in-kind item(s)
q Cash receipt issued to the buyer if the item was sold
q List of inventory for in-kind items on hand (note: auditors should personally verify the existence of each item)

The auditors should refer to the Stewardship and Development Manual to ensure that in-kind contributions are
documented and receipted appropriately.

Comments:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Prepare your report to the Spiritual Assembly or Group. A sample report is attached. Do not use a photocopy of
this sample - write your own report including any comments you may have about the accounting procedures.
Distribute the audit report and worksheet as shown on page one of this document.

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 121
SAMPLE REPORT
Note: The final auditor’s report can be modeled after this example, and should be distributed as shown on page one.

AUDITORS REPORT TO THE LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY/REGISTERED GROUP (and the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States)

SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS/REGISTERED GROUP
OF_________________________________________
BAHÁ'Í LOCALITY CODE ____________________

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

We have examined the financial records of the Bahá’í Fund of (name of Local Spiritual Assembly/Group)for the fiscal
year ended April 30, _____. Our examination was made in accordance with the audit procedures specified by the
National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of the Treasurer, and included such other auditing procedures as we considered
necessary under the circumstances.

In our opinion, the Financial Report and financial records referred to above (are/are not) fairly presented for the
fiscal year ended April 30, _____ in conformity with the accounting procedures specified by the National Spiritual
Assembly’s Office of the Treasurer.

Our examination (did/did not) disclose any significant weaknesses in record keeping procedures. The following
observations noted during our audit (if any) and suggestions for improvement in record keeping procedures (if any)
are presented below:

1.
2.
3.

With warm regards,

(Signature of First Auditor) (Date)
(Signature of Second Auditor) (Date)

Special Note: If discrepancies were discovered which could not be corrected before submitting this report, then a
paragraph should be inserted between the first and second paragraphs above describing such discrepancies, and the opinion
paragraph appropriately modified. If significant weaknesses in record keeping procedures were noted, then the third
paragraph above should be modified. Use additional sheets as necessary.

Chapter 5—Budgets, Goals, and Audits 123
124 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
A primary requisite for all
who have responsibility
for the care of the funds of the Faith
is trustworthiness.
This, as Bahá’u’lláh has stressed,
is one of the most basic and vital
of all human virtues, and its exercise
has a direct and profound influence
on the willingness of the believers
to contribute to the Fund.
—The Universal House of Justice

126 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
6. Accounting Matters
This chapter starts with the most basic accounting terms and methods: things to
get your Assembly’s ³nancial a²airs up and running. Then we graduate to more
complex issues that you will face as the community grows.

Treasurer’s Basics
I. GETTING STARTED

A. Apply for an Employee Identi³cation Number (EIN), if your Assembly
does not have one (see example and blank application at the end of the
chapter)

The Internal Revenue Service requires that each local Assembly obtain
its own Employer Identi³cation Number (EIN). If you are one of the
assemblies that has not yet applied for an EIN, you need to do so as
soon as possible. The number 36-2170876 (which was previously used
by the National Spiritual Assembly and is no longer valid) should not
be used.

A sample SS-4 form and an application form with instructions are provided in Chapter 5. Please be sure that Section 8a is completed as shown
in the sample. GEN 9508 identi³es your Assembly as a subordinate
entity of the National Spiritual Assembly. The completed SS-4 form
can be sent directly to the IRS Regional Service Center assigned to your
area or the information can be given verbally using a special Tele-TIN
phone number. Please read the instructions for these details.

Upon noti³cation of your EIN by the Internal Revenue Service, please
report your number to the National Spiritual Assembly at:
O¹ce of the Treasurer
Attn.: EIN—Bahá’í National Center
1233 Central Street
Evanston, IL 60201

B. Open a Checking Account for the Local Fund

When you open your checking account, order duplicate pre-numbered

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 127
checks which have the name of your community’s Local Fund printed
on them. If, for example, you live in Bountiful, Utah, your checks could
read Bountiful Bahá’í Fund.

Duplicate checks make a carbon copy of each check that is written.
This can be of great assistance when balancing your check book. If you
need help, most banks will be happy to show you how to use a checking
account. Be sure to balance your checkbook as soon as you receive the
bank statement each month. If you have problems, don’t hesitate to ask
your bank for assistance.

To make the best arrangement for your Assembly, you should compare
the services o²ered by several banks. Many provide free checking to
religious organizations. They will probably ask for a Federal Identi³cation
Number.

C. Purchase:

1. a duplicate receipt book

A duplication of e²ort should not always be avoided. You will learn
later that it is important to prepare receipts for all money coming
into the Local Fund. Therefore, you need to add a duplicate receipt
book to your shopping list. This type of receipt book simply makes a
carbon copy of each receipt written.

It is important to duplicate receipts so that both the contributor and
the Treasurer have a record of the money coming into the Fund. The
friends may need this record for income tax purposes. Many people
think a canceled check is su¹cient proof of making a contribution
to a religious organization, however, this is not always the case. A
receipt is sometimes required for additional proof.

2. pocket ³le folders for paid and unpaid bills

To avoid spending hours hunting for a bill you need to pay but can’t
³nd, you will want to buy two pocket ³le folders—one for paid bills
and the other for unpaid bills. These will allow you to store your bills
in an orderly manner so they can be found quickly when necessary.

3. a two-page, 16-column accounting paper for post binders. (The paper is usually 9 - 1/4 x 11 - 7/8)

4. a hard-cover, 2-post binder for the paper.

5. a three-ring binder for permanently storing reports.

128 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
6. a calculator.

7. a rubber stamp with For Deposit Only and the name and number of your account printed on it for endorsing checks. (optional)

D. See that contributions goals are established for the Assembly and the community (see Chapter 5)

II. RECEIVING OFFERINGS FROM THE FRIENDS

A. Prepare duplicate receipts for all contributions

The Universal House of Justice instructs us that a receipt is required for
each and all contributions. In fact, duplicate receipts should be issued;
in a manual system, these can be done without extra e²ort by using a
booklet with carbon sheets or pressure-sensitive paper. Not only is giving a receipt a good business practice, but this habit creates a permanent
record of all money coming into the Funds. A complete receipt record
protects the contributor, the Treasurer and the Assembly. The receipt
should include:

• donor’s name

• date

• purpose

• amount

• name of the Assembly

• signature of the Treasurer or other authorized person

Be sure to number the receipts consecutively. Pre-printed and numbered receipts are even better if you can ³nd them, as they leave a better
“audit trail.”

B. Keep abreast of tax changes that a²ect all aspects of giving and the documentation required for receipting gifts (note those in Appendix B)

Recent changes to the tax laws affecting not-for-profit organizations contain a number of significant provisions affecting tax-exempt charitable
organizations. These laws affect Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í Groups
and include:

• New substantiation requirements for donors, and

• New disclosures for charities

A canceled check is no longer enough proof, or substantiation, for de-

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 129
ducting a contribution; this is a major change that a²ects every believer
who pays taxes. There are several other changes, too, so please read the
letter from the O¹ce of the Treasurer to all Local Spiritual Assemblies
and Groups dated April 12, 1994, and review the tax publications in
Appendix B.

C. Distribute receipts to the contributors

The method of distributing receipts will also vary from community to
community, depending on the way contributions are accepted. If someone hands in a contribution at Feast, the Treasurer may want to prepare
a receipt immediately. If contributions are placed in envelopes, receipts
can be returned the same way. Whatever method you use, make the
giving and receipt process both e¹cient and con³dential (see the end of
this chapter for origional fund contribution forms you can photocopy
and make available to the friends).

What About Receipts for Loose Change?

Often loose change is contributed anonymously. Who would get the
receipt in this case? An easy question to answer—nobody. All the Treasurer does is make out a receipt to “Anonymous” and retain both the
original copy and the duplicate as proof that money was received.

The rule for Treasurers is to prepare a receipt for all money coming into
the Local Fund, whether it is a contribution or other income. The Treasurer should also write duplicate receipts so that a copy can be kept on
³le. But what about unusual contribution situations that seem to require special handling?

D. In-Kind Contributions

When the friends contribute something other than money (such as one
gold pin with a three-diamond setting) to the Fund, ³rst the Treasurer
needs to log the item in an inventory book of non-cash items; a simple
notebook or spreadsheet will serve for this purpose. Then, she attaches a
tag with the corresponding inventory number to the item. The log would
then include the number, the donor’s name, the item’s description, the
contribution date, the Bahá’í Fund that the o²ering was intended for,
appraised value (if available), the selling date and selling price. Such
items should be kept in the Assembly’s safety deposit box.

1. Issue a receipt in such situations by giving a written description of
the donated item on the receipt. The donor, not the Treasurer, is
responsible for proving how much a gift is worth if the Internal Revenue Service should ask.

If the donor wants to deduct the value of the donation as a chari-

130 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
table contribution on their federal income tax return, they must do
the following:

a. If the value is in excess of $5,000, the donor should have a
quali³ed independent appraiser value the item as of the date of
the gift.

b. The appraiser gives the donor an appraisal report and Internal
Revenue Service Form 8283 (see Appendix B) with the
appraiser’s section ³lled out and signed.

c. The donor will need to submit Form 8283 to the local Bahá’í
Treasurer to sign and indicate the date of the gift.

d. The Treasurer returns 8283 to the donor who attaches it to his
income tax return for the year in which the donation is claimed
as a deduction.

e. The Treasurer should make a copy of all Forms 8283 signed
for donors and keep them on ³le.

If the item is sold within two years of the date of its donation, the
Treasurer must ³le an Internal Revenue Service Form 8282 (see Appendix B) with the IRS and send a copy to the donor.

One additional suggestion: it might be best to ask the donor if she
would prefer selling the item herself, giving the proceeds to the Fund.
The donor may have an easier time disposing of the item than will
the Treasurer.

2. Selling a Contributed Item

The Treasurer may be called upon to sell an item given as a gift to
the Bahá’í Fund. It does not matter who purchases it, Bahá’í or non-
Bahá’í, since the money is exchanged for the original gift to the Fund.
The sale amount should, therefore, be entered in the cash journal as
a contribution. As usual, whoever buys an item is given a receipt, but
this receipt should include a brief description of the item and its
estimated market value. For more information please read the letter
from the O¹ce of the Treasurer to all local Spiritual Assemblies and
groups, dated April 12, 1994, printed in Appendix B.

The amount of the sale counts toward the community’s contribution goal in the month the item is sold even though it may have been
given to the Fund several months earlier. The item’s value cannot
really be established until it is sold, so to enter any ³gure when the
gift is ³rst received would distort the Assembly’s ³nancial picture.

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 131
3. Donated Real Estate

The following are the steps that should be followed when a gift of
real estate is o²ered to the Assembly:

a. The Assembly must ³rst decide whether it wishes to receive the
property; occasionally, Assemblies must gracefully decline to
receive such a gift, and have the right to do this. Some of the
factors that might cause an Assembly to decline the gift would
be earmarking restrictions the Assembly cannot comply with;
the condition of the property and whether costs would have to
be incurred in making the gift salable; a negligible market value
or a reliable assessment that the property could not be sold in a
reasonable period of time, subjecting the Assembly to tax and
other expenses; or the presence on the property of an environmental hazard.

b. Before committing to receive the property, the Assembly should
have certain inspections made, especially those that would detect toxic chemicals or other hazards; the donor may not know
these things are present, but the Assembly does need to do its
“due diligence” in the matter. The cost of such inspections should
be discussed with the donor, who may be willing to bear all or
part of the expense; and then the Assembly must decide whether
it is willing to incur the expense in order to obtain the bene³t of
the gift.

c. Once agreement is reached, the donor’s lawyer prepares a deed
transferring the donor’s interest in the real property to the Bahá’í
institution (that is, “for the bene³t of Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahá’ís of Your Town”). The lawyer should have the deed recorded in the county recorder’s o¹ce in the county where the
property is situated and then send the recorded deed to the
Assembly. It is also very helpful if the donor can send the Assembly a copy of the donor’s title policy or abstract of deed.

d. The Assembly should issue a receipt to the donor acknowledging the donation of real estate “situated in the City or Town
of . . . , County or Parish of . . . , State or commonwealth of . . .,
commonly known as (and then give the mailing address
for the property).” The receipt should acknowledge the gift as
of the date the deed is recorded. No dollar value should be stated
in the receipt. The receipt should also state that no goods or
services were furnished to the donor in consideration of this
gift.

e. At the time the property is received the Assembly will need to

132 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
notify its insurance agent to determine if it needs to obtain (or
“bind”) insurance coverage e²ective on the date of receipt. Insurance may not be needed for vacant land, but it will certainly
be needed if there are any structures on the property.

f. If the donor wants to deduct the value of the donation as a
charitable contribution on his federal or state income tax return, the process is like the one used for In-Kind contributions
(see above):

If the value is more than $5,000, the donor should have a quali³ed
independent appraiser appraise the real estate as of the date of
the gift. The date of the gift for tax purposes is the date the
deed is recorded. The appraisal must be completed and presented to the donor before he ³les his tax return. The appraiser
will give the donor the appraisal report and IRS Form 8283
(see Appendix B) with the appraiser’s section ³lled out and
signed.

The donor will need to send Form 8283 to the Assembly to sign
and indicate the date of the gift. The Treasurer must sign the
form and return it to the donor who then attaches it to his
income tax return for the year in which he claims the donation
as a deduction. The Assembly should photocopy and keep on
³le all Forms 8283 signed for donors.

g. After the Assembly receives the deed, it will usually want to
contact a reputable real estate agent and list the property for
sale on a multiple listing basis. Assemblies are not in the real
estate business, so holding a property as an investment is usually not a good idea unless the Assembly can look to very knowledgeable people, Bahá’ís or not, for reliable advice on the market.

A number of things should be considered in selecting an agent.
The agent should be able to demonstrate some experience with
sales of similar properties, and should outline the marketing
strategy to attract buyers. The agent should be able to provide
information on com-parable sales and prices in the area.

The Assembly should place an expiration date on the listing
that is in line with custom and usage in the area; normally this
is not more than 6 months. The agent’s commission should be
commensurate with the custom in the market, and is usually
negotiable. The Assembly will need to keep in touch with the
agent and receive periodic progress reports.

h. The Assembly may also need the services of a lawyer to represent them in the sale. Many states, however, use escrow compa-

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 133
nies to transfer title, and lawyers are not needed. A title company typically will act as the escrow agent. The title company
does a title search, issues a title insurance policy, draws up the
deed and settlement statement and computes all of the expenses
involved. After all of the documents are ready and the funds are
on deposit, the title company will close the transaction.

In states that do not use escrow companies, an attorney will be
needed to order the title insurance or abstract the deed and represent the seller at the closing. In most instances the realtor can
recommend a lawyer for this purpose. The lawyer can be used
to review and approve any contract terms in a purchase o²er,
but the Assembly of course makes the ³nal decision on whether
to accept an o²er and enter into a contract to sell.

i. The attorney handles all communications with the buyer’s attorney, and the realtor will handle communications with the buyer
or the buyer’s realtor.

j. After an o²er has been received, the Assembly needs to decide
whether to accept the o²er “as is” or to propose a counter o²er
with di²erent terms. Normally, any o²er a buyer proposes is
answered with a counter o²er. The Assembly will need to consult with legal counsel before signing any o²er or making any
counter o²er as there are a number of important protections
that need to be in place and in e²ective form in the counter
o²er.

k. After the contract is signed, the lawyer prepares the documents
to close the deal. In order to accomplish this, she will need a
certi³ed copy of the Assembly’s “resolution to sell.” She will
then prepare a deed, a¹davit of title, seller’s closing statement
and various other documents for the Assembly to sign and return. It may be useful to give the attorney a power of attorney
to sign any other papers as may be needed at the closing.

l. When the property is sold, the Assembly will need to be sure to
cancel any insurance coverage it may have on the property. Also,
if the property is sold within two years of the date of its receipt
by the Assembly, the Assembly must ³le IRS Form 8282 and
send a copy to the donor.
4. Contributions of Stock

There are two ways that your Assembly can receive o²erings in the
form of stock shares: broker to broker, and via stock certi³cates.

a. Broker to Broker

134 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
When stock is in a “street name”, the Treasurer should ask the
donor to instruct his broker to transfer the stock to a broker
used by the Assembly. If the Assembly does not have a broker,
it will want to ³nd one if it expects to get gifts of this kind.
Referrals from friends known to the Treasurer and the Assembly are a good starting point in the search for a good broker.

The Assembly’s broker will inform it on the day the stock is
received into the Assembly’s account. The Assembly would normally give the order to sell the stock immediately; again, Assemblies are not in the investment business and holding the
stock means the Assembly is speculating on its future value.
b. Stock Certificate

When the donor has possession of a stock certi³cate which is in
the donor’s name, the Treasurer would instruct the donor to
send the stock certi³cate by certi³ed or registered mail to the
Assembly, together with a letter stating that the stock is a gift to
the Local Spiritual Assembly; the gift may be made without
restrictions or, if the donor has a speci³c purpose in mind, with
the expressed wish, hope and desire that the proceeds of the
stock’s sale might be used for a particular fund or project.

Also, the Treasurer should instruct the donor to sign a blank
stock power (a form that transfers control of the stock to the
Assembly) and mail it separately, for security reasons, by regular mail to the Assembly. The Treasurer sends the stock certi³cate
and the signed stock power by certi³ed mail to the broker used
by the Assembly with instructions to sell the stock.

The donor should not go to the trouble of having a certi³cate
issued in the name of the Local Assembly. The transfer can be
done as described above.

c. Issuing Receipts for Gifts of Securities

Upon receiving the securities, the Treasurer should prepare a
receipt as of the date they are received and indicate the number
of shares and a description of the securities. The IRS requires
the donor to determine the value of the donation based on the
closing price for the security on the date the donor places the
shares in the mail, or in the case of an electronic transfer, the
date of the transfer. It is not necessary, and may in some instances prove misleading for tax purposes, for the Treasurer to
specify a value for the securities if he values the shares on any
date other than the correct date for tax purposes. If the donor
wants to know the value on the date of receipt by the Assem-

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 135
bly, it is permissible for the Treasurer to indicate that information
on the receipt as long as the receipt clearly marks that the value is
as of the date of receipt and that for tax deduction purposes the
proper value is as of the date of mailing or transfer.

5. How Are Contributed Expenses Receipted?

Here is another situation that might cause di¹culty in issuing a receipt. The friends will often travel or purchase an item at the direction of the Spiritual Assembly and ask that their expenses be counted
as a contribution to the Fund.

They should provide the Treasurer with expense reports and actual
bills supporting it. After the Treasurer con³rms the accuracy of the
expense report, she should issue a receipt for the contributed expenses. Be sure to list the amount both as a contribution AND as an
expense in the Cash Journal (see Tips on Recording Unusual Income ).

III. PUTTING THE FUND TO USE

A. Contribute regularly to the National Bahá’í Fund and the other Bahá’í
Funds

To help build the Kingdom of God on Earth, money contributed by
Bahá’ís must be in motion. A Treasurer’s goal is not to see how large a
bank balance the Assembly can accumulate, but to channel money at
the direction of the Assembly to carry forward the work of the Cause.
Contributions which are earmarked for funds other than the Local Fund
should be forwarded to the respective funds immediately after they are
deposited and collected by your bank. Any interest earned on money
for other than local Funds while it sits in your Assembly’s bank account
actually belongs to those Funds and not to the local Assembly.

B. Pay all bills promptly

One of the Treasurer’s functions is to pay the bills. There are several
points to remember each time we spend money from the Local Fund.

• First, be sure that the Assembly approves all expenses. Routine bills,
however, can be given general approval on a continuing basis.

• Second, make sure that bills are paid promptly. Pay all bills by check.
Do not use cash from contributions.

• Third, keep a copy of all bills and then write on the bills or invoices
the date, amount, and check number used to pay them.

• Fourth, ³le these bills in your paid bill folder.

136 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• Fifth, be sure to keep a running balance of the amount left in the
bank after writing each check. This will keep you from overdrawing
the account and make it easier to balance the monthly bank statements.

Note: If your Local Assembly is operating a local bookstore or Bahá’í
center, it would be very wise to establish a separate bank account.
This account should be used to deposit all the proceeds from sales of
books and to purchase inventory.

IV. A LARGER COMMUNITY HAS MORE COMPLEX NEEDS

Now that we have covered the basics, you may feel that your community
needs a more detailed bookkeeping system. This section, therefore, contains information on how to prepare and use a budget; additional receipting issues; how to use a cash journal (an accounting book which makes it
easier to give the Assembly more information on the ·ow of money through
the Local Fund); some special issues the Treasurer will face; and how to
develop more detailed reports for the Local Spiritual Assembly and the
community.

Here are some suggestions about handling a larger community’s Fund by
building upon what has already been learned in this chapter. Adding a few
new tools—a budget, a cash journal and report forms—will make it possible for the Treasurer to give the Assembly a more detailed picture of the
money coming into the Fund and how it is being spent.

A. Automating the Treasury

Your Assembly should consider purchasing a computer, or at least ensuring that it has access to one, as a necessary pre-condition to entry by
troops—the volume of work you are preparing for makes a computer
essential. For its part, the National Spiritual Assembly is committed to
building an information network that will link all Assemblies, facilitate
their work, and make it possible for them to share ideas and experiences
in ways never before possible; you surely do not want to miss out on
that!

All the tasks outlined below will become easier to do with a computer,
once the initial time investment has been made. Your software needs
may range, depending on your size, from a simple spreadsheet program
like Excel or Lotus 1-2-3, to a more comprehensive package like
Quickbooks, which serves most needs of a medium-sized business or
charitable organization. The National Assembly is also working on an
early version of a package designed to support all the Local Assembly
functions, including those of the Treasurer. Watch for updates on the
LSAI program in The American Bahá’í.

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 137
Some of the friends may feel initially that using such tools is not “spiritual.” It is true that the intimacy of manual receipts, for example, can
be much appreciated by the believers in your community. The scope of
the Faith requires us, however, to move on, at least in regard to such
routine matters. The Assembly and community can and should ³nd
other ways to maintain that sense of intimacy; after all, the spirit is in
the hearts, not in a ledger-book!

V. HOW TO USE A CASH JOURNAL

The cash journal is a kind of diary that the Treasurer keeps, recording
everything that happens in the Local Fund. You may use a paper ledger, a
computer spreadsheet, or a commerical accounting package that automates
these tasks. In any case, the basic process will be the same. The information contained in the cash journal helps to:

• keep the Assembly’s checking account up to date

• provide background information on all money taken in or paid out
of the Local Fund

• categorize expenditures according to the Assembly’s budget

The cash journal is set up using a double-entry system, which means that
every amount is recorded twice. This allows the Treasurer to check the
accuracy of all work while saving time in the long run.

A. How Is the Cash Journal Set Up?

Each column of the cash journal should have a heading. Working from
left to right, as in the example on page 138, make a column for the
DATE, the DESCRIPTION of the entry, the CHECK NUMBER and
the RECEIPT NUMBER.

The next three columns have the general heading of CASH IN BANK.
This is where the record of the Assembly’s checking account is kept.
Under CASH IN BANK, the ³rst column is titled Deposits and is where
money going into the checking account is recorded. The next column,
where we record money paid out, is titled Checks. Finally, there’s a column to keep track of the check book Balance, which goes up or down
every time a deposit or a check is entered.

The remaining cash journal headings are taken from the community’s
budget. Under the general heading of INCOME, money coming into
the Fund is described either as a Contribution or as Other income. Under
the general heading of EXPENSES, money paid out is described by
recording the amount under one or more related budget categories. The
Treasurer might need columns for such expenses as:

138 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• The Bahá’í International Fund (BIF)

• The Continental Bahá’í Fund (CBF)

• The National Bahá’í Fund (NBF)

• Regional Bahá’í Council (RBC)

• Administrative expenses—postage, stationery, hall rental and refreshments for Feasts; liability insurance (the Assembly receives an annual bill from the National Spiritual Assembly); Post O¹ce box rental,
typewriter or computer supplies, telephone bills, etc.

• Scholarships

• Education—children’s classes, institute teacher expenses, special consolidation programs

• Teaching—Firesides, audio-visual aids, transportation, extension
teaching activities, etc.

• Proclamation—literature, hall rental, speaker expense, publicity, refreshments, etc.

• Other expenses—unusual expenses such as an inter-community activity that may not ³t into another category. Property is another example—used only if the Assembly owns real estate (land or buildings)

B. How Do I Use the Cash Journal?

Now that the cash journal is set up, you are ready to begin making
journal entries. These should be made in ink. However, you might use
pencil when totaling each column in case there is a math error.

1. Recording Contributions in the Cash Journal

We have already seen that when the Treasurer takes in contributions
to the Fund, she should make out a receipt for each gift. However, it
is not necessary to make a separate journal entry for every receipt.
Instead, the Treasurer should total current receipts and enter this
amount on one line of the cash journal. For example, receipt numbers 101–110 are totaled and one entry is made for $200.00 rather
than making several smaller entries (see line 6 of the sample cash
journal, page 138).

To make an entry in the cash journal, ³rst write the DATE, the
DESCRIPTION, and the RECEIPT NUMBERS used. Next, total
the receipts and enter the amount as a Deposit under CASH IN

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 139
BANK, increasing the Balance by the same amount. Then record the
amount as a Contribution under the general heading INCOME (or
EARMARKED CONTRIBUTION, as applicable). Be sure to deposit all money in the bank as soon as possible!
2. Tips On Recording Unusual Income

Whenever the Assembly sells something it owns (i.e. a ³ling cabinet), or receives a contribution earmarked for another Fund, the income is recorded in much the same way a regular contribution would
be. The di²erence is that the amount should be entered in the Other
column under INCOME.

Note: Earmarked contributions given “in support of the Assembly’s
budget” should be listed as Contributions to the Local Fund since
they count as part of the Assembly’s budget goal. Contributions over
which the Assembly is not given discretion, that are not in support of
a speci³ed budget category, are handled di²erently, as “other income”
or “earmarked contributions.”
3. Recording Expenses in the Cash Journal

Expenses are recorded in much the same way that income is. First,
the DATE, DESCRIPTION, and the CHECK NUMBER are recorded. The amount is listed as a Check under CASH IN BANK and
subtracted from the Balance. Moving over to the EXPENSE columns,
the amount should also be entered under the proper category. This
method of recording expenses allows the Treasurer to relate them
easily to the annual budget and helps the Assembly see how the money
is being used.
4. The Use of Brackets in the Cash Journal

Every Income or Expense category has to allow for both the addition
and the subtraction of money. A larger system would accomplish
this by using not one but two columns under each heading. In this
handbook, additions and subtractions are handled through the use
of brackets.

The bracket merely indicates the opposite or reverse of a usual entry.
That is, whenever a bracket appears, the bracketed amount is subtracted from the column total. The result would be less income or
less expense, depending upon the transaction. For example, the Treasurer may give a cash advance to an individual to purchase deepening materials for the Assembly. This expense is listed under the Education expense column. If some of the money is returned, a way
must be found to credit the Education category since the money originally listed in that expense area was not all spent. This is done by
using brackets as in line 21.

140 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
5. Checks that Bounce

There may be times when a contributor’s check to the Local Fund
will be returned by the bank. Stamping the check NSF (Not Su¹cient
Funds) is the bank’s way of informing you that the contributor did
not have enough money in the account to cover the check. Most of
the time, the individual can be contacted and the check re-deposited. If this cannot be done, make an entry in the cash journal and
subtract the amount of the check from the Deposit, Balance and Contributions columns.

6. Totaling Columns Each Bahá’í Month

Every 19 days the Treasurer should add up the entries in each column and write the sums on the line described as Total (month). This
shows at a glance what happened under each column during those
19 days. Next the Treasurer adds these totals to those of past months
to arrive at the Total Year-to-Date ³gures. These updated totals enable the Treasurer to see how much money has been received or how
much has been spent in each column since the beginning of the year.
Having these totals available in the cash journal makes it easier to
prepare monthly and year-to-date reports to the Assembly and the
community.

7. Balancing the Monthly Bank Statement

This task is quite simple if it is done regularly, as soon as the bank
statement arrives, and a cash journal that is current will help. Along
with the statement, you will receive canceled checks and deposit
slips (or images of them). Set up a form like Figure 1, below, to make
sure that your records agree with those of the bank. Many times, the
bank will provide such a form on the back of their statement. Follow
up on checks which have been outstanding for more than two months.
If there are ever problems balancing the account you can ask the
bank or another Treasurer in your area for help (see Figure 1 on p.
138).

C. Keeping Your Cash Journal Accurate

The following procedures should be carried out each month to make
sure that all additions and subtractions are correct.

First, take the Balance under CASH IN BANK at the start of the month
and add the month’s total INCOME. Then, subtract the month’s total
EXPENSES. The remaining amount should be the same as the ³nal
Balance under CASH IN BANK. For an additional check, take the
month’s beginning Balance under CASH IN BANK, add total Deposits

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 141
Figure 1: Form for Balancing the Bank Statement

for the month and subtract total Checks for the month under CASH IN
BANK. Again, the remaining amount should be the same as the ³nal
Balance under CASH IN BANK.

We can use a similar procedure for checking the year-to-date totals. Begin this time with the starting Balance for the Year (in the example, $50),
adding the year-to-date INCOME and subtracting year-to-date EX-
PENSES. The results should be the same as the ³nal Balance under
CASH IN BANK. If the right Balance does not come up, check each
entry and addition carefully.

The second test of the year-to-date addition takes the starting balance
for the year as explained above, but this time adds the year-to-date Deposits and subtracting the year-to-date Checks. Again, the remaining
amount should be the same as the ³nal Balance under CASH IN BANK.

In summary, the four procedures for checking the accuracy of the
Treasurer’s work are:

1. Beginning Balance (month) + Income (month) - Expenses
(month) = Ending Balance

142 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
2. Beginning Balance (month) + Deposits (month) - Checks
(month) = Ending Balance

3. Beginning Balance (year) + Income (year-to-date) - Expenses
(year-to-date) = Ending Balance

4. Beginning Balance (year) + Deposits (year-to-date) - Checks
(year-to-date) = Ending Balance

D. A Sample Cash Journal

On the next several pages, we have included a sample cash journal to
help demonstrate the kinds of entries the Treasurer will probably encounter as the year progresses. It might be helpful to take time to examine each entry to get a better idea of how the system works as a whole.
The Treasurer may want to duplicate this journal using a computer
spreadsheet. If your Assembly already has an accounting program, you
may want to skip to the next section.

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 143
Line 5 A contribution earmarked for the Bahá’í International Fund.
Line 6 Record contributions to the local Fund and earmarked contributions to various Funds.
Line 8 Contributing to the Funds every 19 days is a priority for every community. Funds need to
be sent 5-10 days after the close of each month. Be consistent!
Line 14 Monthly totals in each column are added to last month’s year-to-date totals to get a new
year-to-date ³gure.
Line 19 This cash advance can replace the need for the Treasurer to maintain a petty cash account.
Line 22 The gold pin, received on 5/25 (see line 20), is sold; a receipt goes to the buyer and the sale
amount is recorded as a Contribution.
Line 23 A non-Bahá’í gives $25 in memory of a Bahá’í relative; the gift is accepted and in the thankyou note, the donor is advised the money will be used for charity.
Line 25 Records the contribution to the charity of the non-Bahá’í’s gift.
Line 31 Records money from individuals to cover cost of LSA development materials from the
National Assembly.

144 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Line 33 The Spiritual Assembly of New City, as the sponsor of an inter-community activity, has made
a down-payment on a booth for the County Fair. Note that the Treasurer establishes a separate
account for this event labeled County Fair.
Line 35 The amount recorded under the EXPENSE area County Fair is placed in brackets to show that
money is coming into this column as income instead of going out.
Line 36 Records a contribution to the New City Assembly for the Fair booth. The contribution is
recorded both as a deposit and in brackets under County Fair, so the “Income” columns don’t
change.
Line 37 Records the amount paid to the Bahá’í librarian for literature used in the booth.
Line 38 The money received on line 31 is sent to the National Assembly by a check made payable to the
National Bahá’í Fund. Since this money is a payment for materials, it’s not recorded as a contribution to the National Fund.
Line 39 Records the amount paid by the Assembly when buying materials from the local Bahá’í librarian. The local library should monitor its own bank account and records. This allows the librarian to be fully responsible both for sale items and the money used to pay for them. The librarian sells materials to the Local Assembly the same way that materials are sold to individuals.
Line 40 Records New City’s regular contribution to the National Fund plus the money remaining for
the Fair Project after expenses. It was agreed in advance by each community supporting the
project that money left should be sent to the National Fund.

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 145
VI. MAKING REPORTS

As the Local Spiritual Assembly’s “³nancial manager,” some important
aspects of your job are to carry out the details of handling and reporting
the Assembly’s ³nances, to help the friends understand the spiritual nature of giving and to inspire them to show their love for the Cause by
supporting its activities. With your records up to date, the next task is to
let the friends know what has happened in the Fund. The ³rst several
chapters of this manual look at some of these issues; here we are going to
see how current records can make communications with the Assembly
and the community more e²ective.

A. Make regular reports to the Local Spiritual Assembly on total income
and expenses, community participation, money in the bank and bills to
be paid.

The Assembly should always be aware of the condition of the Local
Fund. To ensure that the Assembly is well-informed the Treasurer has
been given the added responsibility of making regular reports. The Assembly needs to know, among other things:

• The amount of money that was received in contributions and whether
or not the community has reached the monthly contributions goal

• Any additional revenues received

• The amount of money that was spent during the month and how it
was spent

• The amount of money currently in the bank

• The percentage of the friends who contributed to the Local Fund
during the month

• The bills that need to be paid

• Whether the community is ahead or behind in reaching its annual
contributions goals

In order to assist the Secretary and reduce errors, it is a good idea to give
a copy of the Treasurer’s report to the Secretary for the Assembly’s minutes.
B. Make regular reports to the community at Feast including:

• Education on the spiritual nature of giving and sacri³ce

• The status of the community’s Fund contribution goal each Bahá’í
month

146 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• The percentage of the community giving to the Fund each Bahá’í
month (strive always for universal participation)
This is one place where the Treasurer’s role as an educator and inspirer
comes into play. When the Treasurer reports to the friends, at Feast and
at other times, she should not only be concerned with bringing the
friends up to date on the status of the Funds, but she will also want to
discuss the spiritual nature of giving and the importance of sacri³ce.
Other information for the friends might be the participation level in
giving; the Assembly and the Treasurer will want to decide how to make
these reports based on the community’s needs and objectives.

C. Special Materials Will Help You

Reporting to the community can be one of your most rewarding duties
as Treasurer. Many of the materials needed to prepare an interesting
report are already at your ³ngertips. They include the following:

• Articles from The American Bahá’í, including “The Treasurer’s Corner”

• Periodic reports and letters from the Treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly

• Deepening programs on the Fund available from the O¹ce of the
Treasurer

• The Bahá’í Treasurers Bulletin (BTB ) is an electronic newsletter for
Treasurers sent in time for each Feast. It is emailed to the dedicated
email address for each Treasurer provided by the LSAi email system.

• The BTB is designed to assist and strengthen Treasurers in their role
as stewards of the Fund, and contains the latest news updates, helpful tips, frequently asked questions and community stories and activities related to the Fund.

• Current and back issues of the BTB may also be accessed from the
Bahá’í Administrative Website. Log in at www.usbnc.org and select
NSA Departments / R-Z / Treasurer / Communications, and click
on Bahá’í Treasurers Bulletin Archives.

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 147
D. Preparing the Monthly Report of Income and Expense

For Assembly meetings and Feasts, it is a good idea to prepare a Monthly
Report of Income and Expense Form similar to the one in Figure 2.

This report should include the Balance in the bank at both the beginning and the end of the month, totals for the month’s Income and Expenses, and bills to be paid. The Treasurer should also report what percentage of the community participated in giving to the Fund and whether
or not the monthly contributions goals were met. Most of this information can be taken from the monthly totals in the cash journal. Preparing this report each month will help present reports for Assembly meetings and Feasts in a clear and organized way.

Figure 2: Monthly Report of Income and Expense

148 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
E. Preparing the Year-to-Date Report of Income and Expense

Once or twice during the year, the Assembly should ask its Treasurer to
prepare a Year-to-Date Report of Income and Expenses, similar to the one
in Figure 3, so that the current state of the Local Fund can be compared
to the budget.

As in the monthly report, most of the ³gures can be taken from the
year-to-date totals in the cash journal. The remaining information will
come from the Assembly’s budget. When completed, this report enables the Assembly to see if it is keeping within its budget.

Figure 3: Year-to-Date Report of Income and Expenses

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 149
The only di¹cult part of preparing the year-to-date Report of Income
and Expenses is to ³gure out where the Assembly is at a certain point in
time in relation to the annual budget. For example, assume that ten
Bahá’í months have passed and we are preparing the half-year report.
First, take the ³gures from the annual budget, divide each ³gure by 19
(the number of months in the Bahá’í year) and then multiply each by
10 (the number of months since the beginning of the ³scal year). We
can now compare actual year-to-date results to the Assembly’s
year-to-date budget.

This report can be prepared any time during the year. For example, if
the Assembly wants a quarterly report at the end of the ³rst ³ve months,
just divide each budget amount by 19 and then multiply by ³ve. A
year-to-date Report of Income and Expenses can also be used in reporting of the annual meeting on April 20th and again with the actual ³gures
at the end of the Bahá’í ³scal year.

VII. KEEPING RECORDS

We have already discussed the importance of a good ³ling system. Just
imagine what the Treasury will be like when there is entry into the Faith
by troops! It is easy to see that establishing a complete and e¹cient record
keeping system now is essential.

A. Preparing for the Annual Audit

• Arrange in order by month all bank statements, canceled checks,
deposit tickets and paid bills

• Have the Assembly appoint two individuals, other than the Treasurer, to audit the Assembly’s ³nancial records. You will want to show
them the steps outlined in Chapter 5

B. Materials for Efficient Record Keeping

Setting up a good system for organizing the information related to the
Fund is really quite easy. It helps to have a number of pocket ³le folders
for such things as bank records, paid and unpaid bills and the like. The
Treasurer might also want to use a three-ring binder for storing reports.
In addition, the Treasurer needs to devise a method for keeping copies
of receipts in order. The biggest challenge, however, is to keep the ³ling
up to date.

C. Useful Tips for Record Keeping

• Even if you use a computer, you should keep hard paper copies on
³le as backups.

150 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• After checking the bank statement each month, bundle the canceled
checks and deposit slips with the statement and ³le by date.

• Give receipts for all income, whether in the form of contributions
(including anonymous contributions and contributed expenses or
other income) and ³le them in an orderly manner.

• Write the check number and the date paid on each bill before ³ling.
If your checks automatically make duplicates, the duplicates can be
attached to the bills before ³ling.

• Keep a copy of all reports, budgets, policies and other information
pertaining to the Fund.

D. Suggested Time-Frames for Storing Records

After setting up the ³les, use the following guidelines for how long to
retain the Assembly’s documents:

Retention Period
Receipt stubs ................................................. 7 Years
Paid bills ....................................................... 5 Years
Cash Journal ................................................. Inde³nitely
Canceled checks, deposits, bank statements .. 7 Years
Reports to Assemblies or Feasts ..................... 5 Years
The Community’s Annual Report ................. Inde³nitely
Budget—working papers .............................. 2 Years
Savings passbook ........................................... 7 Years After
..................................................................... Closing Account
Insurance policies.......................................... 2 Years After
..................................................................... Expiration
Equipment guarantees, service agreements .... 2 Years After
..................................................................... Expiration
Notes and contracts ...................................... 7 Years After
..................................................................... Expiration

Stocks, bonds, property deeds and titles should be stored in a safety
deposit box at a local bank. The box should be rented in the Assembly’s
name and several members of the Assembly should have authorized access to it.

Chapter 6—Accounting Matters 151
NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í FUND
CONTRIBUTION FORMS
You may copy and cut these original contribution forms for use with National Bahá'í Fund contributions.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please make all checks payable to the National Bahá'í Fund and mail to: National Bahá'í Fund, Office of the Treasurer,
112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
BID #1__________ BID #2__________
*My unrestricted contribution to the National Bahá'í Fund is $__________ $__________
*Additional Contributions (Discretionary):____________________________ $__________ $__________
______________________________________________________________ $__________ $__________
______________________________________________________________ $__________ $__________
*____ Yes ____ No. If my answer is “Yes” or if neither is checked, all “Additional Contributions” listed above will be used at the discretion of the National Spiritual
Assembly. If my answer is “No,” I realize that contributions to a fund or agency outside the United States will not be tax-deductible.

Total Enclosed $___________ Check # ______________
BID #1 __________ Print Name ____________________________________________________________________________
BID #2 __________ Print Name ____________________________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please make all checks payable to the National Bahá'í Fund and mail to: National Bahá'í Fund, Office of the Treasurer,
112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
BID #1__________ BID #2__________
*My unrestricted contribution to the National Bahá'í Fund is $__________ $__________
*Additional Contributions (Discretionary):____________________________ $__________ $__________
______________________________________________________________ $__________ $__________
______________________________________________________________ $__________ $__________
*____ Yes ____ No. If my answer is “Yes” or if neither is checked, all “Additional Contributions” listed above will be used at the discretion of the National Spiritual
Assembly. If my answer is “No,” I realize that contributions to a fund or agency outside the United States will not be tax-deductible.

Total Enclosed $___________ Check # ______________
BID #1 __________ Print Name ____________________________________________________________________________
BID #2 __________ Print Name ____________________________________________________________________________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please make all checks payable to the National Bahá'í Fund and mail to: National Bahá'í Fund, Office of the Treasurer,
112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
BID #1__________ BID #2__________
*My unrestricted contribution to the National Bahá'í Fund is $__________ $__________
*Additional Contributions (Discretionary):____________________________ $__________ $__________
______________________________________________________________ $__________ $__________
______________________________________________________________ $__________ $__________
*____ Yes ____ No. If my answer is “Yes” or if neither is checked, all “Additional Contributions” listed above will be used at the discretion of the National Spiritual
Assembly. If my answer is “No,” I realize that contributions to a fund or agency outside the United States will not be tax-deductible.

Total Enclosed $___________ Check # ______________
BID #1 __________ Print Name ____________________________________________________________________________
BID #2 __________ Print Name ____________________________________________________________________________

152 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
He who is the Eternal Truth—
exalted be His glory—
hath made the fulfillment
of every undertaking on earth
dependent on material means.
—Bahá’u’lláh
154 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
7. Local Bahá’í Centers
If yours is like many communities in the late 90s, you are thinking about a local
Þazíratu’l-Quds, or a local Bahá’í center. Communities are considering signi³-
cant investments in bricks and mortar for a variety of reasons: they are tired of
cramped living rooms or of borrowing space for their meetings; they want a physical
place to re·ect the stature of the Faith; they need space for children’s classes; or
someone is o²ering to give them some or all of the money they think they will
need.

But are these adequate, or even the right reasons for getting a center? Does “National” want us to get a center, or will they say “no.” Will a center help us or bring
us more tests? How can we make sure we are asking ourselves the right questions
and getting the right answers?

The answers to these and other questions rest with your Assembly and your community. Each community is free, within the boundaries of Bahá’í principle and
common sense, to determine its own course of action with regard to a local center. This was not always the case, but it is today. In earlier Plans, the beloved
Guardian and the Universal House of Justice have instructed the friends not to
acquire local centers so that the believers’ attention and resources can be channeled toward the accomplishment of larger strategic goals. Here is an extract from
one such letter:

“The Guardian requests that you inform all the friends that their most important duty at the present time is the ful³llment of the tasks of the Ten-
Year Crusade. This calls for the sacri³ce of local activities in order that the
national and international development of the Faith may go forward uninterruptedly. No local institutions should be started. The National Assembly
should see that money is not spent on local centers at this time, and the
friends should be encouraged to concentrate on the national and international activities of the Faith.”
ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI, LIGHTS OF GUIDANCE, VOL. 1, PP. 213–214

A National Spiritual Assembly could issue a similar injunction, if it saw the need
to do so. At the present time, however, the National Assembly might be said to
Principle
have three interests in what you are doing, or thinking of doing. First, will your
community’s well-being be enhanced by getting a center? Second, will your e²orts
to obtain a center enable you to discharge your responsibilities with regard to the
national and international plans for the Faith’s growth, or distract you from those

Chapter 7—Local Bahá’í Centers 155
responsibilities? And third, to what extent does your center add to the collective
wealth of the American community? Working through the following section will
help address these concerns, which are really concerns about the protection and
happiness of every local community.

A Complex Issue
Acquiring a local Bahá’í center is a process full of complex issues. These issues
need to be identi³ed and addressed, or the local Spiritual Assembly runs the very
real risk that a center will damage the unity of the community and waste its hardwon resources.

You have numerous resources to call on to help guide your Assembly and community through the pitfalls and make your center a true Þazíratu’l-Quds, a “sacred fold” where all will ³nd joy and spiritual enrichment. Some of these resources are:

• The process of consultation

• Local professionals, both community members and those in the general
population

• Bahá’í volunteers who serve the Bahá’í National Center

• Published materials, including Developing Distinctive Bahá’í Communities

• The O¹ce of the Treasurer and Community Administration

Building Flourishing Communities
New Undertaking Not to Prevent Assisting
National Interests
“He has no objection to the Stuttgart Bahá’ís arranging to have a center of
their own on Mrs. Schwarz’ land. As this was a spot visited by the beloved
Master, it is all the more appropriate as a center for the Cause there.

“He hopes that the Stuttgart friends will so arrange their a²airs that this new
undertaking will not prevent them from assisting the national interests of
the Cause and lending them their full support.”
SHOGHI EFFENDI, LIGHT OF DIVINE GUIDANCE, VOL. 2, P. 69

Institutes May Not Require Facilities
“There should be no delay in establishing permanent institutes….Access of

156 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
the institute to physical facilities will of course be necessary, but it may not
require a building of its own.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, RIØVÁN 153 MESSAGE TO THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE WORLD

Importance of Training Institutes
“The next four years will represent an extraordinary period in the history of
our Faith, a turning point of epochal magnitude. What the friends throughout the world are now being asked to do is to commit themselves, their
material resources, their abilities and their time to the development of a
network of training institutes on a scale never before attempted….

“ ‘Center your energies in the propagation of the Faith of God,’ Bahá’u’lláh
thus instructs His servants, adding, ‘Whoso is worthy of so high a calling,
let him arise and promote it. Whoso is unable, it is his duty to appoint him
who will, in his stead, proclaim this Revelation. . .’ Just as one deputizes
another to teach in one’s stead by covering the expenses of a pioneer or
traveling teacher, one can deputize a teacher serving an institute, who is, of
course, a teacher of teachers. To do so, one may make contributions to the
Continental Bahá’í Fund, as well as to the Local, National and International
Funds, earmarked for this purpose.”
IBID

Local Centers Begin on Modest Level
“It is important that our undertakings be modest in their scope at the present
time. Then, as we gain con³dence and experience and as our resources increase, our work will encompass expanded objectives, and the friends will
explore new areas of social and economic activity.”
ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, DECEMBER 22, 1983

Below is a detailed “checklist” of issues related to local centers and some of the
guidance available on key points; it can be copied and used as a reference for
community deepening.

Bahá’í Center Checklist
I. Unity Issues
A. Is there unity of thought on the need to acquire a center?

The pivotal principle of the Faith is unity. In like fashion, the most
critical brick in a strong foundation for a local Bahá’í center, even before
there is a physical building, is the unity of the community around its
desire to have a center. Without unity of thought, every decision, before

Chapter 7—Local Bahá’í Centers 157
and after the acquisition, will become much more di¹cult; without unity
the center itself may prove impossible to maintain.

Consultation can highlight the goals and expectations of the community and resolve them in unity. Every “stakeholder” in a new facility,
including the Assembly, individuals, families and neighboring communities, if they are to be involved, should participate fully. Any shortcut
may lead to unfortunate surprises.

One of the most frequent ways people try to shortcut the quest for unity
is by giving the money or even the building, because they see the need
and have the means to address the need. The donor can ³nd it hard to
understand why their community is reluctant to accept the gift; the community may have a hard time saying no when, sometimes, they really
should.

In every case, the will of the local Spiritual Assembly is the common
denominator that will make or break a uni³ed approach. Occasionally,
individuals or groups of friends feel so strongly about acquiring a center
that they become frustrated at what they perceive to be a lack of interest
or perhaps audacity on an Assembly’s part. They then either to try to
push the Assembly into accepting their view, or to ³nd a shortcut around
the institution. Such e²orts cannot succeed, because they depart from
basic Bahá’í principles concerning the station and prerogatives of Spiritual Assemblies. The willingness of a local Assembly to sponsor the drive
for a center cannot be achieved except through consultation, and the
Assembly always reserves the right to choose not to proceed, even if its
reasons are not fully understood by the friends.

B. Might a rental facility be more advisable than buying or building, until
the community grows a bit larger?

We have every reason to expect that our local communities will undergo
major changes soon. Can we really know for certain what kind of center
we will need? Or is there value in renting, which has a much lower initial
cost? Many communities have found they are able to get their own space
sooner by renting than if they focused only on buying, and have used
this time to learn, with less risk, what level of community support is
needed to make a center a success.

C. Who are the “stakeholders” in having a center? That is, who are the
people whose support is needed, and who will bene³t from the center?

• Adults

• Youth

158 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• Neighboring communities

Each of these stakeholders needs to be engaged in the process from the
earliest stage; it is surprising how often center planning neglects this
most basic ³rst step of identifying and enlisting all the parties who need
to be involved.

D. What is the main purpose the community envisions for its ³rst local
center?

The majority of communities may think of a center simply as a larger
space for their meetings, children’s classes and devotional meetings. If
that is the extent of the vision, then renting a space is probably adequate
to address the perceived need.

If, on the other hand, the community is reaching for a higher purpose, a
new level of service to the Bahá’ís and to the community at large, then it
may be time to entertain a broader discussion, in which the issue of a
center will probably be the last item on the list; needs, programs and
activities will come ³rst. As agreement emerges on these subjects, many
of the basic questions about the center, its size, location and cost will
already be answered. As the House of Justice wrote:
“ . . . For even the ³rst local center that a Bahá’í community erects
can begin to serve not only as the spiritual and administrative center
and gathering place of the community, but also as . . . the heart of
other aspects of community life.”
ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, MAY 8, 1984,
IN EXTRACTS CONCERNING BAHÁ ’Í SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

E. Is there universal agreement on this vision?

If there is agreement among all the stakeholders, including the Assembly, then you are ready to move on. If not, the Assembly may want to
³nd ways to build consensus; on the other hand, the lack of agreement
on a vision for the center may itself be an indication that it is too soon to
have one.

In cases where other communities are involved, are the implications and
limitations associated with a “regional center” fully understood? The
most common misconception concerns holding Feast. Each local Spiritual Assembly must have its own separate Feast, within the area of its
jurisdiction and with only the members of its community. Some communities band together for devotions and refreshments, but break up
into their respective groups, where the facility permits, to have their
consultation. This is incorrect: the Feasts are not separate as they must
be. The best uses for a regional center include such things as common
proclamation events, devotional meetings, classes, deepenings and so-

Chapter 7—Local Bahá’í Centers 159
cial events, if they are appropriate to the atmosphere that is to be maintained in a local Þazíratu’l-Quds.

II. Planning for Growth and Development
A. Is there a community expansion and consolidation plan?

The plan for the community’s growth and development comes before
plans are made for a physical facility. Otherwise, how can we know
what kind of building we need and where it should be located? Often
times local Assemblies are approached with a proposal for a particular
site because acquiring it “makes good business sense,” at least in the
view of those making the proposal. Market value is one factor to be
considered, but it is not really the most important one.

The center that stands the most chance of carrying the community to a
“new stage in the exercise of their responsibilities” is the one that plays a
direct role in the community’s plans for its own development. The Universal House of Justice instructs us that:
“A community is of course more than the sum of its membership;
it is a comprehensive unit of civilization composed of individuals, families and institutions that are originators and encouragers of systems, agencies and organizations working together with a common
purpose for the welfare of people both within and beyond its own
borders; it is a composition of diverse, interacting participants that
are achieving unity in an unremitting quest for spiritual and social
progress.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, RIØVÁN 153/1996 PAR. 3.25

Each local Spiritual Assembly would do well to shape its thinking about
the kind of center it will have by referring to this passage from the same
Ri¤ván Message (par. 3.24):
“ . . . Spiritual Assemblies must rise to a new stage in the exercise of
their responsibilities as channels of divine guidance, planners of the
teaching work, developers of human resources, builders of communities, and loving shepherds of the multitudes.”

1. Is your teaching plan based on the research ³ndings and instructions
from the National Teaching Committee and its published plans?

The National Teaching Committee is increasingly ful³lling the functions predicted for it by the Guardian, when he called the Committee
the “chief auxiliary institution” of the National Assembly, a body that
is to “make thorough and expert study of the issue entrusted to their
charge, advise by their reports, and assist in the execution of the decisions” of the National Assembly.

160 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
The research done in the ³rst half of the Four Year Plan by the National Teaching Committee can serve to direct our teaching and consolidation e²orts in many ways: Whom are we trying to reach with the
Message? Where do they live? What is their economic condition? What
needs do they have?

In the broadest terms, the Teaching Committee has documented that
the most receptive populations in the country in the late 90’s are middle
class or higher, with a somewhat higher education level than the national norm. They range in age from 30–50, with signi³cant percentages of females and single parents. Immigrants and minorities also
describe themselves frequently as seekers of a new spiritual home. These
variables can give us a starting point for our own local plans.

2. What role does a local center play in the expansion plan? Do you see
your center as a place for welcoming new believers?

3. Are the size and layout of the building consistent with the plan? What
kinds of proclamation activities will you carry out in your center?

4. How does the proposed building’s location ³t with the expansion
and proclamation elements of your plan?

The National Teaching Committee’s research makes it possible to “focus our search” for new believers. Where should a center be situated
in relation to such population centers? What is the balance between
the “center of gravity” of the existing community and the likely concentration of new believers?

B. Has the guidance on Bahá’í social and economic development been
consulted? Is Bahá’í development part of the consolidation plan for
your community?

A growing number of Assemblies are integrating their center planning
with the body of guidance that the Universal House of Justice has provided over the years about Bahá’í development.1 The de³nition of Bahá’í
development, which a letter written on behalf of the House of Justice
called “ . . . the art of applying spiritual concepts to the practical challenges of daily life”, is much more inclusive than we may tend to think.
The move toward development is really a natural phase in our growth:
“First comes the illumination of hearts and minds by the Revelation
of Bahá’u’lláh, and then the grassroots stirring of the believers wishing to apply these teachings to the daily life of their community.”
ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, 8 MAY 1984,
TO A NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Moving from believers’ homes into a physical facility owned by the Assembly is one of the most crucial development decisions a community

Chapter 7—Local Bahá’í Centers 161
can make. Each community need to assess the current stage of its own
development and identify any community needs that are being unmet.
These do not have to be material or ³nancial needs; they might relate to
interpersonal issues or family life. No matter how a¼uent the community, no matter how agreeable the quality of life it presently enjoys,
there are needs and hopes that are unattended. The Assembly’s role is to
articulate them, ³nd ways to apply the Teachings to them, and then to
see how a local Bahá’í center can facilitate the consolidation process.

1. What kinds of development programs will be headquartered in a local center?

A community development plan will identify community needs and
the programs required to meet them. One of the most receptive populations is single parents, and single mothers especially. New recruits
like these, when they come in, will have speci³c needs, and child
care and education will probably top the list. Will your proposed
center accommodate 30 eleven-year-olds and 50 teens at a time? Will
there be space for recreation, in addition to deepening classes?

Will people eat at your events? Then you might want a kitchen, and
one large enough to be able to prepare a meal for all the participants.
Will everyone sit in lecture-style meetings, or do you need breakout
rooms? How about space around the building: will some woods or a
garden lend distinction to a building that represents a unique Cause?

Knowing the community’s plans in this regard will help ³t the need
and the program to the physical facility, thus shaping the eventual
purchase decision.

C. Have Bahá’í and other experts been consulted on the proposed building
to be bought?

The National Spiritual Assembly is working to identify local or regional
networks of Bahá’ís with particular expertise that local communities can
call upon for assistance in their consultation. Each community, however, can also take the initiative in ³nding its own helpers and advisors,
and these need not be Bahá’ís. Expertise in some of these areas should
prove especially helpful:

• Real estate

• Organizational development

Important extracts from the Universal House of Justice messages on Bahá’í development are
extracted in Badi‘í, “The True Foundation of All Economics.” See Bibliography for details.

162 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• Planned giving

• Training/Facilitation

• Environmental science

• Legal

• Architecture

• Banking/Finance

III. Financial Considerations
A. What is the ³nancial basis for support?

A 1994 survey, done for the O¹ce of the Treasurer, indicated that at
that time the average purchase cost of a local center, among the 33 communities that had them, was $117,000, with an average size of 4,000
square feet.

To meet these costs, during the last several years there have been a number of fund appeals from local Spiritual Assemblies trying to build centers. Some communities have sent these appeals nationally and they have
caused a good deal of confusion among the friends.

Except in very special circumstances, which would require consultation
with, and approval from the National Spiritual Assembly, the e²ort to
build a local Þazíratu’l-Quds must remain within a local community or
cluster and aim for self-sufficiency. The development literature helps us
here, too:
“There are two principles which the House of Justice feels are fundamental to the generality of such projects of social and economic
development, although, of course, there will be exceptions. The ³rst
is that they must be built on a substructure of existing, su¹ciently
strong local Bahá’í communities. The second is that the long-term
conduct of the project should aim at self-su¹ciency and not be dependent upon continuing ³nancial support from outside . . .
“The second principle must take into account that any project started
by the Cause should be designed to grow soundly and steadily, and
not to collapse from attrition. . . . (T)he aim should be for each
project to continue and develop on the strength of local Bahá’í labor, funds and enthusiasm even if all external aid should be cut o².”
ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, 8 MAY 1984, TO A NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Chapter 7—Local Bahá’í Centers 163
“Many communities, especially those with permanent programs, began taking steps to ensure that e²ective development activities would
continue even if external sources of support were to be withdrawn.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, THE SIX YEAR PLAN: SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS;
QUOTED IN BADI‘Í, THE TRUE FOUNDATION OF ALL ECONOMICS, P. 85.

The friends should be aware that the fund raising policy of the National
Spiritual Assembly, which had previously allowed many Local Assemblies to
solicit contributions from surrounding communities for major capital development campaigns, was amended in 2002. The amended policy mandates
that local communities may only solicit funds from other Bahá’í communities, groups, or individuals within their own cluster. Regardless of how close
a community may be in distance to the soliciting Assembly, fund raising
appeals should not be aimed at these communities, whether by phone, email,
or email list serves.

Communities seeking to acquire a center may contact the Bahá’í Center
Assistance Corporation, an organization established under the auspices of
the National Spiritual Assembly to provide technical advice and financial
support to local Spiritual Assemblies in the acquisition of a center. The Bahá’í
Center Assistance Corporation may be contacted through the Office of the
Treasurer at the Bahá’í National Center.

1. How close to universal participation is the community in its giving
to the Local Fund?

2. Are contributions regular and stable, or does a small number of large
contributions account for most of the total?

3. What happens if one or more of the largest donors moves away from
the community?

4. Can the Assembly a²ord to obtain the proposed site without reducing its ³nancial support for the national, international, continental
and regional funds?

The general assumption of those communities that have called the
O¹ce of the Treasurer regarding their center plans is that getting a
center will require them to cut their ³nancial support to other institutions.

This is a myth. The capacity of nearly every community is untapped,
so there is no reason simply to assume it will be limited to its current
level. On the contrary, the 1994 survey found that contributions
increased with a center in the community, as much as 30% within
two years.

As participants in the erection of Bahá’u’lláh’s Administrative Order,

164 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
local Spiritual Assemblies and individuals both have important responsibilities to every one of His institutions. Just as we do not neglect any of our children, so must we ³nd ways be³ttingly to discharge the complete range of our duties. Here are two passages of
guidance on this issue:
“He hopes that the Stuttgart friends will so arrange their a²airs
that this new undertaking will not prevent them from assisting
the national interests of the Cause and lending them their full
support.”
ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI, LIGHTS OF GUIDANCE. VOL. 2, P. 49.

“The Universal House of Justice feels that the United States must
not jeopardize its spiritual primacy, and that it must gird itself to
raise the major share of the ³nancial reserves which will be necessary to prosecute the Nine-Year Teaching Plan . . .
“In line with the principles recited above, we feel that Local Spiritual Assemblies which already have funds available for the acquisition of a local Þazíratu’l-Quds should be permitted to proceed
with plans for purchase or construction within the limitation of
funds already earmarked for this purpose. However, new funds
should not be started nor should plans be made to acquire
Þazíratu’l-Quds in those communities where funds are not presently available except under the most urgent circumstances. If
any individual cases arise in which it appears that an exception
should be made, you are free to present the facts and your recommendations to the Universal House of Justice for consideration.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, OCTOBER 23, 1964 TO THE NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED STATES

We in the U. S. are not presently under a restriction of the kind
mentioned above, but the principles in these passages are still timely.
Indeed, we dare not neglect our responsibility at any level because,
the House of Justice reminds us, our spiritual primacy as a community is at stake if we do.

As to whether our ³nancial resources are adequate to cover each of
these needs, the House of Justice wrote:
“Now is the time for the dearly-loved members of this community, renowned as the champion builders of Bahá’u’lláh’s rising
World Order, to consecrate an increasing measure of the material
resources with which they have been so richly blessed to the pressing needs of the Cause of God. In doing so, their sacri³ces will
attract an even greater measure of divine blessings, and will bring
them abiding satisfaction.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, JULY 14, 1989

Chapter 7—Local Bahá’í Centers 165
5. How much will the new facility require in remodeling costs?

6. What will the monthly and yearly maintenance costs be? Utilities?

The 1994 survey indicated that upkeep and maintenance ran between
$8,000 and $13,700 annually. Meeting this expense is a matter of both
³nance and principle:
“We have been asked to say that there is no objection to the Local
Assembly looking for a property to purchase for their Þazíratu’l-
Quds, but they should be reminded that in additional to the initial
cost of acquisition they must be prepared to assume the continuing
costs of upkeep, maintenance, and services. They should also decide
whether they can manage the ³nancial outlay required without interfering with the discharge of their other responsibilities toward the
success of the Five Year Plan [1974–1979].”
ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, FEBRUARY 6, 1975
TO THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED STATES

IV. Legal Matters and Insurance for Your Center
A. What are the legal issues surrounding the acquisition?

1. Title and ownership of the proposed building?

Are we really sure who owns the building we want to buy? Has the
Assembly secured documentation to make sure it will have a clear
title to the facility?

2. Is the local Spiritual Assembly incorporated? If not, it may not own
property under the laws of most states.

3. Will you have title insurance? This protects the Assembly in the event
it later turns out that there was not clear title to the property when
the Assembly bought it.

4. Toxic waste liability?

In most states, the fact that the Bahá’í community did not bury radioactive or toxic materials on the land they just bought will not
shield them from the costs of cleaning up the mess. There is no
substitute for careful homework on this one! Asbestos disposal is often speci³cally excluded from insurance coverage.

5. Zoning and building code issues?

It is surprising how often zoning becomes an issue for a local community. There are a good number of cases in which a local community worked very hard to ³nd and buy a residence, which they thought

166 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
would meet their space needs very well, only to discover that the
neighbors did not like having all that new tra¹c on their street. When
you ³nd yourself facing the zoning board on a complaint brought by
those neighbors, it is too late to learn about the town’s zoning and
use regulations!

Abiding by the local building code can be expensive, but again there
are no shortcuts. Not only are we to set an example as Bahá’ís of
obedience to law, but code violations can become safety disasters.

B. Insurance requirements

The general coverage provided by the National Spiritual Assembly does
not include local centers. Once a community acquires a center, they are
responsible to get their own insurance, and this cost must be included in
the overall analysis of the purchase decision. Even if the facility is leased,
there often needs to be insurance, at least for public events. There is
often a special “church rate” you will want to research.

The following are some of the common kinds of insurance, for which
full coverage should be obtained. It is a common mistake to buy lower
coverage than is really necessary out of a desire to economize; in the
90’s, however, there are so many lawsuits that Bahá’í communities should
not take such risks. You will want to buy insurance for:

1. Property

2. Liability

3. Umbrella Coverage

4. For special events or activities

V. Technical Issues and Center Management
A. What are the technical or architectural factors to be addressed?

As mentioned in section 3, “Financial Considerations”, communities may
contact the Bahá’í Center Assistance Corporation through the Office of the
Treasurer for advice on technical issues related to acquisition of a center. In
addition to such assistance, local Spiritual Assemblies (and especially the
Treasurer) need to consult competent professionals about the issues listed
below, particularly if they are buying an existing building: the local Spiritual
Assembly does not want to discover serious problems nor to underestimate
the costs and effort required to fit the building to the community’s needs.

1. General condition

Chapter 7—Local Bahá’í Centers 167
2. Building code violations

3. OSHA code violations

4. Handicapped access

B. How will the building be managed?

As you can imagine, center management arrangements require wise decisions and clear understandings among all concerned; a number of communities have experienced friction in relation to this issue, particularly
in the case of regional, multi-community centers. This is such a crucial
issue that it might well need to be addressed early in the planning stages;
it is by no means an afterthought, even though it is toward the bottom
of our checklist.

Will your community use:

1. A management committee

2. Volunteers

3. Paid sta²

4. An intercommunity committee

5. A combination of the above

6. Has the local Spiritual Assembly written a mandate for these helpers?

Our survey found that 36% of local centers are managed by a volunteer manager, while 33% of them have management committees
that report to the local Spiritual Assembly. Committees seem to be
most prevalent in cases where the center serves several communities.

Your Assembly might consider documenting all your arrangements
in writing: which communities are involved; how the burden of work
will be divided; and how the center might eventually be transferred
to the Assembly in whose jurisdiction it is located, especially whether
compensation of any kind will be given to neighboring partners when
the center becomes the sole responsibility of the “home” community.

Direct local Spiritual Assembly involvement in all aspects of the
center’s management, including membership on a committee if there
is one, would seem to be essential, since everything that occurs in
the center is the Assembly’s responsibility. Issues of safety, dignity

168 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
and the good name of the Faith are always involved in everything
having to do with, or that takes place within, your local center.

VII. Reporting to the National Spiritual Assembly
A. Have you advised the National Spiritual Assembly that you are planning
to get a center?

Because there are national implications in the community’s e²orts to
³nd physical homes for its activities, the National Spiritual Assembly
has a direct interest in knowing about your plans and your progress in
executing them. By the same token, the Bahá’í National Center can put
your community in touch with important resources that will make your
task easier.

B. If/When you complete your purchase you will also want to advise the
National Assembly and include details about the building, its price, location and any other pertinent information.

From the perspective of courtesy, of course, you will want to inform
your National Spiritual Assembly of your new center. Moreover, because the National Spiritual Assembly represents the Faith to outside
audiences at the national level, audiences who are interested in assessing
the real substance of our Faith, having this information can be extremely
helpful; we have only to recall the pride with which the beloved Shoghi
E²endi would publicize the dollar value of the Faith’s growing international endowments (cf. God Passes By and The Bahá’í World). In the event
of a crisis in a local community, God forbid, ownership of the local
center may revert to the National Spiritual Assembly, another good reason the National Assembly’s property inventory should be complete.

We know that great endeavors for the Faith are almost always accompanied by
tests, frustrations, as well as moments of pure joy. Many communities will ³nd
this to be true during their ³rst e²orts to establish their own Þazíratu’l-Quds, but
using the tools and concepts outlined in this chapter, they will be able to enjoy a
straighter path toward a center that will make a signi³cant contribution to their
happiness, growth and development.

Chapter 7—Local Bahá’í Centers 169
170 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Appendices

172 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Appendix A
Huqúqu’lláh:
.
The Right of God
“It seems ³tting then, that the sacred law which enables each one to express
his or her personal sense of devotion to God in a profoundly private act of
conscience that promotes the common good, which directly connects the
individual believer with the Central Institution of the Faith, and which,
above all, ensures to the obedient and the sincere the ine²able grace and
abundant blessings of Providence, should . . . be embraced by all who profess their belief in the Supreme Manifestation of God.”
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Information regarding the details of the sacred law of Þuqúqu’lláh, the Right of
God, can be obtained from one of the trustees or representatives of the Board of
Trustees of the O¹ce of the Secretariat of the Bahá’í Þuqúqu’lláh Trust. Addresses of representatives of the Board of Trustees in your area can be obtained
from the O¹ce of the Secretariat.

Payments to Þuqúqu’lláh should be made payable to “The Bahá’í Þuqúqu’lláh
Trust” (please write your Bahá’í identi³cation number on your check) and sent to
the O¹ce of the Secretariat or to one of the Trustees:

Amin Banani Elizabeth Martin
2320 Alta Ave. P.O. Box 178
Santa Monica, CA 90402 Winnsboro, SC 29180

Stephen Birkland Dru Waren
1192 Benton Way PO Box 630
Arden Hills, MN 55112 Poteau, OK 74953

Daryush Haghighi Office of the Secretariat
24434 Lake Rd. PO Box 630
Bay Village, OH 44110 Poteau, OK 74953
918-647-5012 phone
918-647-8990 fax
secretariat@huquq.us

Appendix A—Þuqúqu’lláh The Right of God 173
Supplement to the Compilation
on the Huqúqu’lláh
.
The following, released in October, 1992 by the Universal House of Justice, is a
supplement to the original compilation on the Þuqúqu’lláh.

Extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
1. Glori³ed art Thou, O my compassionate Lord! I entreat Thee by the tumult of the ocean of Thy holy utterance, and by the manifold tokens of
Thy supreme sovereignty, and the compelling evidences of Thy Divinity,
and the hidden mysteries that lie concealed within Thy knowledge, to give
me Thy grace to serve Thee and Thy chosen ones, and enable me to dutifully o²er Thy Þuqúq which Thou hast ordained in Thy Book.

I am the one, O my Lord, who hath set his a²ections on Thy realm of glory,
and hath clung tenaciously to the hem of Thy generosity. O Thou Who art
the Lord of all being and the Ruler of the kingdom of names, I beseech
Thee not to deny me the things Thou dost possess, nor to withhold from me
that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones.

I implore Thee, O Lord of all names and Creator of the heavens, to assist me
to be steadfast in Thy Cause, through Thy strengthening grace, in such wise
that the vanities of the world may not su²er me to be shut out as by a veil,
nor to be hindered by the violent commotions of the wicked-doers who have
risen up to lead Thy people astray in Thy days. Destine for me then, O my
heart’s Desire, the good of this world and the world to come. Verily Thou art
powerful to do as Thou willest. No God is there but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.
FROM A TABLET RECENTLY TRANSLATED FROM ARABIC

2. Following the revelation of the Most Holy Book and the ³xing of the
divinely appointed Þuqúq, speci³c orders were given to the e²ect that no
one should demand payment of the Þuqúq, since it hath been made conditional on the willingness of the individuals themselves, who are devoted,
faithful and well-disposed to o²er the payment of Þuqúq in a spirit of willing acquiescence and good pleasure. But nowadays conditions are such that
explicit instructions have been issued so that those who have held back the
Þuqúq may dutifully discharge their obligation.
FROM A TABLET RECENTLY TRANSLATED FROM ARABIC

3. O Amin! Upon thee be My glory. It behoveth thee to have the utmost
regard for the dignity of the Cause of God in all circumstances. The Pen of
the Most High hath attested and will continue to attest in thy favour. It hath
commended the exertions thou hast made, and the services thou hast ren-

174 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
dered wholly for His sake . . . a commendation that shineth resplendent in
His Epistles even as the radiance of the sun. Render thou thanks unto thy
Lord for this excellent favour. However, We exhort thee to keep thine eyes
directed to the horizon of dignity and , while being mindful of His sublime
words: . . . .yet warn them, for in truth warning will pro³t the believers,1 to
give the friends of God a gentle reminder in a spirit of amity and concord.
Indeed, whoever is graciously enabled to ful³ll this obligation, he will be
reckoned among the sincere lovers of God in the lucid Book; but if not, no
one should contend with him.

In this Day the glances of God . . . exalted be His glory . . . are directed
towards the hearts of men to the goodly pearls treasured therein. This
beseemeth the Lord and His chosen ones . . . glori³ed be His majesty. It
behoveth thee to pray on behalf of the friends and loved ones of God, that
He may graciously enable them to ful³l that which is ordained in the Book,
and that they may not be hindered by vain imaginings and the transitory
things of the world.
FROM A TABLET RECENTLY TRANSLATED FROM PERSIAN

Extracts From The Writings Of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
4. Whatever hath been paid as Þuqúq, and delivered to him [ Jináb-i-Amín]
hath been or will be received in its entirety. In these days it is extremely
di¹cult to send a separate receipt to each person. Therefore this letter should
be treated as a collective receipt. Indeed Jináb-i-Amín’s receipts are naught
but My own receipts. This is because he never careth for himself, nor is he
particular about the largeness or the smallness of the amount. He is detached, humble, sincere and spiritual.
FROM A TABLET RECENTLY TRANSLATED FROM PERSIAN

5. Thou hast asked for a receipt as a token of assurance for everyone. We
have repeatedly pointed out in writing that whatever amount is received by
Jináb-i-Amín, the same have we duly received or shall receive.
FROM A TABLET RECENTLY TRANSLATED FROM PERSIAN

6. O Thou who art captivated by His Covenant and Testament!2 In extolling thy virtues as a steadfast supporter of the Covenant, Jináb-i-Amín hath
unloosed his eloquent tongue and raised his voice in high praise, stating that
Jináb-i-Hájí Ghulám Ridá hath in truth attained the station of contentment
and resignation, and that all times and under all conditions he hath proven
himself to complete servitude at His sacred Threshold. In truth, he entertaineth no wish but for thraldom at the door of the Abhá Beauty, and yearneth
for naught but to accomplish a service in the path of The Desired One.
Praised be God that in moments of adversity his face hath glowed incandes-

Qur’an - 51:55
Jinab-i-Haji Ghulam Rida-Amin-i-Amin

Appendix A—Þuqúqu’lláh The Right of God 175
cent in the ³re of tests, even as purest gold, and thus is purged and puri³ed
from every dross and contamination. He hath at all times walked in the way
of faithfulness, and trodden the path of ³rmness and constancy.

Therefore, in compliance with the precept of reward which is ordained by
the Lord of Utterance, thou hast been appointed as Trustee of the Þuqúq
and should presently, through the strengthening grace and bounty of the
All-Merciful, take up this duty in øíhrán, inasmuch as Jináb-i-Amín will
occasionally travel to the outlying provinces.

We cherish the hope that the Lord of Glory may cause thee to be loved in
both worlds, and that He may vouchsafe in³nite bestowals unto thee.

And upon thee be the glory of the Most Glorious!
FROM THE TABLET RECENTLY TRANSLATED FROM THE PERSIAN

Extract from a letter written by Shoghi Effendi
7. In accordance with the explicit text of the Will and Testament, Þuqúqu’lláh
should be expended on teaching the Cause of God in countries throughout
the East and the West, establishing institutions, building Bahá’í Temples
and promoting benevolent undertakings and the general weal.
FROM THE LETTER DATED 4 APRIL 1954—TRANSLATED FROM THE PERSIAN

Extracts from letters written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice
8. . . . the answer to your question is given in a letter dated 16 September
1979 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a believer. This
is included as section 105 of the compilation on Þuqúqu’lláh, and the relevant portion reads as follows:

Contributions to the funds of the Faith cannot be considered as part of
one’s payment of Þuqúqu’lláh; moreover, if one owes Þuqúqu’lláh
and cannot a²ord both to pay it and to make contributions to the
Fund, the payment of Þuqúqu’lláh should take priority over making
contributions. But as whether contributions to the Fund may be treated
as expenses in calculating the amount of one’s assets on which
Þuqúqu’lláh is payable; this is left to the judgment of each individual
in the light of his own circumstances.

From this it can be seen that if a believer has calculated his liability to
Þuqúqu’lláh and knows that he owes some, he should pay this in preference
to making any other contributions.

However, during the course of the year a believer may well be making contributions to various funds, or giving money to charity, just as he is spending
his money on a wide range of activities associated with his daily life. The

176 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
above statement from the Universal House of Justice (section 105) leaves it
to his judgment to follow either of the following courses:

a. To treat such contributions as expenses. They would then reduce
the balance of savings he would have left at the end of the year on
which Þuqúqu’lláh is payable.

b. To consider that he should make such contributions only out of
money on which Þuqúqu’lláh has been paid.

This ruling also leaves it open to the individual to treat some contributions
in one way and some in the other. The House of Justice leaves all such
details to the judgment and conscience of the individual believer.
3 FEBRUARY 1987 TO AN INDIVIDUAL

9. If, as you say, you are not in a position ever to accumulate assessable property equivalent in value to 19 mithquáls in gold, then, as the texts explain,
you have no obligation to pay Þuqúqu’lláh. However, this does not mean
that you may not contribute to this Fund if you wish to do so out of your
love for Bahá’u’lláh and the generosity of your heart . . . .
23 JUNE 1987 TO AN INDIVIDUAL

10. a. One believer cannot discharge the obligation of another to pay
Þuqúqu’lláh.

b. It is not permissible for a believer to earmark for any purpose a payment
he makes to Þuqúqu’lláh, nor may he make such payment in honor of anyone.
22 MARCH 1989 MEMORANDUM FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO A DEPARTMENT AT
THE WORLD CENTER

11. . . . you ask whether the Law of Þuqúqu’lláh is a purely personal law or
whether it applies to elected institutions and corporate bodies as well.

We have been asked to inform you that, although the Trustee is authorized
to accept contributions to Þuqúqu’lláh from believers who are not under
the obligation of paying it, or from companies which are wholly owned by
Bahá’ís, the Law of Þuqúqu’lláh imposes an obligation only on individual
believers, not on Bahá’í institutions or corporate bodies.
29 MARCH 1989 TO AN INDIVIDUAL

12. Essentially, the Þuqúqu’lláh should be paid by a believer during the
course of his life whenever his surplus property reaches the assessable level. A
certain leeway is provided in the law, inasmuch as reference is made to the
annual expenses which should be deducted before the liability to Þuqúqu’lláh
is calculated. Ideally, when a Bahá’í dies, the only payment to Þuqúqu’lláh
which should need to be provided for in his Will is such additional liability
as may be found to exist when his a²airs are reckoned up as at the date of his
death.

Appendix A—Þuqúqu’lláh The Right of God 177
The House of Justice hopes that as the believers acquaint themselves with
the law of Þuqúqu’lláh and start to pay it, they will also learn not only how
to calculate it during the course of their lives but will thereby be enabled to
understand how to provide for the payment of the balance remaining at
their deaths.
1 OCTOBER 1989 TO AN INDIVIDUAL

13. Such an exceptional con·uence of imminent achievements—the publication of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the progress of the building projects on Mount
Carmel, the conclusion of the Six Year Plan, the inception of the Holy Year—
animates the expectations of the Bahá’í world, sets the stage for mightier
endeavors than have already been attempted, and points us all to the opening of a new phase of history. It seems ³tting, then, that the sacred law
which enables each one to express his or her personal sense of devotion to
God in a profoundly private act of conscience that promotes the common
good, which directly connects the individual believer with the Central Institution of the Faith, and which above all, ensures to the obedient and the
sincere the ine²able grace abundant blessings of Providence, should, at this
favorable juncture, be embraced by all who profess their belief in the Supreme Manifestation of God. With humility before our sovereign Lord, we
now announce that as Ri¤ván 1992, the beginning of the Holy Year, the Law
of Þuqúqu’lláh, the Right of God, will become universally applicable. All
are lovingly called to observe it.
RIØVÁN 1991 TO THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE WORLD

14. The House of Justice does not envisage issuing any speci³c method of
calculation for the use of the friends. They should be left free to work out
their own methods on the basis of the texts and examples already before
them.
1 JULY 1991 TO AN INDIVIDUAL

15. We have recently received an inquiry about the application of the Law of
Þuqúqu’lláh in two situations.

The ³rst concerns those believers who have not, until this Ri¤ván, been
subject to the Law. The second, which is related to it, concerns new believers.

The question is whether the property on which a person is obliged to compute his Þuqúqu’lláh is all that he possesses at the date on which the Law
becomes applicable to him, or only on such property as he amasses subsequent to that date.

Our conclusion is that the property which is assessable to Þuqúqu’lláh is all
that a person possesses on the date that the Law becomes applicable to him.
This does not mean, of course, that he must immediately pay the Þuqúqu’lláh
that is due, since to do so might require him to dispose of many of his

178 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
belongings and place him in a very di¹cult situation. But the principle of
computation is clear, and the Þuqúqu’lláh due should ultimately be paid.

Since so many aspects of the Law have been left Bahá’u’lláh to the conscience and judgment of the individual believer to apply, we prefer that no
general announcement of this decision be made at this time. However, if
you receive any questions from believers on this subject, you may give this
reply.

Appendix A—Þuqúqu’lláh The Right of God 179
180 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
4 MAY 1992 TO THE TRUSTEE OF ÞUQÚQU’LLÁH, THE HAND OF THE CAUSE OF GOD ‘ALI-
MUHAMMAD VARQÁ

Appendix B: Changes in
United States Tax
Regulations

A Letter from the National Spiritual
Assembly dated April 12, 1994
To All Local Spiritual Assemblies and Groups

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

We are informing you of changes in tax laws a²ecting not-for-pro³t organizations. Legislation signed into law by President Clinton on August 10, 1993, contains a number of signi³cant provisions a²ecting tax-exempt charitable organizations. These laws a²ect Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í Groups and include:

A. New substantiation requirements for donors, and
B. New disclosures for charities

Section A - Donor’s Substantiation Requirements
1. Beginning January 1, 1994, no deduction will be allowed from individual income taxes for any charitable contributions of $250 or more unless the donor
receives contemporaneous written substantiation from the charity (in this case,
the Local Spiritual Assembly).

Substantiation simply means a receipt or acknowledgment for the contribution.
Contemporaneous means that the donor must receive the receipt before ³ling

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 181
their return.

2. In cases where the charity has provided goods or services to the donor in exchange for the contribution (e.g. a dinner at a fund raising event), this written
acknowledgment must include a good faith estimate by the Assembly of the value
of such goods or services. The donor is only allowed a tax deduction for the amount
of his/her donation over and above the cost of the goods or services received in
return. (Please see section B below).

3. The donor may no longer rely solely on a canceled check to substantiate a cash
contribution of $250 or more.

The IRS does not prescribe a speci³c format for the written acknowledgments or
receipts. For example, letters, postcards, or computer-generated forms may be
acceptable. The acknowledgments do not have to include the donor’s social security or tax identi³cation number. They must, however, provide su¹cient information to substantiate the amount of the contribution. If the donation is not in
the form of cash or check (for example, real estate, securities or jewelry), then the
acknowledgment should describe the item but does not need to include its estimated value. Valuation of the donated item through obtaining estimates, showing the purchase price, price, etc., is the responsibility of the donor.

4. The written substantiation (i.e., the receipt) should also note whether the Spiritual Assembly provided any goods or services in consideration for the contributions, and, if so, must provide a description and good-faith estimate of the value
of the goods or services. Such contributions are referred to as quid pro quo contributions in the new law.

5. If the goods or services consists entirely of intangible religious bene³ts, the
receipt should indicate this, but the statement need not describe or provide a
value of these bene³ts. An example, of an intangible religious bene³t would be
admission to a Bahá’í event. In addition, the value and description of de minimis
(insigni³cant) tangible religious bene³ts, such as refreshments received at a Bahá’í
Feast, need not be mentioned in the receipt. If, on the other hand, the donor
received nothing in return for the contribution, the receipt must so state.

The Spiritual Assembly may either provide separate acknowledgment letters and/
or receipts for each contribution of $250 or more from a donor, or furnish periodic statements substantiating such contributions.

Section B—Disclosure By Assembly of Receipt of
Quid Pro Quo Contribution
Beginning January 1, 1994, a charitable organization must provide a written disclosure statement to donors who make a payment, described as a quid pro quo
contribution, in excess of $75. The disclosure statement is separate from the donor substantiation (receipt) as discussed above, and is in addition to it.

182 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
A quid pro quo contribution is a payment made partly as a contribution and
partly for goods or services provided to the donor by the charity. An example of a
quid pro quo contribution is where the donor gives a charity $100 for a concert
ticket valued at $40. In this example, only $60 would be deductible by the individual donor. Because the donor’s payment (quid pro quo contribution) exceeds
$75, the disclosure statement must be furnished to the donor by the Assembly,
even though the deductible amount itself does not exceed $75.

The required written disclosure statement may be included on the receipt or provided in a separate document at the same time. Either way, the statement should:

1. Inform the donor that the amount of the contribution that is deductible
for federal income tax purposed is limited to the excess of any money
(and the value of any property other than money) contributed by the
donor over the value of goods or services provided by the charity, and

2. Provide the donor with a good-faith estimate of the value of the goods
or services that the donor received.

A penalty is imposed on organizations that do not meet the disclosure requirements. For failure to make the required disclosure in connection with a quid pro
quo contribution for more than $75, there is a penalty of $10 per contribution,
not to exceed $5,000 per fund raising event or mailing.

These new regulations may require additional e²ort on the Assembly’s part; the
friends, however, could be adversely a²ected by not being allowed to deduct their
contributions to the Funds of $250 or more if they do not receive these materials
form the Assembly on a timely basis. Your Assembly’s e²orts to comply with the
new regulations are thus an important service to the believers.

With loving regards,
O¹ce of the Treasurer

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 183
Publication 526
(Rev. December 2003) Contents
Cat. No. 15050A
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Department
of the
Treasury
Internal
Charitable Organizations That Qualify To
Receive Deductible Contributions . . 2

Revenue Contributions You Can Deduct . . . . . . . 3
Service
Contributions Contributions You Cannot Deduct . . . . . 5

Contributions of Property . . . . . . . . . . . 6

When To Deduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Limits on Deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Records To Keep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

How To Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

How To Get Tax Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Introduction
This publication explains how to claim a deduction for your charitable contributions. It discusses organizations that are qualified to
receive deductible charitable contributions, the
types of contributions you can deduct, how
much you can deduct, what records to keep, and
how to report charitable contributions.
A charitable contribution is a donation or
gift to, or for the use of, a qualified organization. It is voluntary and is made without getting,
or expecting to get, anything of equal value.

Qualified organizations. Qualified organizations include nonprofit groups that are religious,
charitable, educational, scientific, or literary in
purpose, or that work to prevent cruelty to children or animals. You will find descriptions of
these organizations under Organizations That
Qualify To Receive Deductible Contributions.

Form 1040 required. To deduct a charitable
contribution, you must file Form 1040 and itemize deductions on Schedule A. The amount of
your deduction may be limited if certain rules
and limits explained in this publication apply to
you.

Comments and suggestions. We welcome
your comments about this publication and your
suggestions for future editions.
You can e-mail us at *taxforms@irs.gov.
Please put “Publications Comment” on the subject line.
You can write to us at the following address:

Internal Revenue Service
Individual Forms and Publications Branch
Get forms and other information SE:W:CAR:MP:T:I
1111 Constitution Ave. NW
faster and easier by: Washington, DC 20224

Internet • www.irs.gov or FTP • ftp.irs.gov We respond to many letters by telephone.
Therefore, it would be helpful if you would in-
FAX • 703–368–9694 (from your fax machine) clude your daytime phone number, including the
area code, in your correspondence.

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 185
Useful Items Table 1. Examples of Charitable Contributions —A Quick Check
You may want to see: Use the following lists for a quick check of contributions you can or cannot deduct.
See the rest of this publication for more information and additional rules and limits
Publication that may apply.
❏ 78 Cumulative List of Organizations Deductible As Not Deductible As
❏ 561 Determining the Value of Donated Charitable Contributions Charitable Contributions
Property Money or property you give to: Money or property you give to:
Form (and Instructions) • Churches, synagogues, temples, • Civic leagues, social and sports
mosques, and other religious clubs, labor unions, and chambers of
❏ Schedule A (Form 1040) Itemized organizations commerce
Deductions
❏ 8283 Noncash Charitable Contributions
• Federal, state, and local • Foreign organizations (except certain
governments, if your contribution is Canadian, Israeli, and Mexican
See How To Get Tax Help near the end of solely for public purposes (for charities)
this publication for information about getting example, a gift to reduce the public
these publications and forms. debt) • Groups that are run for personal
profit
• Nonprofit schools and hospitals
• Groups whose purpose is to lobby for
• Public parks and recreation facilities law changes
Organizations That • Salvation Army, Red Cross, CARE, • Homeowners’ associations
Goodwill Industries, United Way, Boy
Qualify To Receive Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls • Individuals
Clubs of America, etc.
Deductible • Political groups or candidates for
• War veterans’ groups
Contributions public office

Expenses paid for a student living with you, Cost of raffle, bingo, or lottery tickets
You can deduct your contributions only if you
sponsored by a qualified organization
make them to a qualified organization. To be- Dues, fees, or bills paid to country clubs,
come a qualified organization, most organiza- Out-of-pocket expenses when you serve a lodges, fraternal orders, or similar groups
tions other than churches and governments, as qualified organization as a volunteer
described below, must apply to the IRS. Tuition

Publication 78. You can ask any organization Value of your time or services
whether it is a qualified organization, and most
will be able to tell you. Or you can check IRS Value of blood given to a blood bank
Publication 78, which lists most qualified organizations. You may find Publication 78 in your
local library’s reference section. Or you can find 2) War veterans’ organizations, including zation, and your contribution is for a public
it on the Internet at www.irs.gov. You can also posts, auxiliaries, trusts, or foundations, purpose. You can deduct your contribution.
call the IRS to find out if an organization is organized in the United States or any of its Example 2. You make a voluntary contriqualified. Call 1 – 877 – 829 – 5500. (For TTY/ possessions. bution to the social security trust fund, not
TDD help, call 1 – 800 – 829 – 4059.) earmarked for a specific account. Because
3) Domestic fraternal societies, orders, and
the trust fund is part of the U.S. Governassociations operating under the lodge sys-
Types of Qualified ment, you contributed to a qualified organitem.
zation. You can deduct your contribution.
Organizations Note. Your contribution to this type of
organization is deductible only if it is to be
Generally, only the five following types of organi- Examples. The following list gives some exused solely for charitable, religious, scienzations can be qualified organizations. amples of qualified organizations.
tific, literary, or educational purposes, or for
the prevention of cruelty to children or ani- • Churches, a convention or association of
1) A community chest, corporation, trust, mals. churches, temples, synagogues,
fund, or foundation organized or created mosques, and other religious organizain or under the laws of the United States, 4) Certain nonprofit cemetery companies
tions.
any state, the District of Columbia, or any or corporations.
possession of the United States (including Note. Your contribution to this type of • Most nonprofit charitable organizations
Puerto Rico). It must be organized and op- organization is not deductible if it can be such as the Red Cross and the United
erated only for one or more of the following used for the care of a specific lot or mauso- Way.
purposes. leum crypt. • Most nonprofit educational organizations,
5) The United States or any state, the District including the Boy (and Girl) Scouts of
a) Religious.
of Columbia, a U.S. possession (including America, colleges, museums, and
b) Charitable. Puerto Rico), a political subdivision of a day-care centers if substantially all the
state or U.S. possession, or an Indian tribal child care provided is to enable individuals
c) Educational.
government or any of its subdivisions that (the parents) to be gainfully employed and
d) Scientific. perform substantial government functions. the services are available to the general
Note. To be deductible, your contribution public. However, if your contribution is a
e) Literary.
to this type of organization must be made substitute for tuition or other enrollment
f) The prevention of cruelty to children or solely for public purposes. fee, it is not deductible as a charitable
animals. contribution, as explained later under Con-
Example 1. You contribute cash to your
tributions You Cannot Deduct.
Certain organizations that foster national city’s police department to be used as a
or international amateur sports competition reward for information about a crime. The • Nonprofit hospitals and medical research
also qualify. city police department is a qualified organi- organizations.

Page 2

186 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• Utility company emergency energy pro- If you give property to a qualified organiza- cluded the purchase of one season ticket for the
grams, if the utility company is an agent tion, you generally can deduct the fair market stated ticket price of $120. You must subtract
for a charitable organization that assists value of the property at the time of the contribu- the usual price of a ticket ($120) from your $300
individuals with emergency energy needs. tion. See Contributions of Property, later. payment. The result is $180. Your deductible
Your deduction for charitable contributions is charitable contribution is $144 (80% of $180).
• Nonprofit volunteer fire companies.
generally limited to 50% of your adjusted gross
Charity benefit events. If you pay a qualified
• Public parks and recreation facilities. income, but in some cases 20% and 30% limits
organization more than fair market value for the
may apply. See Limits on Deductions, later.
• Civil defense organizations. right to attend a charity ball, banquet, show,
The total of your charitable contributions desporting event, or other benefit event, you can
duction and certain other itemized deductions
deduct only the amount that is more than the
may be limited. See the instructions for Form
value of the privileges or other benefits you
Canadian charities. You may be able to de- 1040 for more information.
receive.
duct contributions to certain Canadian charita- Table 1 in this publication lists some exam-
If there is an established charge for the
ble organizations covered under an income tax ples of contributions you can deduct and some
event, that charge is the value of your benefit. If
treaty with Canada. that you cannot deduct.
there is no established charge, your contribution
To deduct your contribution to a Canadian
is that part of your payment that is more than the
charity, you generally must have income from Contributions From reasonable value of the right to attend the event.
sources in Canada. See Publication 597, Information on the United States – Canada Income Which You Benefit Whether you use the tickets or other privileges
has no effect on the amount you can deduct.
Tax Treaty, for information on how to figure your
If you receive a benefit as a result of making a However, if you return the ticket to the qualified
deduction.
contribution to a qualified organization, you can organization for resale, you can deduct the en-
Mexican charities. You may be able to de- deduct only the amount of your contribution that tire amount you paid for the ticket.
duct contributions to certain Mexican charitable is more than the value of the benefit you
receive. Also see Contributions From Which Even if the ticket or other evidence of
organizations under an income tax treaty with
Mexico. You Benefit under Contributions You Cannot ! payment indicates that the payment is
Deduct, later.
CAUTION
a “contribution,” this does not mean
The organization must meet tests that are you can deduct the entire amount. If the ticket
essentially the same as the tests that qualify If you pay more than fair market value to a
qualified organization for merchandise, goods, shows the price of admission and the amount of
U.S. organizations to receive deductible contri- the contribution, you can deduct the contribution
butions. The organization may be able to tell you or services, the amount you pay that is more
than the value of the item can be a charitable amount.
if it meets these tests.
contribution. For the excess amount to qualify,
If not, you can get general information you must pay it with the intent to make a charita- Example. You pay $40 to see a special
about the tests the organization must ble contribution. showing of a movie for the benefit of a qualified
meet by writing to the: organization. Printed on the ticket is “Contribu-
Example 1. You pay $65 for a ticket to a tion — $40.” If the regular price for the movie is
Internal Revenue Service dinner-dance at a church. All the proceeds of the $8, your contribution is $32 ($40 payment − $8
International Returns Section function go to the church. The ticket to the regular price).
P.O. Box 920 dinner-dance has a fair market value of $25. Membership fees or dues. You may be able
Bensalem, PA 19020 – 8518. When you buy your ticket, you know that its to deduct membership fees or dues you pay to a
To deduct your contribution to a Mexican value is less than your payment. To figure the qualified organization. However, you can deduct
charity, you must have income from sources in amount of your charitable contribution, you sub- only the amount that is more than the value of
Mexico. The limits described in Limits on Deduc- tract the value of the benefit you receive ($25) the benefits you receive. You cannot deduct
tions, later, apply and are figured using your from your total payment ($65). You can deduct dues, fees, or assessments paid to country
income from Mexican sources. Those limits also $40 as a charitable contribution to the church. clubs and other social organizations. They are
apply to all your charitable contributions, as de- not qualified organizations.
scribed in that discussion. Example 2. At a fund-raising auction conducted by a charity, you pay $600 for a week’s Certain membership benefits can be disre-
Israeli charities. You may be able to deduct stay at a beach house. The amount you pay is garded. Both you and the organization can
contributions to certain Israeli charitable organi- no more than the fair rental value. You have not disregard certain membership benefits you get
zations under an income tax treaty with Israel. made a deductible charitable contribution. in return for an annual payment of $75 or less to
To qualify for the deduction, your contribution the qualified organization. You can pay more
must be made to an organization created and Athletic events. If you make a payment to, or than $75 to the organization if the organization
recognized as a charitable organization under for the benefit of, a college or university and, as does not require a larger payment for you to get
the laws of Israel. The deduction will be allowed a result, you receive the right to buy tickets to an the benefits. The benefits covered under this
in the amount that would be allowed if the organ- athletic event in the athletic stadium of the col- rule are:
ization was created under the laws of the United lege or university, you can deduct 80% of the
States, but is limited to 25% of your adjusted payment as a charitable contribution. 1) Any rights or privileges, other than those
gross income from Israeli sources. If any part of your payment is for tickets discussed under Athletic events, earlier,
(rather than the right to buy tickets), that part is that you can use frequently while you are a
not deductible. In that case, subtract the price of member, such as:
the tickets from your payment. 80% of the re- a) Free or discounted admission to the
Contributions maining amount is a charitable contribution.
organization’s facilities or events,
You Can Deduct Example 1. You pay $300 a year for mem- b) Free or discounted parking,
bership in an athletic scholarship program mainc) Preferred access to goods or services,
Generally, you can deduct your contributions of tained by a university (a qualified organization).
and
money or property that you make to, or for the The only benefit of membership is that you have
use of, a qualified organization. A gift or contri- the right to buy one season ticket for a seat in a d) Discounts on the purchase of goods
bution is “for the use of” a qualified organization designated area of the stadium at the and services, and
when it is held in a legally enforceable trust for university’s home football games. You can dethe qualified organization or in a similar legal duct $240 (80% of $300) as a charitable contri- 2) Admission, while you are a member, to
arrangement. bution. events that are open only to members of
The contributions must be made to a quali- the organization if the organization reasonfied organization and not set aside for use by a Example 2. The facts are the same as in ably projects that the cost per person (exspecific person. Example 1 except that your $300 payment in- cluding any allocated overhead) is not

Page 3

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 187
more than a specified amount, which may 2) Is not your dependent or relative, and Underprivileged youths selected by charity.
be adjusted annually for inflation. (This is You can deduct reasonable unreimbursed
3) Is a full-time student in the twelfth or any
the amount for low-cost articles given in out-of-pocket expenses you pay to allow underlower grade at a school in the United
the annual revenue procedure with infla- privileged youths to attend athletic events, mov-
States.
tion adjusted amounts for the current year. ies, or dinners. The youths must be selected by
You can get this figure from the IRS.) a charitable organization whose goal is to re-
You can deduct up to $50 a month for
duce juvenile delinquency. Your own similar ex-
TIP each full calendar month the student
penses in accompanying the youths are not
Token items. You can deduct your entire pay- lives with you. Any month when condideductible.
ment to a qualified organization as a charitable tions (1) through (3) above are met for 15 or
contribution if both of the following are true. more days counts as a full month. Conventions. If you are a chosen representative attending a convention of a qualified organi-
1) You get a small item or other benefit of Qualified organization. For these purposes, zation, you can deduct unreimbursed expenses
token value. a qualified organization can be any of the organi- for travel and transportation, including a reason-
2) The qualified organization correctly deter- zations described earlier under Organizations able amount for meals and lodging, while away
mines that the value of the item or benefit That Qualify To Receive Deductible Contribu- from home overnight in connection with the conyou received is not substantial and informs tions, except those in (4) and (5). For example, if vention. However, see Travel, later.
you that you can deduct your payment in you are providing a home for a student through a You cannot deduct personal expenses for
full. state or local government agency, you cannot sightseeing, fishing parties, theater tickets, or
deduct your expenses as charitable contribu- nightclubs. You also cannot deduct travel, meals
The organization determines whether the value and lodging, and other expenses for your
tions.
of an item or benefit is substantial by using spouse or children.
Revenue Procedures 90 – 12 and 92 – 49 and Qualifying expenses. Expenses that you You cannot deduct your expenses in attendthe revenue procedure with the inflation ad- may be able to deduct include the cost of books, ing a church convention if you go only as a
justed amounts for the current year. tuition, food, clothing, transportation, medical member of your church rather than as a chosen
and dental care, entertainment, and other representative. You can deduct unreimbursed
Written statement. A qualified organization expenses that are directly connected with giving
amounts you actually spend for the well-being of
must give you a written statement if you make a services for your church during the convention.
the student.
payment to it that is more than $75 and is partly
a contribution and partly for goods or services. Uniforms. You can deduct the cost and up-
Expenses that do not qualify. Depreciation keep of uniforms that are not suitable for every-
The statement must tell you that you can deduct
on your home, the fair market value of lodging, day use and that you must wear while
only the amount of your payment that is more
and similar items are not considered amounts performing donated services for a charitable orthan the value of the goods or services you
spent by you. In addition, general household ganization.
received. It must also give you a good faith
expenses, such as taxes, insurance, repairs,
estimate of the value of those goods or services. Foster parents. You may be able to deduct as
etc., do not qualify for the deduction.
The organization can give you the statement a charitable contribution some of the costs of
either when it solicits or when it receives the Reimbursed expenses. If you are compen- being a foster parent (foster care provider) if you
payment from you. sated or reimbursed for any part of the costs of have no profit motive in providing the foster care
having a student living with you, you cannot and are not, in fact, making a profit. A qualified
Exception. An organization will not have to deduct any of your costs. However, if you are
give you this statement if one of the following is organization must designate the individuals you
reimbursed for only an extraordinary or a take into your home for foster care.
true. one-time item, such as a hospital bill or vacation You can deduct expenses that meet both of
trip, that you paid in advance at the request of the following requirements.
1) The organization is:
the student’s parents or the sponsoring organia) The type of organization described in zation, you can deduct your expenses for the 1) They are unreimbursed out-of-pocket ex-
(5) under Types of Qualified Organiza- student for which you were not reimbursed. penses to feed, clothe, and care for the
tions, earlier, or foster child.
Mutual exchange program. You cannot
b) Formed only for religious purposes, and deduct the costs of a foreign student living in 2) They must be mainly to benefit the qualithe only benefit you receive is an intan- your home under a mutual exchange program fied organization.
gible religious benefit (such as admis- through which your child will live with a family in
Unreimbursed expenses that you cannot desion to a religious ceremony) that a foreign country.
duct as charitable contributions may be considgenerally is not sold in commercial ered support provided by you in determining
transactions outside the donative con- Reporting expenses. For a list of what you
whether you can claim the foster child as a
text. must file with your return if you deduct expenses
dependent. For details, see Publication 501, Exfor a student living with you, see Reporting exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Infor-
2) You receive only items whose value is not penses for student living with you under How To
mation.
substantial as described under Token Report, later.
items, earlier. Example. You cared for a foster child be-
3) You receive only membership benefits that
Out-of-Pocket Expenses cause you wanted to adopt her, not to benefit the
can be disregarded, as described earlier. in Giving Services agency that placed her in your home. Your unreimbursed expenses are not deductible as
You may be able to deduct some amounts you charitable contributions.
Expenses Paid for pay in giving services to a qualified organization.
Church deacon. You can deduct as a charita-
The amounts must be:
Student Living With You ble contribution any unreimbursed expenses
• Unreimbursed, you have while in a permanent diaconate pro-
You may be able to deduct some expenses of gram established by your church. These exhaving a student live with you. You can deduct • Directly connected with the services,
penses include the cost of vestments, books,
qualifying expenses for a foreign or American • Expenses you had only because of the and transportation required in order to serve in
student who: services you gave, and the program as either a deacon candidate or as
an ordained deacon.
1) Lives in your home under a written agree- • Not personal, living, or family expenses.
ment between you and a qualified organi- Car expenses. You can deduct unreimbursed
zation (defined later) as part of a program Table 2 contains questions and answers that out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of gas
of the organization to provide educational apply to some individuals who volunteer their and oil, that are directly related to the use of your
opportunities for the student, services. car in giving services to a charitable organiza-

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188 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Table 2. Volunteers’ Questions and Answers
If you do volunteer work for a qualified organization, the following questions and answers may apply to you. All of the rules explained
in this publication also apply. See, in particular, Out-of-Pocket Expenses in Giving Services.
Question Answer
I do volunteer work 6 hours a week in the office of a qualified No, you cannot deduct the value of your time or services.
organization. The receptionist is paid $6 an hour to do the same work I
do. Can I deduct $36 a week for my time?
Yes, you can deduct the costs of gas and oil that are directly related to
The office is 30 miles from my home. Can I deduct any of my car getting to and from the place where you are a volunteer. If you do not
expenses for these trips? want to figure your actual costs, you can deduct 14 cents for each
mile.
I volunteer as a Red Cross nurse’s aide at a hospital. Can I deduct the Yes, you can deduct the cost of buying and cleaning your uniforms if
cost of uniforms that I must wear? the hospital is a qualified organization, the uniforms are not suitable for
everyday use, and you must wear them when volunteering.
I pay a baby sitter to watch my children while I do volunteer work for a No, you cannot deduct payments for child care expenses as a
qualified organization. Can I deduct these costs? charitable contribution, even if they are necessary so you can do
volunteer work for a qualified organization. (If you have child care
expenses so you can work for pay, get Publication 503, Child and
Dependent Care Expenses.)

tion. You cannot deduct general repair and Example 3. You work for several hours
maintenance expenses, depreciation, registra- each morning on an archeological dig spontion fees, or the costs of tires or insurance. sored by a charitable organization. The rest of
Contributions
If you do not want to deduct your actual
expenses, you can use a standard mileage rate
the day is free for recreation and sightseeing.
You cannot take a charitable contribution deduc-
You Cannot Deduct
of 14 cents a mile to figure your contribution. tion even though you work very hard during
There are some contributions you cannot de-
You can deduct parking fees and tolls, those few hours.
duct. There are others you can deduct only part
whether you use your actual expenses or the
Example 4. You spend the entire day at- of.
standard mileage rate.
You must keep reliable written records of tending a charitable organization’s regional You cannot deduct as a charitable contribuyour car expenses. For more information, see meeting as a chosen representative. In the eve- tion:
Car expenses under Records To Keep, later. ning you go to the theater. You can claim your
travel expenses as charitable contributions, but 1) A contribution to a specific individual,
Travel. Generally, you can claim a charitable you cannot claim the cost of your evening at the
2) A contribution to a nonqualified organizacontribution deduction for travel expenses nec- theater.
tion,
essarily incurred while you are away from home Daily allowance (per diem). If you provide
performing services for a charitable organization services for a charitable organization and re- 3) The part of a contribution from which you
only if there is no significant element of per- ceive a daily allowance to cover reasonable receive or expect to receive a benefit,
sonal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel expenses, including meals and lodging 4) The value of your time or services,
travel. This applies whether you pay the ex- while away from home overnight, you must inpenses directly or indirectly. You are paying the clude in income the amount of the allowance 5) Your personal expenses,
expenses indirectly if you make a payment to the that is more than your deductible travel ex- 6) Appraisal fees, or
charitable organization and the organization penses. You can deduct your necessary travel
pays for your travel expenses. expenses that are more than the allowance. 7) Certain contributions of partial interests
The deduction for travel expenses will not be in property.
denied simply because you enjoy providing Deductible travel expenses. These include: Detailed discussions of these items follow.
services to the charitable organization. Even if
you enjoy the trip, you can take a charitable • Air, rail, and bus transportation, Contributions to Individuals
contribution deduction for your travel expenses
if you are on duty in a genuine and substantial • Out-of-pocket expenses for your car,
You cannot deduct contributions to specific indisense throughout the trip. However, if you have • Taxi fares or other costs of transportation viduals, including:
only nominal duties, or if for significant parts of between the airport or station and your
the trip you do not have any duties, you cannot hotel, • Contributions to fraternal societies made
deduct your travel expenses.
• Lodging costs, and for the purpose of paying medical or burial
expenses of deceased members.
Example 1. You are a troop leader for a • The cost of meals.
tax-exempt youth group and you help take the • Contributions to individuals who are needy
group on a camping trip. You are responsible for Because these travel expenses are not or worthy. This includes contributions to a
overseeing the set up of the camp and for pro- business-related, they are not subject to the qualified organization if you indicate that
viding adult supervision for other activities dur- same limits as business related expenses. For your contribution is for a specific person.
ing the entire trip. You participate in the activities information on business travel expenses, see
But you can deduct a contribution that you
of the group and really enjoy your time with Travel Expenses in Publication 463, Travel, Engive to a qualified organization that in turn
them. You oversee the breaking of camp and tertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses.
helps needy or worthy individuals if you do
you help transport the group home. You can not indicate that your contribution is for a
deduct your travel expenses. specific person.
Example 2. You sail from one island to an- Example. You can deduct contributions
other and spend 8 hours a day counting whales earmarked for flood relief, hurricane relief,
and other forms of marine life. The project is or other disaster relief to a qualified organisponsored by a charitable organization. In most zation. However, you cannot deduct contricircumstances, you cannot deduct your ex- butions earmarked for relief of a particular
penses. individual or family.

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Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 189
• Payments to a member of the clergy that Contributions From • The value of income lost while you work
can be spent as he or she wishes, such as as an unpaid volunteer for a qualified orfor personal expenses.
Which You Benefit ganization.
• Expenses you paid for another person who If you receive or expect to receive a financial or
provided services to a qualified organiza- economic benefit as a result of making a contri- Personal Expenses
tion. bution to a qualified organization, you cannot
Example. Your son does missionary work. deduct the part of the contribution that repre- You cannot deduct personal, living, or family
You pay his expenses. You cannot claim a sents the value of the benefit you receive. See expenses, such as the following items.
deduction for your son’s unreimbursed ex- Contributions From Which You Benefit under
penses related to his contribution of serv- Contributions You Can Deduct, earlier. These • The cost of meals you eat while you
ices. contributions include: perform services for a qualified organization, unless it is necessary for you to be
• Payments to a hospital that are for a spe- • Contributions for lobbying. This includes away from home overnight while performcific patient’s care or for services for a amounts that you earmark for use in, or in ing the services.
specific patient. You cannot deduct these connection with, influencing specific legispayments even if the hospital is operated lation. • Adoption expenses, including fees paid
by a city, state, or other qualified organiza- to an adoption agency and the costs of
tion. • Contributions to a retirement home that keeping a child in your home before adopare clearly for room, board, maintenance, tion is final. However, you may be able to
or admittance. Also, if the amount of your claim a tax credit for these expenses.
Contributions to contribution depends on the type or size of Also, you may be able to exclude from
Nonqualified Organizations apartment you will occupy, it is not a chari- your gross income amounts paid or reimtable contribution. bursed by your employer for your adoption
You cannot deduct contributions to organiza- expenses. See Publication 968, Tax Benetions that are not qualified to receive tax-deduct-
• Costs of raffles, bingo, lottery, etc. You
fits for Adoption, for more information. You
cannot deduct as a charitable contribution
ible contributions, including the following. also may be able to claim an exemption
amounts you pay to buy raffle or lottery
for the child. See Adoption in Publication
1) Certain state bar associations if: tickets or to play bingo or other games of
501 for more information.
chance. For information on how to report
a) The state bar is not a political subdivi- gambling winnings and losses, see Desion of a state, ductions Not Subject to the 2% Limit in Appraisal Fees
b) The bar has private, as well as public, Publication 529.
Fees that you pay to find the fair market value of
purposes, such as promoting the pro- • Dues to fraternal orders and similar donated property are not deductible as contribufessional interests of members, and groups. However, see Membership fees or tions. You can claim them, subject to the
c) Your contribution is unrestricted and dues under Contributions From Which You 2%-of-adjusted-gross-income limit, as a miscelcan be used for private purposes. Benefit, earlier. laneous itemized deduction on Schedule A
• Tuition, or amounts you pay instead of (Form 1040). See Deductions Subject to the 2%
2) Chambers of commerce and other busi- tuition, even if you pay them for children to Limit in Publication 529 for more information.
ness leagues or organizations. attend parochial schools or qualifying non-
3) Civic leagues and associations. profit day-care centers. You also cannot Partial Interest
deduct any fixed amount you may be re- in Property
4) Communist organizations. quired to pay in addition to the tuition fee
5) Country clubs and other social clubs. to enroll in a private school, even if it is Generally, you cannot deduct a contribution of
designated as a “donation.” less than your entire interest in property. For
6) Foreign organizations other than:
details, see Partial interest in property under
• Contributions connected with split-dola) A U.S. organization that transfers funds Contributions of Property, later.
lar insurance arrangements. You cannot
to a charitable foreign organization if deduct any part of a contribution to a charithe U.S. organization controls the use table organization if, in connection with the
of the funds or if the foreign organiza- contribution, the organization directly or intion is only an administrative arm of the
U.S. organization, or
directly pays, has paid, or is expected to Contributions
pay any premium on any life insurance,
b) Certain Canadian, Israeli, or Mexican annuity, or endowment contract for which of Property
charitable organizations. See Canadian you, any member of your family or any other
charities, Mexican charities, and Israeli person chosen by you (other than a quali- If you contribute property to a qualified organizacharities under Organizations That fied charitable organization) is a benefi- tion, the amount of your charitable contribution
Qualify To Receive Deductible Contri- ciary. is generally the fair market value of the propbutions, earlier. erty at the time of the contribution. However, if
Example. You donate money to a charitathe property has increased in value, you may
ble organization. The charity uses the
7) Homeowners’ associations. have to make some adjustments to the amount
money to purchase a cash value life insurof your deduction. See Giving Property That Has
8) Labor unions. But you may be able to ance policy. The beneficiaries under the
Increased in Value, later.
deduct union dues as a miscellaneous insurance policy include members of your
family. Even though the charity may even- For information about the records you must
itemized deduction, subject to the
tually get some benefit out of the insurance keep and the information you must furnish with
2%-of-adjusted-gross-income limit, on
policy, you cannot deduct any part of the your return if you donate property, see Records
Schedule A (Form 1040). See Publication
donation. To Keep and How To Report, later.
529, Miscellaneous Deductions.
9) Political organizations and candidates. Contributions Subject to
Value of Time or Services Special Rules
You cannot deduct the value of your time or Special rules apply if you contributed:
services, including:
• Blood donations to the Red Cross or to • Property subject to a debt,
blood banks, and • A partial interest in property,
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190 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• A future interest in tangible personal prop- amount of your contribution deduction from your
erty, or 1) A remainder interest in your personal home opening inventory. It is not part of the cost of
or farm. A remainder interest is one that goods sold.
• Inventory from your business. passes to a beneficiary after the end of an If the cost of donated inventory is not inearlier interest in the property. cluded in your opening inventory, the inventory’s
These special rules are described next. Example. You keep the right to live in basis is zero and you cannot claim a charitable
your home during your lifetime and give contribution deduction. Treat the inventory’s
Property subject to a debt. If you contribute your church a remainder interest that begins cost as you would ordinarily treat it under your
property subject to a debt (such as a mortgage), upon your death. method of accounting. For example, include the
you must reduce the fair market value of the purchase price of inventory bought and donated
property by: 2) An undivided part of your entire interest.
This must consist of a part of every substan- in the same year in the cost of goods sold for that
tial interest or right you own in the property year.
1) Any allowable deduction for interest that
you paid (or will pay) attributable to any and must last as long as your interest in the
period after the contribution, and property lasts. Determining
2) If the property is a bond, the lesser of:
Example. You contribute voting stock to Fair Market Value
a qualified organization but keep the right to
vote the stock. The right to vote is a sub- This section discusses general guidelines for
a) Any allowable deduction for interest
stantial right in the stock. You have not determining the fair market value of various
you paid (or will pay) to buy or carry the
contributed an undivided part of your entire types of donated property. Publication 561 conbond that is attributable to any period interest and cannot deduct your contribu- tains a more complete discussion.
before the contribution, or tion. Fair market value is the price at which propb) The interest, including bond discount, 3) A partial interest that would be deductible erty would change hands between a willing
receivable on the bond that is attributa- if transferred in trust. buyer and a willing seller, neither having to buy
ble to any period before the contribu- or sell, and both having reasonable knowledge
tion, and that is not includible in your 4) A qualified conservation contribution (de- of all the relevant facts.
income due to your accounting method. fined under Qualified conservation contribution in Publication 561). Used clothing. The fair market value of used
clothing and other personal items is usually far
This prevents a double deduction of the same For information about how to figure the value less than the price you paid for them. There are
amount as investment interest and also as a of a contribution of a partial interest in property, no fixed formulas or methods for finding the
charitable contribution. see Partial Interest in Property Not in Trust in value of items of clothing.
If the debt is assumed by the recipient (or Publication 561. You should claim as the value the price that
another person), you must also reduce the fair buyers of used items actually pay in used clothmarket value of the property by the amount of Future interest in tangible personal property.
ing stores, such as consignment or thrift shops.
the outstanding debt. You can deduct the value of a charitable contri-
If you sold the property to a qualified organi- bution of a future interest in tangible personal Household goods. The fair market value of
zation at a bargain price, the amount of the debt property only after all intervening interests in used household goods, such as furniture, appliis also treated as an amount realized on the sale and rights to the actual possession or enjoyment ances, and linens, is usually much lower than
or exchange of property. For more information, of the property have either expired or been the price paid when new. These items may have
see Bargain Sales under Giving Property That turned over to someone other than yourself, a little or no market value because they are in a
Has Increased in Value, later. related person, or a related organization. worn condition, out of style, or no longer useful.
Related persons include your spouse, chil- For these reasons, formulas (such as using a
dren, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and par- percentage of the cost to buy a new replacement
Partial interest in property. Generally, you
ents. Related organizations may include a item) are not acceptable in determining value.
cannot deduct a charitable contribution (not
partnership or corporation that you have an in- You should support your valuation with phomade by a transfer in trust) of less than your
terest in, or an estate or trust that you have a tographs, canceled checks, receipts from your
entire interest in property.
connection with. purchase of the items, or other evidence. Maga-
Right to use property. A contribution of the zine or newspaper articles and photographs that
Tangible personal property. This is any
right to use property is a contribution of less than describe the items and statements by the recipiproperty, other than land or buildings, that can
your entire interest in that property and is not ents of the items are also useful. Do not include
be seen or touched. It includes furniture, books,
deductible. any of this evidence with your tax return.
jewelry, paintings, and cars.
If the property is valuable because it is old or
Example 1. You own a 10-story office build- Future interest. This is any interest that is unique, see the discussion under Paintings, Aning and donate rent-free use of the top floor to a to begin at some future time, regardless of tiques, and Other Objects of Art in Publication
charitable organization. Since you still own the whether it is designated as a future interest 561.
building, you have contributed a partial interest under state law.
in the property and cannot take a deduction for Cars, boats, and aircraft. If you contribute a
the contribution. Example. You own an antique car that you car, boat, or aircraft to a charitable organization,
contribute to a museum. You give up ownership, you must determine its fair market value.
Example 2. Mandy White owns a vacation but retain the right to keep the car in your garage Certain commercial firms and trade organihome at the beach that she sometimes rents to with your personal collection. Since you keep an zations publish used car pricing guides, comothers. For a fund-raising auction at her church, interest in the property, you cannot deduct the monly called “blue books,” containing complete
she donated the right to use the vacation home contribution. If you turn the car over to the mu- dealer sale prices or dealer average prices for
for 1 week. At the auction, the church received seum in a later year, giving up all rights to its recent model years. The guides may be puband accepted a bid from Lauren Green equal to use, possession, and enjoyment, you can take a lished monthly or seasonally, and for different
the fair rental value of the home for 1 week. deduction for the contribution in that later year. regions of the country. These guides also pro-
Mandy cannot claim a deduction because of the vide estimates for adjusting for unusual equip-
Inventory. If you contribute inventory (prop- ment, unusual mileage, and physical condition.
partial interest rule. Lauren cannot claim a deerty that you sell in the course of your business), The prices are not “official” and these publicaduction either, because she received a benefit
the amount you can claim as a contribution de- tions are not considered an appraisal of any
equal to the amount of her payment. See Contriduction is the smaller of its fair market value on specific donated property. But they do provide
butions From Which You Benefit, earlier.
the day you contributed it or its basis. The basis clues for making an appraisal and suggest rela-
Exceptions. You can deduct a charitable of donated inventory is any cost incurred for the tive prices for comparison with current sales and
contribution of a partial interest in property only if inventory in an earlier year that you would other- offerings in your area.
that interest represents one of the following wise include in your opening inventory for the These publications are sometimes available
listed items. year of the contribution. You must remove the from public libraries, or from the loan officer at a

Page 7

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 191
bank, credit union, or finance company. You can Ordinary Income Property For more information about what is a capital
also find used car pricing information on the asset, see chapter 2 of Publication 544.
Internet. Property is ordinary income property if its sale at
Except for inexpensive small boats, the valu- fair market value on the date it was contributed Amount of deduction – general rule. When
ation of boats should be based on an appraisal would have resulted in ordinary income or in figuring your deduction for a gift of capital gain
short-term capital gain. Examples of ordinary property, you usually can use the fair market
by a marine surveyor because the physical conincome property are inventory, works of art cre- value of the gift.
dition is critical to the value.
ated by the donor, manuscripts prepared by the
Exceptions. However, in certain situations,
Example. You donate your car to a local donor, and capital assets (defined later, under
you must reduce the fair market value by any
high school for use by students studying auto- Capital Gain Property) held 1 year or less.
amount that would have been long-term capital
mobile repair. Your credit union told you that the Property used in a trade or business. gain if you had sold the property for its fair
“blue book” value of the car is $1,600. However, Property used in a trade or business is consid- market value. Generally, this means reducing
your car needs extensive repairs and, after ered ordinary income property to the extent of the fair market value to the property’s cost or
some checking, you find that you could sell it for any gain that would have been treated as ordi- other basis. You must do this if:
$750. You can deduct $750, the true fair market nary income because of depreciation had the
value of the car, as a charitable contribution. property been sold at its fair market value at the 1) The property (other than qualified apprecitime of contribution. See chapter 3 of Publication ated stock) is contributed to certain private
544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets, for nonoperating foundations,
Large quantities. If you contribute a large
number of the same item, fair market value is the the kinds of property to which this rule applies. 2) The contributed property is tangible perprice at which comparable numbers of the item sonal property that is put to an unrelated
are being sold. Amount of deduction. The amount you can use by the charity, or
deduct for a contribution of ordinary income
3) You choose the 50% limit instead of the
Example. You purchase 500 bibles for property is its fair market value less the amount
30% limit, discussed later.
$1,000. The person who sells them to you says that would be ordinary income or short-term
the retail value of these bibles is $3,000. If you capital gain if you sold the property for its fair Contributions to private nonoperating
contribute the bibles to a qualified organization, market value. Generally, this rule limits the de- foundations. The reduced deduction applies
you can claim a deduction only for the price at duction to your basis in the property. to contributions to all private nonoperating founwhich similar numbers of the same bible are dations other than those qualifying for the 50%
currently being sold. Your charitable contribu- Example. You donate stock that you held
limit, discussed later.
tion is $1,000, unless you can show that similar for 5 months to your church. The fair market
However, the reduced deduction does not
numbers of that bible were selling at a different value of the stock on the day you donate it is apply to contributions of qualified appreciated
price at the time of the contribution. $1,000, but you paid only $800 (your basis). stock. Qualified appreciated stock is any stock in
Because the $200 of appreciation would be a corporation that is capital gain property and for
Giving Property That short-term capital gain if you sold the stock, your which market quotations are readily available on
deduction is limited to $800 (fair market value
Has Decreased in Value less the appreciation).
an established securities market on the day of
the contribution. But stock in a corporation does
If you contribute property with a fair market value Exception. Do not reduce your charitable not count as qualified appreciated stock to the
that is less than your basis in it, your deduction is contribution if you include the ordinary or capital extent you and your family contributed more
limited to its fair market value. You cannot claim gain income in your gross income in the same than 10% of the value of all the outstanding
a deduction for the difference between the year as the contribution. See Ordinary or capital stock in the corporation.
property’s basis and its fair market value. gain income included in gross income under Contributions of tangible personal prop-
Your basis in property is generally what you Capital Gain Property, next, if you need more erty. The term tangible personal property
paid for it. If you need more information about information. means any property, other than land or buildbasis, get Publication 551, Basis of Assets. You ings, that can be seen or touched. It includes
may want to get Publication 551 if you contribute furniture, books, jewelry, paintings, and cars.
property that you: Capital Gain Property The term unrelated use means a use that is
unrelated to the exempt purpose or function of
• Received as a gift or inheritance, Property is capital gain property if its sale at fair
market value on the date of the contribution the charitable organization. For a governmental
• Used in a trade, business, or activity con- would have resulted in long-term capital gain. unit, it means the use of the contributed property
ducted for profit, or Capital gain property includes capital assets for other than exclusively public purposes.
• Claimed a casualty loss deduction for. held more than 1 year.
Example. If a painting contributed to an educational institution is used by that organization
Common examples of property that de- Capital assets. Capital assets include most
for educational purposes by being placed in its
creases in value include clothing, furniture, ap- items of property that you own and use for perlibrary for display and study by art students, the
pliances, and cars. sonal purposes or investment. Examples of capuse is not an unrelated use. But if the painting is
ital assets are stocks, bonds, jewelry, coin or
sold and the proceeds are used by the organiza-
Giving Property That stamp collections, and cars or furniture used for
tion for educational purposes, the use is an
personal purposes.
Has Increased in Value unrelated use.
For purposes of figuring your charitable con-
If you contribute property with a fair market value tribution, capital assets also include certain real Ordinary or capital gain income included in
that is more than your basis in it, you may have property and depreciable property used in your gross income. You do not reduce your charito reduce the fair market value by the amount trade or business and, generally, held more than table contribution if you include the ordinary or
of appreciation (increase in value) when you 1 year. (You may have to treat this property as capital gain income in your gross income in the
figure your deduction. partly ordinary income property and partly capi- same year as the contribution. This may happen
Your basis in property is generally what you tal gain property.) when you transfer installment or discount obligapaid for it. If you need more information about tions or when you assign income to a charitable
Real property. Real property is land and
basis, get Publication 551. organization. If you contribute an obligation regenerally anything that is built on, growing on, or
ceived in a sale of property that is reported
Different rules apply to figuring your deduc- attached to land.
under the installment method, see Publication
tion, depending on whether the property is: Depreciable property. Depreciable prop- 537, Installment Sales.
erty is property used in business or held for the
1) Ordinary income property, or
production of income and for which a deprecia- Example. You donate an installment note to
2) Capital gain property. tion deduction is allowed. a qualified organization. The note has a fair

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192 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
market value of $10,000 and a basis to you of If your contribution would be undone by a
$7,000. As a result of the donation, you have a 1) The value or adjusted basis claimed on later act or event, you cannot take a deduction.
short-term capital gain of $3,000 ($10,000 − your return is 200% or more of the correct But if there is only a negligible chance the act or
$7,000), which you include in your income for amount, and event will take place, you can take a deduction.
the year. Your charitable contribution is 2) You underpaid your tax by more than
$10,000. $5,000 because of the overstatement. Example 1. You donate cash to a local
school board, which is a political subdivision of a
state, to help build a school gym. The school
Bargain Sales 40% penalty. The penalty is 40%, rather than board will refund the money to you if it does not
20%, if: collect enough to build the gym. You cannot
A bargain sale of property to a qualified organi- deduct your gift as a charitable contribution until
zation (a sale or exchange for less than the 1) The value or adjusted basis claimed on there is no chance of a refund.
property’s fair market value) is partly a charita- your return is 400% or more of the correct
ble contribution and partly a sale or exchange. amount, and Example 2. You donate land to a city for as
2) You underpaid your tax by more than long as the city uses it for a public park. The city
Part that is a sale or exchange. The part of $5,000 because of the overstatement. does plan to use the land for a park, and there is
the bargain sale that is a sale or exchange may no chance (or only a negligible chance) of the
result in a taxable gain. For more information on land being used for any different purpose. You
determining the amount of any taxable gain, see can deduct your charitable contribution.
Bargain sales to charity in chapter 1 of Publication 544. When To Deduct
Part that is a charitable contribution. Figure
You can deduct your contributions only in the Limits on Deductions
year you actually make them in cash or other
the amount of your charitable contribution in
property (or in a succeeding carryover year, as If your total contributions for the year are 20% or
three steps.
explained under How To Figure Your Deduction less of your adjusted gross income, you do not
Step 1. Subtract the amount you received When Limits Apply, later). This applies whether need to read this section. The limits discussed
for the property from the property’s fair market you use the cash or an accrual method of ac- here do not apply to you.
value at the time of sale. This gives you the fair counting. The amount of your deduction is limited to
market value of the contributed part. 50% of your adjusted gross income, and may be
Time of making contribution. Usually, you limited to 30% or 20% of your adjusted gross
Step 2. Find the adjusted basis of the con- income, depending on the type of property you
make a contribution at the time of its unconditributed part. It equals: tional delivery. give and the type of organization you give it to.
Fair market value These limits are described below.
Checks. A check that you mail to a charity is
of contributed part If your contributions are more than any of the
Adjusted basis of considered delivered on the date you mail it.
entire property
⫻ limits that apply, see Carryovers under How To
Fair market value Credit card. Contributions charged on your Figure Your Deduction When Limits Apply, later.
of entire property bank credit card are deductible in the year you
make the charge. Out-of-pocket expenses. Amounts you
Step 3. Determine whether the amount of spend performing services for a charitable or-
Pay-by-phone account. If you use a ganization, which qualify as charitable contribuyour charitable contribution is the fair market
pay-by-phone account, the date you make a tions, are subject to the limit of the organization.
value of the contributed part (which you found in
contribution is the date the financial institution For example, the 50% limit applies to amounts
Step 1) or the adjusted basis of the contributed
pays the amount. This date should be shown on you spend on behalf of a church, a 50% limit
part (which you found in Step 2). Generally, if the
the statement the financial institution sends to organization. These amounts are considered a
property sold was capital gain property, your you.
charitable contribution is the fair market value of contribution to a qualified organization.
the contributed part. If it was ordinary income Stock certificate. The gift to a charity of a
property, your charitable contribution is the ad- properly endorsed stock certificate is completed 50% Limit
justed basis of the contributed part. See the on the date of mailing or other delivery to the
ordinary income property and capital gain prop- charity or to the charity’s agent. However, if you The 50% limit applies to the total of all charitable
give a stock certificate to your agent or to the contributions you make during the year. This
erty rules (discussed earlier) for more informaissuing corporation for transfer to the name of means that your deduction for charitable contrition.
the charity, your gift is not completed until the butions cannot be more than 50% of your ad-
Example. You sell ordinary income property date the stock is transferred on the books of the justed gross income for the year.
with a fair market value of $10,000 to a church corporation.
Only limit for 50% organizations. The 50%
for $2,000. Your basis is $4,000 and your ad- Promissory note. If you issue and deliver a limit is the only limit that applies to gifts to orgajusted gross income is $20,000. You make no promissory note to a charitable organization as nizations listed below under 50% Limit Organiother contributions during the year. The fair mar- a contribution, it is not a contribution until you zations. But there is one exception.
ket value of the contributed part of the property make the note payments.
is $8,000 ($10,000 − $2,000). The adjusted ba- Exception. A 30% limit also applies to these
Option. If you grant an option to buy real gifts if they are gifts of capital gain property for
sis of the contributed part is $3,200 ($4,000 ×
property at a bargain price to a charitable organi- which you figure your deduction using fair mar-
($8,000 ÷ $10,000)). Because the property is zation, you cannot take a deduction until the
ordinary income property, your charitable contri- ket value without reduction for appreciation.
organization exercises the option. (See Special 30% Limit for Capital Gain Propbution deduction is limited to the adjusted basis
of the contributed part. You can deduct $3,200. Borrowed funds. If you make a contribu- erty, later.)
tion with borrowed funds, you can deduct the
contribution in the year you make it, regardless
Penalty of when you repay the loan. 50% Limit Organizations
You may be liable for a penalty if you overstate Conditional gift. If your contribution is a You can ask any organization whether it is a
the value or adjusted basis of donated property. conditional gift that depends on a future act or 50% limit organization, and most will be able to
event that may not take place, you cannot take a tell you. Or you may check IRS Publication 78
20% penalty. The penalty is 20% of the deduction. But if there is only a negligible (described earlier).
amount by which you underpaid your tax be- chance that the act or event will not take place, Only the following types of organizations are
cause of the overstatement, if: you can take a deduction. 50% limit organizations.

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Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 193
1) Churches, and conventions or associafund’s income within 21/2 months following How To Figure
the tax year in which it was realized and
tions of churches. must distribute the corpus not later than 1
Your Deduction
2) Educational organizations with a regular year after the donor’s death (or after the When Limits Apply
faculty and curriculum that normally have a death of the donor’s surviving spouse if the
spouse can name the recipients of the If your contributions are subject to more than
regularly enrolled student body attending one of the limits just discussed, you can deduct
classes on site. corpus).
them as follows.
3) Hospitals and certain medical research organizations associated with these hospi- 30% Limit 1) Contributions subject only to the 50%
tals. limit, up to 50% of your adjusted gross
A 30% limit applies to the following gifts. income.
4) Organizations that are operated only to receive, hold, invest, and administer property • Gifts to all qualified organizations other 2) Contributions subject to the 30% limit, up
and to make expenditures to or for the than 50% limit organizations. This includes to the lesser of:
benefit of state and municipal colleges and gifts to veterans’ organizations, fraternal
societies, nonprofit cemeteries, and cer- a) 30% of adjusted gross income, or
universities and that normally receive substantial support from the United States or tain private nonoperating foundations. b) 50% of adjusted gross income minus
any state or their political subdivisions, or • Gifts for the use of any organization. your contributions to 50% limit organifrom the general public. zations, including contributions of cap-
However, if these gifts are of capital gain prop- ital gain property subject to the special
5) The United States or any state, the District erty, they are subject to the 20% limit, described 30% limit.
of Columbia, a U.S. possession (including later, rather than the 30% limit.
Puerto Rico), a political subdivision of a 3) Contributions of capital gain property
state or U.S. possession, or an Indian tri- Student living with you. Amounts you spend subject to the special 30% limit, up to the
bal government or any of its subdivisions on behalf of a student living with you are subject lesser of:
that perform substantial government func- to the 30% limit. These amounts are considered
tions. a contribution for the use of a qualified organi- a) 30% of adjusted gross income, or
6) Corporations, trusts, or community chests, zation.
b) 50% of adjusted gross income minus
funds, or foundations organized and oper- your other contributions to 50% limit orated only for charitable, religious, educa- Special 30% Limit for ganizations.
tional, scientific, or literary purposes, or to Capital Gain Property
prevent cruelty to children or animals, or to 4) Contributions subject to the 20% limit, up
foster certain national or international ama- A special 30% limit applies to gifts of capital gain to the lesser of:
teur sports competition. These organiza- property to 50% limit organizations. (For gifts of
tions must be “publicly supported,” which capital gain property to other organizations, see a) 20% of adjusted gross income,
means they normally must receive a sub- 20% Limit, next.) However, the special 30% limit
b) 30% of adjusted gross income minus
stantial part of their support, other than does not apply when you choose to reduce the
your contributions subject to the 30%
income from their exempt activities, from fair market value of the property by the amount
limit,
direct or indirect contributions from the that would have been long-term capital gain if
general public or from governmental units. you had sold the property. Instead, only the 50% c) 30% of adjusted gross income minus
limit applies. See Capital Gain Property, earlier, your contributions of capital gain prop-
7) Organizations that may not qualify as and Capital gain property election under How To erty subject to the special 30% limit, or
“publicly supported” under (6) but that Figure Your Deduction When Limits Apply, later.
meet other tests showing they respond to d) 50% of adjusted gross income minus
the needs of the general public, not a lim- Two separate 30% limits. This special 30% the total of your contributions to 50%
ited number of donors or other persons. limit for capital gain property is separate from the limit organizations and your contribu-
They must normally receive more than other 30% limit. Therefore, the deduction of a tions subject to the 30% limit.
one-third of their support either from orga- contribution subject to one 30% limit does not
nizations described in (1) through (6), or reduce the amount you can deduct for contribu- If more than one of the limits described
from persons other than “disqualified per- tions subject to the other 30% limit. However, above limit your deduction for charitable contrisons.” the total you deduct cannot be more than 50% of butions, you may want to use the worksheet in
your adjusted gross income. Table 4 on page 17 to figure your deduction and
8) Most organizations operated or controlled your carryover.
by, and operated for the benefit of, those Example. Your adjusted gross income is
organizations described in (1) through (7). $50,000. During the year, you gave capital gain Example. Your adjusted gross income is
9) Private operating foundations. property with a fair market value of $15,000 to a $50,000. During the year, you gave your church
50% limit organization. You do not choose to $2,000 cash and land with a fair market value of
10) Private nonoperating foundations that reduce the property’s fair market value by its $28,000 and a basis of $22,000. You held the
make qualifying distributions of 100% of appreciation in value. You also gave $10,000 land for investment purposes. You do not
contributions within 21/2 months following choose to reduce the fair market value of the
cash to a qualified organization that is not a 50%
the year they receive the contribution. A limit organization. The $15,000 gift of property is land by the appreciation in value. You also gave
deduction for charitable contributions to $5,000 cash to a private foundation to which the
subject to the special 30% limit. The $10,000
any of these private nonoperating founda- cash gift is subject to the other 30% limit. Both 30% limit applies.
tions must be supported by evidence from gifts are fully deductible because neither is more The $2,000 cash donated to the church is
the foundation confirming that it made the than the 30% limit that applies ($15,000 in each considered first and is fully deductible. Your conqualifying distributions timely. Attach a case) and together they are not more than the tribution to the private foundation is considered
copy of this supporting data to your tax 50% limit ($25,000). next. Because your contributions to 50% limit
return.
organizations ($2,000 + $28,000) are more than
11) A private foundation whose contributions 20% Limit $25,000 (50% of $50,000), your contribution to
are pooled into a common fund, if the the private foundation is not deductible for the
foundation would be described in (8) The 20% limit applies to all gifts of capital gain year. It can be carried over to later years. See
above but for the right of substantial con- property to or for the use of qualified organiza- Carryovers, later. The gift of land is considered
tributors to name the public charities that tions (other than gifts of capital gain property to next. Your deduction for the land is limited to
receive contributions from the fund. The 50% limit organizations). $15,000 (30% × $50,000). The unused part of
foundation must distribute the common the gift of land ($13,000) can be carried over.

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194 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Table 3. Filled-In Worksheet for Limit on Deductions
Who can use this worksheet. You can use this worksheet if you made charitable contributions during the year, and one or more of the
limits described in this publication under Limits on Deductions apply to you. You cannot use this worksheet if you have a carryover of a
charitable contribution from an earlier year.

General instructions:
● The terms used in this worksheet are explained earlier in this publication.
● If your answer to any line is less than zero, enter zero.
● For contributions of property, enter the property’s fair market value unless you elected (or were required) to reduce the fair market
value as explained under Giving Property That Has Increased in Value. In that case, enter the reduced amount.

Step 1. List your charitable contributions made during the year.
1. Enter your contributions to 50% limit organizations. (Include contributions of capital gain property if you
reduced the property’s fair market value. Do not include contributions of capital gain property deducted at
fair market value.) 1 2,000
2. Enter your contributions to 50% limit organizations of capital gain property deducted at fair market value 2 28,000
3. Enter your contributions (other than of capital gain property) to qualified organizations that are not 50% limit
organizations 3 5,000
4. Enter your contributions “for the use of” any qualified organization. (But do not enter here any amount that
must be entered on line 6.) 4 -0-
5. Add lines 3 and 4 5 5,000
6. Enter your contributions of capital gain property to or for the use of any qualified organization. (But do not
enter here any amount entered on line 1 or 2.) 6 -0-

Step 2. Figure your deduction for the year and your carryover to the next year.
7. Enter your adjusted gross income 7 50,000
8. Multiply line 7 by 0.5. This is your 50% limit 8 25,000
Deduct Carryover to
Contributions to 50% limit organizations this year next year

9. Enter the smaller of line 1 or line 8 9 2,000
10. Subtract line 9 from line 1 10 -0-
11. Subtract line 9 from line 8 11 23,000

Contributions not to 50% limit organizations
12. Add lines 1 and 2 12 30,000
13. Multiply line 7 by 0.3. This is your 30% limit 13 15,000
14. Subtract line 12 from line 8 14 -0-
15. Enter the smallest of line 5, 13, or 14 15 -0-
16. Subtract line 15 from line 5 16 5,000
17. Subtract line 15 from line 13 17 15,000

Contributions of capital gain property to 50% limit organizations
18. Enter the smallest of line 2, 11, or 13 18 15,000
19. Subtract line 18 from line 2 19 13,000
20. Subtract line 15 from line 14 20 -0-
21. Subtract line 18 from line 13 21 -0-

Contributions of capital gain property not to 50% limit
organizations
22. Multiply line 7 by 0.2. This is your 20% limit 22 10,000
23. Enter the smallest of line 6, 17, 20, 21, or 22 23 -0-
24. Subtract line 23 from line 6 24 -0-

Step 3. Summarize your deductions and carryovers.
25. Add lines 9, 15, 18, and 23. Enter the total here and on Schedule A (Form 1040) 25 17,000
26. Add lines 10, 16, 19, and 24. Enter the total here. Carry it forward to Schedule A next
year 26 18,000

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Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 195
For this year, your deduction is limited to Example 1. Last year, you contributed to use the 50% limit. You must refigure your
$17,000 ($2,000 + $15,000). $11,000 to a 50% limit organization, but be- carryover as if you had taken appreciation into
A Filled-In Worksheet for Limit on Deduc- cause of the limit you deducted only $10,000 account last year as well as this year. Because
tions in Table 3 on page 11 shows this computa- and carried over $1,000 to this year. This year, the amount of your contribution last year would
tion in detail. your adjusted gross income is $20,000 and you have been $20,000 (the property’s basis) incontribute $9,500 to a 50% limit organization. stead of the $15,000 you actually deducted,
Capital gain property election. You may You can deduct $10,000 (50% of $20,000) this your refigured carryover is $5,000 ($20,000 −
choose the 50% limit for gifts of capital gain year. Consequently, in addition to your contribu- $15,000). Your total deduction this year is
property to 50% limit organizations instead of tion of $9,500 for this year, you can deduct $500 $29,000 (your $24,000 current contribution plus
the 30% limit that would otherwise apply. If you of your carryover contribution from last year. your $5,000 carryover).
make this choice, you must reduce the fair mar- You can carry over the $500 balance of your
ket value of the property contributed by the ap- carryover from last year to next year. Additional rules for carryovers. Special
preciation in value that would have been rules exist for computing carryovers if you:
long-term capital gain if the property had been Example 2. This year, your adjusted gross
sold. income is $24,000. You make cash contribu- • Were married in some years but not
This choice applies to all capital gain prop- tions of $6,000 to which the 50% limit applies others,
erty contributed to 50% limit organizations dur- and $3,000 to which the 30% limit applies. You • Had different spouses in different years,
ing a tax year. It also applies to carryovers of this have a contribution carryover from last year of
kind of contribution from an earlier tax year. For $5,000 for capital gain property contributed to a • Change from a separate return to a joint
details, see Carryover of capital gain property, 50% limit organization and subject to the special return in a later year,
later. 30% limit for contributions of capital gain prop- • Change from a joint return to a separate
You must make the choice on your original erty. return in a later year,
return or on an amended return filed by the due Your contribution deduction for this year is
limited to $12,000 (50% of $24,000). Your 50% • Had a net operating loss,
date for filing the original return.
limit cash contributions of $6,000 are fully de- • Claim the standard deduction in a carry-
Example. In the previous example, if you ductible. over year, or
choose to have the 50% limit apply to the land The deduction for your 30% limit contribu-
(the 30% capital gain property) given to your tions of $3,000 is limited to $1,000. This is the • Become a widow or widower.
church, you must reduce the fair market value of lesser of: Because of their complexity and the limited
the property by the appreciation in value. There- number of taxpayers to whom these additional
1) $7,200 (30% of $24,000), or
fore, the amount of your charitable contribution rules apply, they are not discussed in this publifor the land would be its basis to you of $22,000. 2) $1,000 ($12,000 minus $11,000). cation. If you need to compute a carryover and
You add this amount to the $2,000 cash contrib- you are in one of these situations, you may want
(The $12,000 amount is 50% of $24,000, your
uted to the church. You can now deduct $1,000 to consult with a tax practitioner.
adjusted gross income. The $11,000 amount is
of the amount donated to the private foundation
the sum of your current and carryover contribubecause your contributions to 50% limit organitions to 50% limit organizations, $6,000 +
zations ($2,000 + $22,000) are $1,000 less than
$5,000.)
the 50%-of-adjusted-gross-income limit. Your
total deduction for the year is $25,000 ($2,000
The deduction for your $5,000 carryover is
subject to the special 30% limit for contributions
Records To Keep
cash to your church, $22,000 for property
of capital gain property. This means it is limited You must keep records to prove the amount of
donated to your church, and $1,000 cash to the
to the smaller of: the cash and noncash contributions you make
private foundation). You can carry over to later
years the part of your contribution to the private during the year. The kind of records you must
1) $7,200 (your 30% limit), or
foundation that you could not deduct ($4,000). keep depends on the amount of your contribu-
2) $6,000 ($12,000, your 50% limit, minus tions and whether they are cash or noncash
$6,000, the amount of your cash contribu- contributions.
Carryovers tions to 50% limit organizations this year).
Note. An organization generally must give
Since your $5,000 carryover is less than both
You can carry over your contributions that you you a written statement if it receives a payment
$7,200 and $6,000, you can deduct it in full.
are not able to deduct in the current year be- from you that is more than $75 and is partly a
Your deduction is $12,000 ($6,000 + $1,000
cause they exceed your adjusted-gross-income contribution and partly for goods or services.
+ $5,000). You carry over the $2,000 balance of
limits. You can deduct the excess in each of the (See Contributions From Which You Benefit
your 30% limit contributions for this year to next
next 5 years until it is used up, but not beyond under Contributions You Can Deduct, earlier.)
year.
that time. Your total contributions deduction for Keep the statement for your records. It may
the year to which you carry your contributions Carryover of capital gain property. If you satisfy all or part of the recordkeeping requirecannot exceed 50% of your adjusted gross in- carry over contributions of capital gain property ments explained in the following discussions.
come for that year. subject to the special 30% limit and you choose
Contributions you carry over are subject to in the next year to use the 50% limit and take Cash Contributions
the same percentage limits in the year to which appreciation into account, you must refigure the
they are carried. For example, contributions carryover. You reduce the fair market value of Cash contributions include those paid by cash,
subject to the 20% limit in the year in which they the property by the appreciation and reduce that check, credit card, or payroll deduction. They
are made are 20% limit contributions in the year result by the amount actually deducted in the also include your out-of-pocket expenses when
to which they are carried. previous year. donating your services.
For each category of contributions, you de- For a contribution made in cash, the records
duct carryover contributions only after deducting Example. Last year, your adjusted gross in- you must keep depend on whether the contribuall allowable contributions in that category for come was $50,000 and you contributed capital tion is:
the current year. If you have carryovers from 2 or gain property valued at $27,000 to a 50% limit
more prior years, use the carryover from the organization and did not choose to use the 50% 1) Less than $250, or
earlier year first. limit. Your basis in the property was $20,000. 2) $250 or more.
Your deduction was limited to $15,000 (30% of
Note. A carryover of a contribution to a 50% $50,000), and you carried over $12,000. This
limit organization must be used before contribu- year, your adjusted gross income is $60,000 Amount of contribution. In figuring whether
tions in the current year to organizations other and you contribute capital gain property valued your contribution is $250 or more, do not comthan 50% limit organizations. See Example 2 on at $25,000 to a 50% limit organization. Your bine separate contributions. For example, if you
this page. basis in the property is $24,000 and you choose gave your church $25 each week, your weekly

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196 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
payments do not have to be combined. Each If you made more than one contribution of (other than intangible religious benefits)
payment is a separate contribution. $250 or more, you must have either a separate provided to reimburse you, and
If contributions are made by payroll deduc- acknowledgement for each or one acknowld) A statement of any intangible religious
tion, the deduction from each paycheck is edgement that shows your total contributions.
benefits provided to you.
treated as a separate contribution.
If you made a payment that is partly for Acknowledgement. The acknowledgement
goods and services, as described earlier under must meet these tests.
Contributions From Which You Benefit, your Noncash Contributions
contribution is the amount of the payment that is 1) It must be written.
For a contribution not made in cash, the records
more than the value of the goods and services. 2) It must include: you must keep depend on whether your deduction for the contribution is:
a) The amount of cash you contributed,
Contributions of Less Than $250 b) Whether the qualified organization gave 1) Less than $250,
For each cash contribution that is less than you any goods or services as a result of 2) At least $250 but not more than $500,
$250, you must keep one of the following. your contribution (other than certain token items and membership benefits), 3) Over $500 but not more than $5,000, or
1) A canceled check, or a legible and reada- and 4) Over $5,000.
ble account statement that shows: c) A description and good faith estimate of
the value of any goods or services de- Amount of contribution. In figuring whether
a) If payment was by check — the check
scribed in (b). If the only benefit you your contribution is $250 or more, do not comnumber, amount, date posted, and to
received was an intangible religious bine separate contributions. If you got goods or
whom paid,
benefit (such as admission to a relig- services in return, as described earlier in Contrib) If payment was by electronic funds ious ceremony) that generally is not butions From Which You Benefit, reduce your
transfer — the amount, date posted, sold in a commercial transaction contribution by the value of those goods or servand to whom paid, or outside the donative context, the ac- ices. If you figure your deduction by reducing the
knowledgement must say so and does fair market value of the donated property by its
c) If payment was charged to a credit card
not need to describe or estimate the appreciation, as described earlier in Giving
— the amount, transaction date, and to
value of the benefit. Property That Has Increased in Value, your conwhom paid.
tribution is the reduced amount.
2) A receipt (or a letter or other written com- 3) You must get it on or before the earlier of:
munication) from the charitable organiza- a) The date you file your return for the Deductions of Less Than $250
tion showing the name of the organization, year you make the contribution, or
the date of the contribution, and the If you make any noncash contribution, you must
amount of the contribution. b) The due date, including extensions, for get and keep a receipt from the charitable organfiling the return. ization showing:
3) Other reliable written records that include
the information described in (2). Records
1) The name of the charitable organization,
may be considered reliable if they were Payroll deductions. If you make a contribumade at or near the time of the contribu- tion by payroll deduction, you do not need an 2) The date and location of the charitable
tion, were regularly kept by you, or if, in acknowledgement from the qualified organiza- contribution, and
the case of small donations, you have but- tion. But if your employer deducted $250 or 3) A reasonably detailed description of the
tons, emblems, or other tokens, that are more from a single paycheck, you must keep: property.
regularly given to persons making small
cash contributions. 1) A pay stub, Form W – 2, or other document A letter or other written communication from the
furnished by your employer that proves the charitable organization acknowledging receipt
amount withheld, and of the contribution and containing the informa-
Car expenses. If you claim expenses directly
tion in (1), (2), and (3) will serve as a receipt.
related to use of your car in giving services to a 2) A pledge card or other document from the You are not required to have a receipt where
qualified organization, you must keep reliable qualified organization that states the or- it is impractical to get one (for example, if you
written records of your expenses. Whether your ganization does not provide goods or serv- leave property at a charity’s unattended drop
records are considered reliable depends on all ices in return for any contribution made to site).
the facts and circumstances. Generally, they it by payroll deduction.
may be considered reliable if you made them Additional records. You must also keep reliregularly and at or near the time you had the able written records for each item of donated
expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses. If you render serv- property. Your written records must include the
Your records must show the name of the ices to a qualified organization and have un- following information.
organization you were serving and the date reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses related to
each time you used your car for a charitable those services, you can satisfy the written ac- 1) The name and address of the organization
purpose. If you use the standard mileage rate, knowledgement requirement just discussed if: to which you contributed.
your records must show the miles you drove 2) The date and location of the contribution.
1) You have adequate records to prove the
your car for the charitable purpose. If you deduct
amount of the expenses, and 3) A description of the property in detail reayour actual expenses, your records must show
the costs of operating the car that are directly 2) By the required date, you get an acknowl- sonable under the circumstances. For a
related to a charitable purpose. edgement from the qualified organization security, keep the name of the issuer, the
See Car expenses under Out-of-Pocket Ex- that contains: type of security, and whether it is regularly
penses in Giving Services, earlier, for the ex- traded on a stock exchange or in an
penses you can deduct. a) A description of the services you pro- over-the-counter market.
vided,
4) The fair market value of the property at the
b) A statement of whether or not the or- time of the contribution and how you fig-
Contributions of $250 or More ganization provided you any goods or ured the fair market value. If it was deterservices to reimburse you for the ex- mined by appraisal, you should also keep
You can claim a deduction for a contribution of
penses you incurred, a signed copy of the appraisal.
$250 or more only if you have an acknowledgement of your contribution from the qualified or- c) A description and a good faith estimate 5) The cost or other basis of the property if
ganization or certain payroll deduction records. of the value of any goods or services you must reduce its fair market value by

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Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 197
appreciation. Your records should also in- 3) You must get it on or before the earlier of:
clude the amount of the reduction and how
you figured it. If you choose the 50% limit a) The date you file your return for the
How To Report
instead of the special 30% limit on certain year you make the contribution, or
Report your charitable contributions on Schedcapital gain property (discussed under b) The due date, including extensions, for ule A of Form 1040.
Capital gain property election, earlier), you filing the return. If you made noncash contributions, you may
must keep a record showing the years for also be required to fill out parts of Form 8283.
which you made the choice, contributions See Noncash contributions, later.
for the current year to which the choice
applies, and carryovers from preceding Reporting expenses for student living with
Deductions Over $500 you. If you claim amounts paid for a student
years to which the choice applies. But Not Over $5,000 who lives with you, as described earlier under
6) The amount you claim as a deduction for Expenses Paid for Student Living With You, you
If you claim a deduction over $500 but not over
the tax year as a result of the contribution, must submit with your return:
$5,000 for a noncash charitable contribution,
if you contribute less than your entire interyou must have the acknowledgement and writ- 1) A copy of your agreement with the organiest in the property during the tax year.
ten records described under Deductions of At zation sponsoring the student placed in
Your records must include the amount you
Least $250 But Not More Than $500. Your rec- your household,
claimed as a deduction in any earlier years
ords must also include:
for contributions of other interests in this 2) A summary of the various items you paid
property. They must also include the name 1) How you got the property, for example, by to maintain the student, and
and address of each organization to which purchase, gift, bequest, inheritance, or exyou contributed the other interests, the change. 3) A statement that gives:
place where any such tangible property is
located or kept, and the name of any per- 2) The approximate date you got the property a) The date the student became a memson in possession of the property, other or, if created, produced, or manufactured ber of your household,
than the organization to which you contrib- by or for you, the approximate date the b) The dates of his or her full-time attenduted. property was substantially completed. ance at school, and
7) The terms of any conditions attached to 3) The cost or other basis, and any adjust- c) The name and location of the school.
the gift of property. ments to the basis, of property held less
than 12 months and, if available, the cost
or other basis of property held 12 months Noncash contributions. If your total deducor more. This requirement, however, does tion for all noncash contributions for the year is
Deductions of At Least $250 not apply to publicly traded securities. over $500, you must complete Section A of
But Not More Than $500 Form 8283, and attach it to your Form 1040.
If you are not able to provide information on However, do not complete Section A for items
If you claim a deduction of at least $250 but not either the date you got the property or the cost you must report on Section B. See Deduction
more than $500 for a noncash charitable contri- basis of the property and you have a reasonable over $5,000 for one item, next, for the items you
bution, you must get and keep an acknowledge- cause for not being able to provide this informa- must report on Section B.
ment of your contribution from the qualified tion, attach a statement of explanation to your The Internal Revenue Service can disallow
organization. If you made more than one contri- return. your deduction for noncash charitable contribubution of $250 or more, you must have either a tions if it is more than $500 and you do not
separate acknowledgement for each or one ac- submit a required Form 8283 with your return.
knowledgement that shows your total contribu- Deductions Over $5,000
tions. Deduction over $5,000 for one item. You
The acknowledgement must contain the in- If you claim a deduction of over $5,000 for a must complete Section B of Form 8283 for each
formation in items (1) through (3) listed under charitable contribution of one property item or a item or group of items for which you claim a
Deductions of Less Than $250, earlier, and your group of similar property items, you must have deduction of over $5,000. (However, if you conwritten records must include the information the acknowledgement and the written records tributed certain publicly traded securities, comlisted in that discussion under Additional rec- described under Deductions Over $500 But Not plete Section A instead.) In figuring whether
ords. Over $5,000. In figuring whether your deduction your deduction is over $5,000, combine the
The acknowledgement must also meet these is over $5,000, combine your claimed deduc- claimed deductions for all similar items donated
tests. tions for all similar items donated to any charita- to any charitable organization during the year.
ble organization during the year. The organization that received the property
1) It must be written. Generally, you must also obtain a qualified must complete and sign Part IV of Section B.
written appraisal of the donated property from a
2) It must include: Form 8282. If an organization, within 2 years
qualified appraiser. See Deductions of More
Than $5,000 in Publication 561 for more infor- after the date of receipt of a contribution of
a) A description (but not necessarily the property for which it was required to sign a Form
value) of any property you contributed, mation.
8283, sells, exchanges, or otherwise disposes
b) Whether the qualified organization gave Qualified conservation contribution. If of the property, the organization must file an
you any goods or services as a result of the gift was a “qualified conservation contribu- information return with the Internal Revenue
your contribution (other than certain to- tion,” your records must also include the fair Service on Form 8282, Donee Information Reken items and membership benefits), market value of the underlying property before turn, and send you a copy of the form. However,
and and after the gift and the conservation purpose if you have informed the organization that the
furthered by the gift. See Qualified conservation appraised value of the donated item, or a spec) A description and good faith estimate of contribution in Publication 561 for more informa- cific item within a group of similar items, is $500
the value of any goods or services de- tion. or less, the organization is not required to make
scribed in (b). If the only benefit you a report on its sale of that item. For this purpose,
received was an intangible religious all shares of nonpublicly traded stock or securibenefit (such as admission to a relig- ties, or items that form a set, are considered to
ious ceremony) that generally is not be one item.
sold in a commercial transaction
outside the donative context, the acknowledgement must say so and does
not need to describe or estimate the
value of the benefit.

Page 14

198 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
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• Download forms, instructions, and publica- available because you will need to know • Current-year forms, instructions, and pubtions. your filing status and the exact whole dol- lications.
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Page 15

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 199
Buy the CD-ROM from National Technical In- business. This handy, interactive CD contains and quick and incorporates file formats and
formation Service (NTIS) on the Internet at all the business tax forms, instructions and pub- browsers that can be run on virtually any
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and the final release is available in late Febru- ing for your business, and much more. The deary. sign of the CD makes finding information easy

CD-ROM for small businesses. IRS
Publication 3207, Small Business Resource Guide, is a must for every small
business owner or any taxpayer about to start a

Page 16

200 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
200 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Table 4. Worksheet for Limit on Deductions
Who can use this worksheet. You can use this worksheet if you made charitable contributions during the year, and one or more of the
limits described in this publication under Limits on Deductions apply to you. You cannot use this worksheet if you have a carryover of a
charitable contribution from an earlier year.

General instructions:
● The terms used in this worksheet are explained earlier in this publication.
● If your answer to any line is less than zero, enter zero.
● For contributions of property, enter the property’s fair market value unless you elected (or were required) to reduce the fair market
value as explained under Giving Property That Has Increased in Value. In that case, enter the reduced amount.

Step 1. List your charitable contributions made during the year.
1. Enter your contributions to 50% limit organizations. (Include contributions of capital gain property if you
reduced the property’s fair market value. Do not include contributions of capital gain property deducted at
fair market value.) 1
2. Enter your contributions to 50% limit organizations of capital gain property deducted at fair market value 2

3. Enter your contributions (other than of capital gain property) to qualified organizations that are not 50% limit
organizations 3

4. Enter your contributions “for the use of” any qualified organization. (But do not enter here any amount that
must be entered on line 6.) 4
5. Add lines 3 and 4 5

6. Enter your contributions of capital gain property to or for the use of any qualified organization. (But do not
enter here any amount entered on line 1 or 2.) 6

Step 2. Figure your deduction for the year and your carryover to the next year.
7. Enter your adjusted gross income 7
8. Multiply line 7 by 0.5. This is your 50% limit 8
Deduct Carryover to
Contributions to 50% limit organizations this year next year

9. Enter the smaller of line 1 or line 8 9
10. Subtract line 9 from line 1 10
11. Subtract line 9 from line 8 11

Contributions not to 50% limit organizations
12. Add lines 1 and 2 12
13. Multiply line 7 by 0.3. This is your 30% limit 13
14. Subtract line 12 from line 8 14
15. Enter the smallest of line 5, 13, or 14 15
16. Subtract line 15 from line 5 16
17. Subtract line 15 from line 13 17

Contributions of capital gain property to 50% limit organizations
18. Enter the smallest of line 2, 11, or 13 18
19. Subtract line 18 from line 2 19
20. Subtract line 15 from line 14 20
21. Subtract line 18 from line 13 21

Contributions of capital gain property not to 50% limit
organizations
22. Multiply line 7 by 0.2. This is your 20% limit 22
23. Enter the smallest of line 6, 17, 20, 21, or 22 23
24. Subtract line 23 from line 6 24

Step 3. Summarize your deductions and carryovers.
25. Add lines 9, 15, 18, and 23. Enter the total here and on Schedule A (Form 1040) 25

26. Add lines 10, 16, 19, and 24. Enter the total here. Carry it forward to Schedule A next
year 26

Page 17

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 201
To help us develop a more useful index, please let us know if you have ideas for index entries.
Index See “Comments and Suggestions” in the “Introduction” for the ways you can reach us.

A Foreign organizations: Nonqualified Records to keep . . . . . . . . 12
Acknowledgement . . . . . . . 13 Canadian . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 organizations . . . . . . . . . . 6 Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Adoption expenses . . . . . . . 6 Israeli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Retirement home . . . . . . . . . 6
Appraisal fees . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Mexican . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 O Right to use property . . . . . . 7
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Assistance (See Tax help) Ordinary income property . . . 8
Form:
Athletic events . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Organizations: S
8282 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Services, value of . . . . . . . . 6
8283 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
B Nonqualified . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Split-dollar insurance
Foster parents . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Qualified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 arrangements . . . . . . . . . . 6
Bar association . . . . . . . . . . 6 Free tax services . . . . . . . . 15 Out-of-pocket expenses . . 4, 9 Student:
Bargain sales . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Future interests in
Benefits received from property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Exchange program . . . . . . . 4
contribution . . . . . . . . . 3, 6 P Living with you . . . . . . . . 4, 10
Blood donated . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Partial interests in Suggestions for
H property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 publication . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Boats, fair market value . . . . 7 Help (See Tax help)
Penalty, valuation
Household goods, fair overstatement . . . . . . . . . 9
C market value of . . . . . . . . . 7
T
Property: Tax help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Capital gain property . . . . . . 8 How to report: Bargain sales . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Taxpayer Advocate . . . . . . 15
Car expenses . . . . . . . . . 4, 13 Noncash contributions . . . . 14 Basis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Carryovers . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Student living with you . . . . 14 Time, value of . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Capital gain . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cars, fair market value . . . . . 7 Token items . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Capital gain election . . . . . 12
Travel expenses . . . . . . . . . 5
Cash contributions, records I Contributions of . . . . . . . . . 6
to keep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Decreased in value . . . . . . . 8 TTY/TDD information . . . . . 15
Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Charitable contribution, Fair market value . . . . . . . . 7 Tuition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Future interests . . . . . . . . . 7
L Increased in value . . . . . . . 8
Charity benefit events . . . . . 3
Legislation, influencing . . . . 6
U
Church deacon . . . . . . . . . . 4 Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Underprivileged youths . . . . 4
Limits on deductions . . . . . . 9 Ordinary income . . . . . . . . . 8
Clothing, fair market value Uniforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Partial interests . . . . . . . . . 7
Right to use . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Use of property donated . . . . 7
Comments on publication . . . 1 M
Meals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Subject to debt . . . . . . . . . . 7
Contributions from which Unrelated use . . . . . . . . . . 8 V
you benefit . . . . . . . . . . 3, 6 Membership fees or dues . . . 3
Publication 78 . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Contributions of property . . . 6 More information (See Tax help)
Publications (See Tax help)
Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
N W
Noncash contributions:
Q When to deduct . . . . . . . . . . 9
D Qualified organizations . . . . 2
Deduction limits . . . . . . . . . 9 How to report . . . . . . . . . . 14 ■
Records to keep . . . . . . . . 13
Nondeductible R
F contributions . . . . . . . . . . 5 Raffle or bingo . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Fair market value . . . . . . . . . 7

Page 18

202 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
202 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
See How To Get Tax Help for a variety of ways to get publications, including
Tax Publications for Individual Taxpayers by computer, phone, and mail.

General Guides 531 Reporting Tip Income 907 Tax Highlights for Persons with
1 Your Rights as a Taxpayer 533 Self-Employment Tax Disabilities
17 Your Federal Income Tax (For 536 Net Operating Losses (NOLs) for 908 Bankruptcy Tax Guide
Individuals) Individuals, Estates, and Trusts 911 Direct Sellers
334 Tax Guide for Small Business (For 537 Installment Sales 915 Social Security and Equivalent
Individuals Who Use Schedule C or 541 Partnerships Railroad Retirement Benefits
C-EZ) 544 Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets 919 How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding?
509 Tax Calendars for 2004 547 Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts 925 Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules
553 Highlights of 2003 Tax Changes 550 Investment Income and Expenses 926 Household Employer’s Tax Guide
910 Guide to Free Tax Services 551 Basis of Assets 929 Tax Rules for Children and
552 Recordkeeping for Individuals Dependents
Specialized Publications 936 Home Mortgage Interest Deduction
554 Older Americans’ Tax Guide
3 Armed Forces’ Tax Guide 555 Community Property 946 How To Depreciate Property
54 Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and 556 Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights, 947 Practice Before the IRS and
Residents Aliens Abroad and Claims for Refund Power of Attorney
225 Farmer’s Tax Guide 559 Survivors, Executors, and 950 Introduction to Estate and Gift Taxes
378 Fuel Tax Credits and Refunds Administrators 967 The IRS Will Figure Your Tax
463 Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car 561 Determining the Value of Donated 968 Tax Benefits for Adoption
Expenses Property 969 Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs)
501 Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and 564 Mutual Fund Distributions 970 Tax Benefits for Education
Filing Information 570 Tax Guide for Individuals With Income 971 Innocent Spouse Relief
502 Medical and Dental Expenses (Including From U.S. Possessions 972 Child Tax Credit
the Health Coverage Tax Credit) 571 Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plans (403(b) 1542 Per Diem Rates
503 Child and Dependent Care Expenses Plans) 1544 Reporting Cash Payments of Over
504 Divorced or Separated Individuals 575 Pension and Annuity Income $10,000 (Received in a Trade or
505 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax 584 Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Business)
514 Foreign Tax Credit for Individuals Workbook (Personal-Use Property) 1546 The Taxpayer Advocate Service
516 U.S. Government Civilian Employees 587 Business Use of Your Home (Including of the IRS
Stationed Abroad Use by Daycare Providers)
517 Social Security and Other Information 590 Individual Retirement Arrangements Spanish Language Publications
for Members of the Clergy and (IRAs) 1SP Derechos del Contribuyente
Religious Workers 593 Tax Highlights for U.S. Citizens and 579SP Cómo Preparar la Declaración de
519 U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens Residents Going Abroad Impuesto Federal
521 Moving Expenses 594 What You Should Know About the IRS 594SP Comprendiendo el Proceso de Cobro
523 Selling Your Home Collection Process 596SP Crédito por Ingreso del Trabajo
524 Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled 595 Tax Highlights for Commercial 850 English-Spanish Glossary of Words
525 Taxable and Nontaxable Income Fishermen and Phrases Used in Publications
526 Charitable Contributions 596 Earned Income Credit (EIC) Issued by the Internal Revenue
527 Residential Rental Property 721 Tax Guide to U.S. Civil Service Service
529 Miscellaneous Deductions Retirement Benefits 1544SP Informe de Pagos en Efectivo en
530 Tax Information for First-Time 901 U.S. Tax Treaties Exceso de $10,000 (Recibidos en
Homeowners una Ocupación o Negocio)

See How To Get Tax Help for a variety of ways to get forms, including by computer, fax, phone,
Commonly Used Tax Forms and mail. For fax orders only, use the catalog number when ordering.

Catalog Catalog
Form Number and Title Number Form Number and Title Number
1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return 11320 2106 Employee Business Expenses 11700
Sch A&B Itemized Deductions & Interest and 11330 2106-EZ Unreimbursed Employee Business 20604
Ordinary Dividends Expenses
Sch C Profit or Loss From Business 11334 2210 Underpayment of Estimated Tax by 11744
Sch C-EZ Net Profit From Business 14374 Individuals, Estates, and Trusts
Sch D Capital Gains and Losses 11338 2441 Child and Dependent Care Expenses 11862
Sch D-1 Continuation Sheet for Schedule D 10424 2848 Power of Attorney and Declaration of 11980
Sch E Supplemental Income and Loss 11344 Representative
Sch EIC Earned Income Credit 13339 3903 Moving Expenses 12490
Sch F Profit or Loss From Farming 4562 Depreciation and Amortization 12906
11346
Sch H Household Employment Taxes 12187 4868 Application for Automatic Extension of Time 13141
Sch J Farm Income Averaging To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
25513
4952 Investment Interest Expense Deduction 13177
Sch R Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled 11359
5329 Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (Including 13329
Sch SE Self-Employment Tax 11358
IRAs) and Other Tax-Favored Accounts
1040A U.S. Individual Income Tax Return 11327
6251 Alternative Minimum Tax—Individuals 13600
Sch 1 Interest and Ordinary Dividends for 12075
Form 1040A Filers 8283 Noncash Charitable Contributions 62299
Sch 2 Child and Dependent Care 10749 8582 Passive Activity Loss Limitations 63704
Expenses for Form 1040A Filers 8606 Nondeductible IRAs 63966
Sch 3 Credit for the Elderly or the 12064 8812 Additional Child Tax Credit 10644
Disabled for Form 1040A Filers 8822 Change of Address 12081
1040EZ Income Tax Return for Single and 11329 8829 Expenses for Business Use of Your Home 13232
Joint Filers With No Dependents 8863 Education Credits 25379
1040-ES Estimated Tax for Individuals 11340 9465 Installment Agreement Request 14842
1040X Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return 11360

Page 19

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 203
Contents
Publication 561 Introduction ........................................ 1
(Rev. February 2000)
Department Cat. No. 15109Q What Is Fair Market Value (FMV)? .... 2
of the Cost or Selling Price of the Donated
Treasury Property ................................... 2

Internal
Revenue
Determining Sales of Comparable Properties ....
Replacement Cost ..........................
Opinions of Experts ........................
Service
the Value of Problems in Determining Fair Market
Value ........................................ 3

Donated Valuation of Various Kinds of
Property ........................................
Household Goods ...........................
Used Clothing ................................. 4
Property Jewelry and Gems ..........................
Paintings, Antiques, and Other
Objects of Art ...........................

Collections ...................................... 4
Cars, Boats, and Aircraft ................ 5
Inventory ......................................... 5
Stocks and Bonds ........................... 5
Real Estate ..................................... 6
Interest in a Business ..................... 6
Annuities, Interests for Life or Terms
of Years, Remainders, and
Reversions ............................... 6
Certain Life Insurance and Annuity
Contracts .................................. 7
Partial Interest in Property Not in
Trust ......................................... 7

Appraisals ........................................... 8
Deductions of More Than $5,000 ... 8
Qualified Appraisal .......................... 8
Appraisal Summary ........................ 9
Internal Revenue Service Review of
Appraisals ................................ 10

Penalties .............................................. 10

How To Get More Information .......... 10

Index .................................................... 11

Introduction
This publication is designed to help donors
and appraisers determine the value of property (other than cash) that is given to qualified
organizations. It also explains what kind of
information you must have to support the
charitable contribution deduction you claim
on your return.
This publication does not discuss how to
figure the amount of your deduction for charitable contributions or written records and
substantiation required. See Publication 526,
Charitable Contributions, for this information.

Useful Items
You may want to see:

Publication
 526 Charitable Contributions
 535 Business Expenses

Form (and Instructions)
 8282 Donee Information Return
 8283 Noncash Charitable Contributions

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 205
See How To Get More Information, near In the following tax year, the university therefore, the best evidence of the maximum
the end of this publication, for information exercises the option. The FMV of the property FMV of the gems.
about getting these publications and forms. on the date the option is exercised is $55,000.
Therefore, you have made a charitable con- Terms of the purchase or sale. The terms
tribution of $15,000 ($55,000, the FMV, minus of the purchase or sale should be considered
$40,000, the exercise price) in the tax year in determining FMV if they influenced the
What Is Fair the option is exercised. price. These terms include any restrictions,
understandings, or covenants limiting the use
Market Value (FMV)? Determining
or disposition of the property.
To figure how much you may deduct for
property that you contribute, you must first Fair Market Value Rate of increase or decrease in value.
Unless you can show that there were unusual
determine its fair market value on the date of Determining the value of donated property
circumstances, it is assumed that the inthe contribution. would be a simple matter if you could rely only
crease or decrease in the value of your doon fixed formulas, rules, or methods. Usually
nated property from your cost has been at a
Fair market value. Fair market value (FMV) it is not that simple. Using such formulas, etc.,
reasonable rate. For time adjustments, an
is the price that property would sell for on the seldom results in an acceptable determination
appraiser may consider published price inopen market. It is the price that would be of FMV. There is no single formula that aldexes for information on general price trends,
agreed on between a willing buyer and a ways applies when determining the value of
building costs, commodity costs, securities,
willing seller, with neither being required to property.
and works of art sold at auction in arm'sact, and both having reasonable knowledge This is not to say that a valuation is only
length sales.
of the relevant facts. If you put a restriction guesswork. You must consider all the facts
on the use of property you donate, the FMV and circumstances connected with the prop- Example. Bill Brown bought a painting for
must reflect that restriction. erty, such as its desirability, use, and scarcity. $10,000. Thirteen months later he gave it to
For example, donated furniture should not an art museum, claiming a charitable de-
Example 1. If you give used clothing to be evaluated at some fixed rate such as 15% duction of $15,000 on his tax return. The apthe Salvation Army, the FMV would be the of the cost of new replacement furniture. praisal of the painting should include inforprice that typical buyers actually pay for When the furniture is contributed, it may be mation showing that there were unusual
clothing of this age, condition, style, and use. out of style or in poor condition, therefore circumstances that justify a 50% increase in
Usually, such items are worth far less than having little or no market value. On the other value for the 13 months Bill held the property.
what you paid for them. hand, it may be an antique, the value of which
Example 2. If you donate land and restrict could not be determined by using any for- Arm's-length offer. An arm's-length offer to
its use to agricultural purposes, you must mula. buy the property close to the valuation date
value the land at its value for agricultural may help to prove its value if the person
purposes, even though it would have a higher Cost or Selling Price of making the offer was willing and able to
FMV if it were not restricted. complete the transaction. To rely on an offer,
the Donated Property you should be able to show proof of the offer
Factors. In making and supporting the Your cost of the property or the actual selling and the specific amount to be paid. Offers to
valuation of property, all factors affecting price received by the qualified organization buy property other than the donated item will
value are relevant and must be considered. may be the best indication of its FMV. How- help to determine value if the other property
These include: ever, because conditions in the market is reasonably similar to the donated property.
change, the cost or selling price of property
1) The cost or selling price of the item, may have less weight if the property was not
bought or sold reasonably close to the date Sales of Comparable
2) Sales of comparable properties,
of contribution. Properties
3) Replacement cost, and The cost or selling price is a good indi- The sales prices of properties similar to the
4) Opinions of experts. cation of the property's value if: donated property are often important in determining the FMV. The weight to be given to
These factors are discussed later. Also, 1) The purchase or sale took place close each sale depends on the following:
see Table 1 for a summary of questions to to the valuation date in an open market,
ask as you consider each factor. 1) The degree of similarity between the
2) The purchase or sale was at “arm'sproperty sold and the donated property.
length,”
Date of contribution. Ordinarily, the date 2) The time of the sale—whether it was
of a contribution is the date that the transfer 3) The buyer and seller knew all relevant close to the valuation date.
of the property takes place. facts,
Stock. If you deliver, without any condi- 3) The circumstances of the sale—whether
4) The buyer and seller did not have to act, it was at arm's-length with a knowledgetions, a properly endorsed stock certificate to and
a qualified organization or to an agent of the able buyer and seller, with neither having
organization, the date of the contribution is 5) The market did not change between the to act.
the date of delivery. If the certificate is mailed date of purchase or sale and the valu- 4) The conditions of the market in which the
and received through the regular mail, it is the ation date. sale was made—whether unusually indate of mailing. If you deliver the certificate flated or deflated.
to a bank or broker acting as your agent or Example. Tom Morgan, who is not a
to the issuing corporation or its agent, for dealer in gems, bought an assortment of The comparable sales method of valuing real
transfer into the name of the organization, the gems for $5,000 from a promoter. The estate is explained later under Valuation of
date of the contribution is the date the stock promoter claimed that the price was “whole- Various Kinds of Property.
is transferred on the books of the corporation. sale” even though he and other dealers made
Options. If you grant an option to a qual- similar sales at similar prices to other persons Example 1. Mary Black, who is not a book
ified organization to purchase real property, who were not dealers. The promoter said that dealer, paid a promoter $10,000 for 500
you have not made a charitable contribution if Tom kept the gems for more than one year copies of a single edition of a modern transuntil the organization exercises the option. and then gave them to charity, Tom could lation of the Bible. The promoter had claimed
The amount of the contribution is the FMV of claim a charitable deduction of $15,000, that the price was considerably less than the
the property on the date the option is exer- which, according to the promoter, would be “retail” price, and gave her a statement that
cised minus the exercise price. the value of the gems at the time of contri- the books had a total retail value of $30,000.
bution. Tom gave the gems to a qualified The promoter advised her that if she kept the
Example. You grant an option to a local charity 13 months after buying them. Bibles for more than one year and then gave
university, which is a qualified organization, The selling price for these gems had not them to a qualified organization, she could
to purchase real property. Under the option, changed from the date of purchase to the claim a charitable deduction for the “retail”
the university could purchase the property at date he donated them to charity. The best price of $30,000. Thirteen months later she
any time during a 2-year period for $40,000. evidence of FMV depends on actual trans- gave all the Bibles to a church that she se-
The FMV of the property on the date the op- actions and not on some artificial estimate. lected from a list provided by the promoter.
tion is granted is $50,000. The $5,000 charged Tom and others is, At the time of her donation, wholesale dealers
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206 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
were selling similar quantities of Bibles to the Table 1. Determining FMV
general public for $10,000.
The FMV of the Bibles is $10,000, the
price at which similar quantities of Bibles were When you use this
being sold to others at the time of the contri- factor: You should consider these questions:
bution.
Cost or Selling Was the purchase or sale of the property reasonably close to the
Example 2. Assume the same facts as in Price date of contribution?
Example 1, except that the promoter gave
Mary Black a second option. The promoter Was any increase or decrease in value, as compared to your cost,
said that if Mary wanted a charitable de- at a reasonable rate?
duction within one year of the purchase, she
could buy the 500 Bibles at the “retail” price Do the terms of purchase or sale limit what can be done with the
of $30,000, paying only $10,000 in cash and property?
giving a promissory note for the remaining
$20,000. The principal and interest on the Was there an arm’s length offer to buy the property close to the
note would not be due for 12 years. According valuation date?
to the promoter, Mary could then, within one
year of the purchase, give the Bibles to a
qualified organization and claim the full Sales of How similar is the property sold to the property donated?
$30,000 retail price as a charitable contribu- Comparable
tion. She purchased the Bibles under the Properties How close is the date of sale to the valuation date?
second option and, 3 months later, gave them
Was the sale at arm’s length?
to a church, which will use the books for
church purposes. What was the condition of the market at the time of sale?
At the time of the gift, the promoter was
selling similar lots of Bibles for either $10,000
or $30,000. The difference between the two Replacement Cost What would it cost to replace the donated property?
prices was solely at the discretion of the
buyer. The promoter was a willing seller for Is there a reasonable relationship between replacement cost and
$10,000. Therefore, the value of Mary's con- FMV?
tribution of the Bibles is $10,000, the amount
at which similar lots of Bibles could be pur- Is the supply of the donated property more or less than the
chased from the promoter by members of the demand for it?
general public.
Opinions of Experts Is the expert knowledgeable and competent?

Replacement Cost Is the opinion thorough and supported by facts and experience?
The cost of buying, building, or manufacturing
property similar to the donated item should Example. You give a rare, old book to
be considered in determining FMV. However, Problems in Determining your former college. The book is a third edithere must be a reasonable relationship be- Fair Market Value tion and is in poor condition because of a
tween the replacement cost and the FMV. missing back cover. You discover that there
The replacement cost is the amount it There are a number of problems in determining the FMV of donated property. was a sale for $300, near the valuation date,
would cost to replace the donated item on the of a first edition of the book that was in good
valuation date. Often there is no relationship condition. Although the contents are the
between the replacement cost and the FMV. same, the books are not at all similar because
If the supply of the donated property is more Unusual Market of the different editions and their physical
or less than the demand for it, the replace- Conditions condition. Little consideration would be given
ment cost becomes less important. The sale price of the property itself in an to the selling price of the $300 property by
To determine the replacement cost of the arm's-length transaction in an open market is knowledgeable buyers or sellers.
donated property, find the “estimated re- often the best evidence of its value. When you
placement cost new.” Then subtract from this rely on sales of comparable property, the
figure an amount for depreciation due to the sales must have been made in an open mar- Future Events
physical condition and obsolescence of the ket. If those sales were made in a market that You may not consider unexpected events
donated property. You should be able to show was artificially supported or stimulated so as happening after your donation of property in
the relationship between the depreciated re- not to be truly representative, the prices at making the valuation. You may consider only
placement cost and the FMV, as well as how which the sales were made will not indicate the facts known at the time of the gift, and
you arrived at the “estimated replacement the FMV. those that could be reasonably expected at
cost new.” For example, liquidation sale prices usu- the time of the gift.
ally do not indicate the FMV. Also, sales of
stock under unusual circumstances, such as Example. You give farmland to a qualified
Opinions of Experts sales of small lots, forced sales, and sales in charity. The transfer provides that your
a restricted market, may not represent the mother will have the right to all income and
Generally, the weight given to an expert's FMV.
opinion on matters such as the authenticity full use of the property for her life. Even
of a coin or a work of art, or the most profit- though your mother dies one week after the
able and best use of a piece of real estate, transfer, the value of the property on the date
depends on the knowledge and competence
Selection of it is given is its present value, subject to the
of the expert and the thoroughness with which Comparable Sales life interest as estimated from actuarial tables.
the opinion is supported by experience and You may not take a higher deduction because
Using sales of comparable property is an imfacts. For an expert's opinion to deserve the charity received full use and possession
portant method for determining the FMV of
much weight, the facts must support the of the land only one week after the transfer.
donated property. However, the amount of
opinion. For additional information, see Ap- weight given to a sale depends on the degree
praisals, later. of similarity between the comparable and the Using Past Events to
donated properties. The degree of similarity
must be close enough so that this selling price Predict the Future
would have been given consideration by rea- A common error is to rely too much on past
sonably well-informed buyers or sellers of the events that do not fairly reflect the probable
property. future earnings and FMV.
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Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 207
Example. You give all your rights in a ability of such art would usually be given more
successful patent to your favorite charity.
Paintings, Antiques, weight than the opinions of more generalized
Your records show that before the valuation and Other Objects of Art art dealers or appraisers. They can report
date there were three stages in the patent's Your deduction for contributions of paintings, more recent comparable sales to support their
history of earnings. First, there was rapid antiques, and other objects of art, should be opinion.
growth in earnings when the invention was supported by a written appraisal from a qual- To identify and locate experts on unique,
introduced. Then, there was a period of high ified and reputable source, unless the de- specialized items or collections, you may wish
earnings when the invention was being ex- duction is $5,000 or less. Examples of infor- to use the current Official Museum Directory
ploited. Finally, there was a decline in mation that should be included in appraisals of the American Association of Museums. It
earnings when competing inventions were of art objects—paintings in particular—are lists museums both by state and by category.
introduced. The entire history of earnings may found later under Qualified Appraisal. To help you locate a qualified appraiser for
be relevant in estimating the future earnings. your donation, you may wish to ask an art
However, the appraiser must not rely too Art valued at $20,000 or more. If you claim historian at a nearby college or the director
much on the stage of rapid growth in a deduction of $20,000 or more for donations or curator of a local museum. The Yellow
earnings, or of high earnings. The market of art, you must attach a complete copy of the Pages often list specialized art and antique
conditions at those times do not represent the signed appraisal to your return. For individual dealers, auctioneers, and art appraisers. You
condition of the market at the valuation date. objects valued at $20,000 or more, a photo- may also contact associations of dealers for
What is most significant is the trend of decline graph of a size and quality fully showing the guidance.
in earnings up to the valuation date. object, preferably an 8 x 10 inch color photograph or a color transparency no smaller than Collections
4 x 5 inches, must be provided upon request.
Since many kinds of hobby collections may
be the subject of a charitable donation, it is
Art valued at $50,000 or more. If you donot possible to discuss all of the possible
nate an item of art that has been appraised
collectibles in this publication. Most common
at $50,000 or more, you can request a
Valuation of Various Statement of Value for that item from the
are rare books, autographs, manuscripts,
stamps, coins, guns, phonograph records,
IRS. You must request the statement before
Kinds of Property filing the tax return that reports the donation.
and natural history items. Many of the elements of valuation that apply to paintings and
This section contains information on deter- Your request must include the following:
other objects of art, discussed earlier, also
mining the FMV of ordinary kinds of donated 1) A copy of a qualified appraisal of the apply to miscellaneous collections.
property. For information on appraisals, see item (see Qualified Appraisal, later.)
Appraisals, later. Reference material. Publications available to
2) A $2,500 check or money order payable help you determine the value of many kinds
to the Internal Revenue Service for the of collections include catalogs, dealers' price
user fee that applies to your request re- lists, and specialized hobby periodicals.
Household Goods garding one, two, or three items of art When using one of these price guides, you
The FMV of used household goods, such as (add $250 for each item in excess of must use the current edition at the date of
furniture, appliances, and linens, is usually three). contribution. However, these sources are not
much lower than the price paid when new. 3) A completed appraisal summary (Sec- always reliable indicators of FMV and should
Such used property may have little or no tion B of Form 8283, Noncash Charitable be supported by other evidence.
market value because of its worn condition. Contributions.) For example, a dealer may sell an item for
It may be out of style or no longer useful. much less than is shown on a price list, par-
If the property is valuable because it is old 4) The location of the IRS District Office ticularly after the item has remained unsold
or unique, see the discussion under that has examination responsibility for for a long time. The price an item sold for in
Paintings, Antiques, and Other Objects of your area. an auction may have been the result of a
Art. rigged sale or a mere bidding duel. The ap-
If your request lacks essential information, praiser must analyze the reference material,
you will be notified and given 30 days to pro- and recognize and make adjustments for
vide the missing information. misleading entries. If you are donating a val-
Used Clothing Refunds. You can withdraw your request uable collection, you should get an appraisal.
for a Statement of Value at any time before If your donation appears to be of little value,
Used clothing and other personal items are it is issued. However, the IRS will not refund you may be able to make a satisfactory valuusually worth far less than the price you paid the user fee if you do. ation using reference materials available at a
for them. Valuation of items of clothing does If the IRS declines to issue a Statement state, city, college, or museum library.
not lend itself to fixed formulas or methods. of Value in the interest of efficient tax admin-
The price that buyers of used items actu- istration, the IRS will refund the user fee.
ally pay in used clothing stores, such as Stamp collections. Most libraries have catconsignment or thrift shops, is an indication alogs or other books that report the publish-
Authenticity. The authenticity of the donated er's estimate of values. Generally, two price
of the value. art must be determined by the appraiser.
For valuable furs or very expensive levels are shown for each stamp: the price
Certificates of authenticity may be useful, but postmarked and the price not postmarked.
gowns, an appraisal summary may have to this depends on the genuineness of the cerbe sent with your tax return. Stamp dealers generally know the value of
tificate and the qualifications of the their merchandise and are able to prepare
authenticator. satisfactory appraisals of valuable collections.

Jewelry and Gems Physical condition. Important items in the Coin collections. Many catalogs and other
valuation of antiques and art are physical reference materials show the writer's or pub-
Jewelry and gems are of such a specialized condition and extent of restoration. These lisher's opinion of the value of coins on or
nature that it is almost always necessary to have a significant effect on the value and near the date of the publication. Like many
get an appraisal by a specialized jewelry ap- must be fully reported in an appraisal. An other collectors' items, the value of a coin
praiser. The appraisal should describe, antique in damaged condition, or lacking the depends on the demand for it, its age, and its
among other things, the style of the jewelry, “original brasses,” may be worth much less rarity. Another important factor is the coin's
the cut and setting of the gem, and whether than a similar piece in excellent condition. condition. For example, there is a great difit is now in fashion. If not in fashion, the pos- ference in the value of a coin that is in mint
sibility of having the property redesigned, re- Art appraisers. More weight will usually be condition and a similar coin that is only in
cut, or reset should be reported in the ap- given to an appraisal prepared by an individ- good condition.
praisal. The stone's coloring, weight, cut, ual specializing in the kind and price range Catalogs usually establish a category for
brilliance, and flaws should be reported and of the art being appraised. Certain art dealers coins, based on their physical condition—mint
analyzed. Sentimental personal value has no or appraisers specialize, for example, in old or uncirculated, extremely fine, very fine, fine,
effect on FMV. But if the jewelry was owned masters, modern art, bronze sculpture, etc. very good, good, fair, or poor—with a different
by a famous person, its value might increase. Their opinions on the authenticity and desir- valuation for each category.
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208 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Books. The value of books is usually deter- These publications are sometimes avail- available prices or closely held corporation,
mined by selecting comparable sales and able at a bank, credit union, or finance com- later.
adjusting the prices according to the differ- pany.
ences between the comparable sales and the Except for inexpensive small boats, the Bid and asked prices on valuation date. If
item being evaluated. This is difficult to do valuation of boats should be based on an there were no sales within a reasonable peand, except for a collection of little value, appraisal by a marine surveyor because the riod before and after the valuation date, the
should be done by a specialized appraiser. physical condition is so critical to the value. FMV is the average price between the bona
Within the general category of literary prop- fide bid and asked prices on the valuation
erty, there are dealers who specialize in cer- Example. You donate your car to a local date.
tain areas, such as Americana, foreign im- high school for use by students studying auports, Bibles, and scientific books. tomobile repair. Your credit union told you Example. Although there were no sales
Modest value of collection. If the col- that the “blue book” value of a car like yours of Blue Corporation stock on the valuation
lection you are donating is of modest value, is $1,600 in good condition. However, your date, bona fide bid and asked prices were
not requiring a written appraisal, the following car needs extensive repairs. After checking available on that date of $14 and $16, reinformation may help you in determining the with repair shops and used car dealers, you spectively. The FMV is $15, the average price
FMV. find that the car should sell for $750. You may between the bid and asked prices.
A book that is very old, or very rare, is not use $750 as the FMV of the car.
necessarily valuable. There are many books No prices on valuation date. If there
that are very old or rare, but that have little were no prices available on the valuation
or no market value. Inventory date, you determine FMV by taking the aver-
Condition of book. The condition of a age prices between the bona fide bid and
If you donate any inventory item to a charita- asked prices on the closest trading date bebook may have a great influence on its value. ble organization, the amount of your deduct-
Collectors are interested in items that are in fore and after the valuation date. Both dates
ible contribution is the FMV of the item, less must be within a reasonable period. Then you
fine, or at least good, condition. When a book any gain you would have realized if you had
has a missing page, a loose binding, tears, weight these averages in inverse order by
sold the item at its FMV on the date of the the respective number of trading days bestains, or is otherwise in poor condition, its gift. For more information, see Charitable
value is greatly lowered. tween the bid and asked dates and the valucontributions in Chapter 16 of Publication ation date.
Other factors. Some other factors in the 535, Business Expenses.
valuation of a book are the kind of binding
(leather, cloth, paper), page edges, and illus- Prices only before or after valuation date,
trations (drawings and photographs). Collec- but not both. If no selling prices or bona fide
tors usually want first editions of books. Stocks and Bonds bid and asked prices are available on a date
However, because of changes or additions, The value of stocks and bonds is the FMV of within a reasonable period before the valuother editions are sometimes worth as much a share or bond on the valuation date. See ation date, but are available on a date within
as, or more than, the first edition. Date of contribution, earlier, under What Is a reasonable period after the valuation date,
Fair Market Value (FMV)? or vice versa, then the average price between
the highest and lowest of such available
Manuscripts, autographs, diaries, and prices may be treated as the value.
similar items. When these items are hand- Selling prices on valuation date. If there is
written, or at least signed by famous people, an active market for the contributed stocks
or bonds on a stock exchange, in an over- Large blocks of stock. When a large block
they are often in demand and are valuable.
the-counter market, or elsewhere, the FMV of stock is put on the market, it may lower the
The writings of unknowns also may be of
of each share or bond is the average price selling price of the stock if the supply is
value if they are of unusual historical or literbetween the highest and lowest quoted sell- greater than the demand. On the other hand,
ary importance. Determining the value of such
ing prices on the valuation date. For example, market forces may exist that will afford higher
material is difficult. For example, there may
if the highest selling price for a share was prices for large blocks of stock. Because of
be a great difference in value between two
$11, and the lowest $9, the average price is the many factors to be considered, determindiaries that were kept by a famous
$10. You get the average price by adding $11 ing the value of large blocks of stock usually
person—one kept during childhood and the
and $9 and dividing the sum by 2. requires the help of experts specializing in
other during a later period in his or her life.
No sales on valuation date. If there were underwriting large quantities of securities, or
The appraiser determines a value in these
no sales on the valuation date, but there were in trading in the securities of the industry of
cases by applying knowledge and judgment
sales within a reasonable period before and which the particular company is a part.
to such factors as comparable sales and
conditions. after the valuation date, you determine FMV
by taking the average price between the Unavailable prices or closely held corpohighest and lowest sales prices on the near- ration. If selling prices or bid and asked
Signatures. Signatures, or sets of signatures, prices are not available, or if securities of a
est date before and on the nearest date after
that were cut from letters or other papers closely held corporation are involved, deterthe valuation date. Then you weight these
usually have little or no value. But complete mine the FMV by considering the following
averages in inverse order by the respective
sets of the signatures of U.S. presidents are factors:
number of trading days between the selling
in demand.
dates and the valuation date.
Example. On the day you gave stock to 1) For bonds, the soundness of the secua qualified organization, there were no sales rity, the interest yield, the date of matu-
Cars, Boats, and Aircraft of the stock. Sales of the stock nearest the rity, and other relevant factors.
If you donate a car, a boat, or an aircraft to valuation date took place two trading days 2) For shares of stock, the company's net
a charitable organization, its FMV must be before the valuation date at an average sell- worth, prospective earning power and
determined. ing price of $10 and three trading days after dividend-paying capacity, and other rel-
Certain commercial firms and trade or- the valuation date at an average selling price evant factors.
ganizations publish monthly or seasonal of $15. The FMV on the valuation date was
guides for different regions of the country, $12, figured as follows: Other factors. Other relevant factors incontaining complete dealer sale prices or [(3 × $10) + (2 × $15)] ÷ 5 = $12 clude the goodwill of the business, the ecodealer-average prices for recent model years. nomic outlook in the particular industry, the
Prices are reported for each make, model, Listings on more than one stock ex- company's position in the industry and its
and year of used car, aircraft, truck, recre- change. Stocks or bonds listed on more than management, and the value of securities of
ational vehicle, and boat. These guides also one stock exchange are valued based on the corporations engaged in the same or similar
provide estimates for adjusting for unusual prices of the exchange on which they are business. For preferred stock, the most imequipment, unusual mileage, and physical principally dealt. This applies if these prices portant factors are its yield, dividend covercondition. The prices are not “official,” and are published in a generally available listing age, and protection of its liquidation preferthese publications are not considered an ap- or publication of general circulation. If this is ence.
praisal of any specific donated property. But not applicable, and the stocks or bonds are You should keep complete financial and
they do provide clues for making an appraisal reported on a composite listing of combined other information on which the valuation is
and suggest relative prices for comparison exchanges in a publication of general circu- based. This includes copies of reports of exwith current sales and offerings in your area. lation, use the composite list. See also Un- aminations of the company made by ac-
Page 5

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 209
countants, engineers, or any technical ex- property surveys, the assessed value, the tax 3) The other factors used in evaluating
perts on or close to the valuation date. rate, and the assessor's appraised FMV. corporate stock, if they apply.
The comparable selling prices must be
Restricted securities. Some classes of stock adjusted to account for differences between The value of the goodwill of the business
cannot be traded publicly because of re- the sale property and the donated property. should also be taken into consideration. You
strictions imposed by the Securities and Ex- Because differences of opinion may arise should keep complete financial and other inchange Commission, or by the corporate between appraisers as to the degree of com- formation on which you base the valuation.
charter or a trust agreement. These restricted parability and the amount of the adjustment This includes copies of reports of examinasecurities usually trade at a discount in re- considered necessary for comparison pur- tions of the business made by accountants,
lation to freely traded securities. poses, an appraiser should document each engineers, or any technical experts on or
To arrive at the FMV of restricted securi- item of adjustment. close to the valuation date.
ties, factors that you must consider include Only comparable sales having the least
the resale provisions found in the restriction adjustments in terms of items and/or total
agreements, the relative negotiating strengths dollar adjustments should be considered as Annuities, Interests for
of the buyer and seller, and the market ex- comparable to the donated property.
perience of freely traded securities of the Life or Terms of
same class as the restricted securities. 2. Capitalization of Income Years, Remainders, and
This method capitalizes the net income from Reversions
Real Estate the property at a rate that represents a fair The value of these kinds of property is their
return on the particular investment at the present value, except in the case of annuities
Because each piece of real estate is unique
particular time, considering the risks involved. under contracts issued by companies reguand its valuation is complicated, a detailed
The key elements are the determination of the larly engaged in their sale. The valuation of
appraisal by a professional appraiser is necincome to be capitalized and the rate of cap- these commercial annuity contracts and of
essary.
italization. insurance policies is discussed later under
The appraiser must be thoroughly trained
in the application of appraisal principles and Certain Life Insurance and Annuity
theory. In some instances the opinions of 3. Replacement Cost New or Contracts.
equally qualified appraisers may carry une- To determine present value, you must
Reproduction Cost Minus know the applicable interest rate and use
qual weight, such as when one appraiser has
a better knowledge of local conditions. Observed Depreciation actuarial tables.
The appraisal report must contain a com- This method, used alone, usually does not
plete description of the property, such as result in a determination of FMV. Instead, it
Interest rate. The applicable interest rate
street address, legal description, and lot and generally tends to set the upper limit of value,
varies. It is announced monthly in a news reblock number, as well as physical features, particularly in periods of rising costs, because
lease and published in the Internal Revenue
condition, and dimensions. The use to which it is reasonable to assume that an informed
Bulletin as a Revenue Ruling. The interest
the property is put, zoning and permitted buyer will not pay more for the real estate
rate to use is under the heading “Rate Under
uses, and its potential use for other higher than it would cost to reproduce a similar
Section 7520” for a given month and year.
and better uses are also relevant. property. Of course, this reasoning does not
You can call the local IRS office to obtain this
In general, there are three main ap- apply if a similar property cannot be created
rate.
proaches to the valuation of real estate. An because of location, unusual construction, or
appraisal may require the combined use of some other reason. Generally, this method
two or three methods rather than one method serves to support the value determined from Actuarial tables. You need to refer to
only. other methods. When the replacement cost actuarial tables to determine a qualified inmethod is applied to improved realty, the terest in the form of an annuity, any interest
land and improvements are valued sepa- for life or a term of years, or any remainder
1. Comparable Sales rately. interest to a charitable organization.
The comparable sales method compares the The replacement cost of a building is fig- Use the valuation tables set forth in IRS
donated property with several similar proper- ured by considering the materials, the quality Publications 1457 (Alpha Volume) and 1458
ties that have been sold. The selling prices, of workmanship, and the number of square (Beta Volume). Both of these publications
after adjustments for differences in date of feet or cubic feet in the building. This cost provide tables containing actuarial factors to
sale, size, condition, and location, would then represents the total cost of labor and material, be used in determining the present value of
indicate the estimated FMV of the donated overhead, and profit. After the replacement an annuity, an interest for life or for a term of
property. cost has been figured, consideration must be years, or a remainder or reversionary interest.
If the comparable sales method is used to given to the following factors: For qualified charitable transfers, you can use
determine the value of unimproved real the factor for the month in which you made
property (land without significant buildings, 1) Physical deterioration—the wear and the contribution or for either of the 2 months
structures, or any other improvements that tear on the building itself, preceding that month.
add to its value), the appraiser should con- Publication 1457 also contains actuarial
sider the following factors when comparing 2) Functional obsolescence—usually in factors for computing the value of a remainder
the potential comparable property and the older buildings with, for example, inade- interest in a charitable remainder annuity trust
donated property: quate lighting, plumbing, or heating, and a pooled income fund. Publication 1458
small rooms, or a poor floor plan, and contains the factors for valuing the remainder
1) Location, size, and zoning or use re- 3) Economic obsolescence—outside forces interest in a charitable remainder unitrust.
strictions, causing the whole area to become less These are available for purchase by phone
2) Accessibility and road frontage, and desirable. at (202)512–1800 or by mail from the:
available utilities and water rights,
Superintendent of Documents
3) Riparian rights (right of access to and Interest in a Business United States Government
use of the water by owners of land on the Printing Office
The FMV of any interest in a business,
bank of a river) and existing easements, P.O. Box 371954
whether a sole proprietorship or a partnerrights-of-way, leases, etc., Pittsburgh, PA 15250–7954
ship, is the amount that a willing buyer would
4) Soil characteristics, vegetative cover, pay for the interest to a willing seller after
consideration of all relevant factors. The rel- If you call in your order, you can pay by VISA
and status of mineral rights, and
evant factors to be considered in valuing the or MasterCard.
5) Other factors affecting value. business are: Tables containing actuarial factors for
transfers to pooled income funds may also
For each comparable sale, the appraisal 1) The FMV of the assets of the business, be found in Income Tax Regulation
must include the names of the buyer and 1.642(c)-6(e)(5), transfers to charitable reseller, the deed book and page number, the 2) The demonstrated earnings capacity of mainder unitrusts in Regulation 1.664(e)(6),
date of sale and selling price, a property de- the business, based on a review of past and other transfers in Regulation
scription, the amount and terms of mortgages, and current earnings, and 20.2031-7(d)(6).
Page 6

210 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Special factors. If you need a special factor For this purpose, the term “depreciable toric district, and any land area next to
for an actual transaction, you may ask for it property” means any property subject to wear a property listed in the National Register
by writing a request for a letter ruling to the: and tear or obsolescence, even if not used in of Historic Places if its physical or envia trade or business or for the production of ronmental features contribute to the his-
Internal Revenue Service income. toric or cultural integrity of the listed
Associate Chief Counsel (Domestic) If the remainder interest includes both property. A certified historic structure is
Attn: CC:DOM:Corp:T depreciable and nondepreciable property, for any building, structure, or land area that
P.O. Box 7604 example a house and land, the FMV must be is listed in the National Register, or is
Ben Franklin Station allocated between each kind of property at located in a registered historic district
Washington, DC 20044 the time of the contribution. This rule also and is certified by the Secretary of the
Be sure to include the date of birth of each applies to a gift of a remainder interest that Interior as being of historic significance
person, the duration of whose life may affect includes property that is part depletable and to the district.
the value of the interest, and copies of the part not depletable. Take into account depre- There must be some visual public
relevant instruments. IRS charges a user fee ciation or depletion only for the property that access to the property. Factors used in
for providing special factors. is subject to depreciation or depletion. determining the type and amount of
For information on the circumstances un- For more information, see section public access required include the hisder which a charitable deduction may be al- 1.170A-2 of the Income Tax Regulations. torical significance of the property, the
lowed for the donation of a partial interest in remoteness or accessibility of the site,
property not in trust, see Partial Interest in Undivided part of your entire interest. A and the extent to which intrusions of pri-
Property Not in Trust, later. contribution of an undivided part of your entire vacy would be unreasonable.
interest in property must consist of a part of
each and every substantial interest or right Qualified real property interest. This is
Certain Life Insurance you own in the property. It must extend over any of the following interests in real property:
and Annuity Contracts the entire term of your interest in the property.
For example, you are entitled to the income 1) Your entire interest in real estate other
The value of an annuity contract or a life in- from certain property for your life (life estate) than a mineral interest (subsurface oil,
surance policy issued by a company regularly and you contribute 20% of that life estate to gas, or other minerals, and the right of
engaged in the sale of such contracts or pol- a qualified organization. You can claim a de- access to these minerals).
icies is the amount that company would duction for the contribution if you do not have
charge for a comparable contract. 2) A remainder interest.
any other interest in the property. To figure
But if the donee of a life insurance policy the value of a contribution involving a partial 3) A restriction (granted in perpetuity) on
may reasonably be expected to cash the interest, see Publication 1457. the use which may be made of the real
policy rather than hold it as an investment, If the only interest you own in real property property.
then the FMV is the cash surrender value is a remainder interest and you transfer part
rather than the replacement cost. of that interest to a qualified organization, see Valuation. A qualified real property inter-
If an annuity is payable under a combina- the previous discussion on valuation of a re- est described in (1) should be valued in a
tion annuity contract and life insurance policy mainder interest in real property. manner that is consistent with the type of in-
(for example, a retirement income policy with terest transferred. If you transferred all the
a death benefit) and there was no insurance interest in the property, the FMV of the prop-
Qualified conservation contribution. A
element when it was transferred to the char- erty is the amount of the contribution. If you
qualified conservation contribution is a conity, the policy is treated as an annuity con- do not transfer the mineral interest, the FMV
tribution of a qualified real property interest to
tract. of the surface rights in the property is the
a qualified organization to be used only for
conservation purposes. amount of the contribution.
Partial Interest Qualified organization. For purposes of If you owned only a remainder interest or
a qualified conservation contribution, a qual- an income interest (life estate), see Undivided
in Property Not in Trust ified organization is: part of your entire interest, earlier. If you
Generally, no deduction is allowed for a owned the entire property but only transferred
charitable contribution, not made in trust, of 1) A governmental unit, a remainder interest (item (2)), see Valuation
less than your entire interest in property. of a remainder interest in real property, not
However, this does not apply to a transfer of 2) A publicly supported charitable, religious, transferred in trust, earlier.
less than your entire interest if it is a transfer scientific, literary, educational, etc., or- In determining the value of restrictions,
of: ganization, or you should take into account the selling price
3) An organization that is controlled by, and in arm's-length transactions of other proper-
1) A remainder interest in your personal operated for the exclusive benefit of, a ties that have comparable restrictions. If there
residence or farm, governmental unit or a publicly sup- are no qualified sales, the restrictions are
2) An undivided part of your entire interest ported charity. valued indirectly as the difference between
in property, or the FMVs of the property involved before and
Conservation purposes. Your contribu- after the grant of the restriction.
3) A qualified conservation contribution. tion must be made only for one of the follow- The FMV of the property before contribuing conservation purposes: tion of the restriction should take into account
Valuation of a remainder interest in real not only current use but the likelihood that the
property, not transferred in trust. The 1) Preservation of land areas for outdoor property, without the restriction, would be
amount of the deduction for a donation of a recreation by, or for the education of, the developed. You should also consider any
remainder interest in real property is the FMV general public. zoning, conservation, or historical preservaof the remainder interest at the time of the tion laws that would restrict development.
contribution. To determine this value, you 2) Protection of a relatively natural habitat Granting an easement may increase, rather
must know the FMV of the property on the of fish, wildlife, or plants, or a similar than reduce, the value of property, and in
date of the contribution. Multiply this value by ecosystem. such a situation no deduction would be althe appropriate factor. Publications 1457 and 3) Preservation of open space, including lowed.
1458 contain these factors. farmland and forest land. The preserva- Example. You own 10 acres of farmland.
You must make an adjustment for depre- tion must yield a significant public bene- Similar land in the area has an FMV of $2,000
ciation or depletion using the factors shown fit. It must be either for the scenic en- an acre. However, land in the general area
in Publication 1459 (Gamma Volume). You joyment of the general public or under a that is restricted solely to farm use has an
can use the factors for the month in which you clearly defined federal, state, or local FMV of $1,500 an acre. Your county wants
made the contribution or for either of the two governmental conservation policy. to preserve open space and prevent further
months preceding that month. See the earlier development in your area.
discussion on Annuities, Interests for Life or 4) Preservation of a historically important You grant to the county an enforceable
Terms of Years, Remainders, and Rever- land area or a certified historic structure. open space easement in perpetuity on 8 of
sions. Publication 1459 is available free by A historically important land area in- the 10 acres, restricting its use to farmland.
writing to the IRS address given under Spe- cludes an independently significant land The value of this easement is $4,000, detercial factors earlier. area, any land area in a registered his- mined as follows:
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Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 211
FMV of the property before granting ease- report with your written records. Records are computation period upon receiving reament: discussed in Publication 526. For special sonable notice.
$2,000 × 10 acres .................................. $20,000 rules that apply to publicly traded securities
FMV of the property after granting ease- An interdealer quotation system is any
ment: and nonpublicly traded stock, see the dis-
$1,500 × 8 acres ..................... $12,000 cussions later in this section. system of general circulation to brokers and
$2,000 × 2 acres ..................... 4,000 16,000 The phrase similar items means property dealers that regularly disseminates quotations
of the same generic category or type (whether of obligations by two or more identified bro-
Value of easement ...................... $4,000
or not donated to the same donee), such as kers or dealers who are not related to either
If you later transfer in fee your remaining stamps, coins, lithographs, paintings, photo- the issuer or agent who computes the averinterest in the 8 acres to another qualified graphs, books, nonpublicly traded stock, age trading price of the security. A quotation
organization, the FMV of your remaining in- nonpublicly traded securities other than non- sheet prepared and distributed by a broker
terest is the FMV of the 8 acres reduced by publicly traded stock, land, buildings, clothing, or dealer in the regular course of business
the FMV of the easement granted to the first jewelry, furniture, electronic equipment, and containing only quotations of that broker
organization. household appliances, toys, everyday or dealer is not an interdealer quotation syskitchenware, china, crystal, or silver. For ex- tem.
ample, if you give books to three schools and The average trading price is the average
you deduct $2,000, $2,500, and $900, re- price of all transactions (weighted by volume),
Appraisals spectively, your claimed deduction is more
than $5,000 for these books. You must get a
other than original issue or redemption transactions, conducted through a United States
Appraisals are not necessary for items of qualified appraisal of the books and for each office of a broker or dealer who maintains a
property for which you claim a deduction of school you must attach a fully completed ap- market in the issue of the security during the
$5,000 or less, or for which the value can praisal summary (Section B of Form 8283) to computation period. Bid and asked quotations
easily be determined, such as securities your tax return. are not taken into account.
whose prices are reported daily in the news- The computation period is weekly during
papers. However, you generally will need an Publicly traded securities. Even if your October through December and monthly durappraisal for donated property for which you claimed deduction is more than $5,000, nei- ing January through September. The weekly
claim a deduction of more than $5,000. See ther a qualified appraisal nor an appraisal computation periods during October through
Deductions of More Than $5,000, later. summary is required for publicly traded se- December begin with the first Monday in Oc-
The weight given an appraisal depends curities that are: tober and end with the first Sunday following
on the completeness of the report, the quali- the last Monday in December.
fications of the appraiser, and the appraiser's • Listed on a stock exchange in which
demonstrated knowledge of the donated quotations are published on a daily basis, Nonpublicly traded stock. If you contribute
property. An appraisal must give all the facts nonpublicly traded stock, for which you claim
on which to base an intelligent judgment of • Regularly traded in a national or regional
over-the-counter market for which pub- a deduction of $10,000 or less, a qualified
the value of the property. appraisal is not required. However, you must
The appraisal will not be given much lished quotations are available, or
attach to your tax return a partially completed
weight if: • Shares of an open-end investment com- appraisal summary (Parts I and IV of Section
pany (mutual fund) for which quotations B, Form 8283) signed by the donee.
1) All the factors that apply are not consid- are published on a daily basis in a
ered, newspaper of general circulation
2) The opinion is not supported with facts, throughout the United States. Qualified Appraisal
such as purchase price and comparable Generally, if the claimed deduction for an item
Publicly traded securities that meet these resales, or or group of similar items of donated property
quirements must be reported in Section A,
is more than $5,000, you must get a qualified
3) The opinion is not consistent with known Form 8283.
appraisal made by a qualified appraiser and
facts. A partially completed appraisal summary
you must attach an appraisal summary to
(Parts I and IV of Section B, Form 8283)
your tax return. See Deductions of More
The appraiser's opinion is never more signed by the donee, but not a qualified ap-
Than $5,000, earlier.
valid than the facts on which it is based; praisal, is required for publicly traded securi-
A qualified appraisal is an appraisal docwithout these facts it is simply a guess. ties that do not meet these requirements, but
ument that:
Membership in professional appraisal or do have readily available market quotations.
dealer organizations does not automatically Market quotations are readily available if: 1) Relates to an appraisal made not earlier
establish the appraiser's competency. Nor than 60 days prior to the date of contridoes the lack of certificates, memberships, 1) The issue is regularly traded during the
computation period (defined later) in a bution of the appraised property,
etc., automatically disprove the competency
of the appraiser. market for which there is an “interdealer 2) Does not involve a prohibited appraisal
The opinion of a person claiming to be an quotation system” (defined later), fee,
expert is not binding on the Internal Revenue 2) The issuer or agent computes the “av- 3) Includes certain information (covered
Service. All facts associated with the donation erage trading price” (defined later) for the later), and
must be considered. same issue for the computation period,
4) Is prepared, signed, and dated by a
Cost of appraisals. You may not take a 3) The average trading price and total vol- qualified appraiser (defined later).
charitable contribution deduction for fees you ume of the issue during the computation
pay for appraisals of your donated property. period are published in a newspaper of You must receive the qualified appraisal
However, these fees may qualify as a mis- general circulation throughout the United before the due date, including extensions,
cellaneous deduction, subject to the 2% limit, States, not later than the last day of the of the return on which a charitable contribuon Schedule A (Form 1040) if paid to deter- month following the end of the calendar tion deduction is first claimed for the donated
mine the amount allowable as a charitable quarter in which the computation period property. If the deduction is first claimed on
contribution. ends, an amended return, the qualified appraisal
must be received before the date on which
4) The issuer or agent keeps books and
the amended return is filed.
records that list for each transaction
Deductions of More during the computation period the date
An appraisal summary (discussed later)
must be attached to your tax return. Gener-
Than $5,000 of settlement of the transaction, the
ally, you do not need to attach the qualified
name and address of the broker or
Generally, if the claimed deduction for an item appraisal itself, but you should keep a copy
dealer making the market in which the
or group of similar items of donated property as long as it may be relevant under the tax
transaction occurred, and the trading
is more than $5,000, other than money and law. If you donated art valued at $20,000 or
price and volume, and
publicly traded securities, you must get a more, however, you must attach a complete
qualified appraisal made by a qualified ap- 5) The issuer or agent permits the Internal copy of the signed appraisal. See Paintings,
praiser, and you must attach an appraisal Revenue Service to review the books Antiques, and Other Objects of Art, discussed
summary (Section B of Form 8283) to your and records described in paragraph (4) earlier under Valuation of Various Kinds of
tax return. You should keep the appraiser's with respect to transactions during the Property.
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212 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Prohibited appraisal fee. Generally, no part Art objects. The following are examples An appraiser must complete Part III of
of the fee arrangement for a qualified ap- of information that should be included in a Section B (Form 8283) to be considered a
praisal can be based on a percentage of the description of donated property. These ex- qualified appraiser. More than one appraiser
appraised value of the property. If a fee ar- amples are for art objects. A similar detailed may appraise the property, provided that each
rangement is based on what is allowed as a breakdown should be given for other property. complies with the requirements, including
deduction, after Internal Revenue Service Appraisals of art objects—paintings in signing the qualified appraisal and appraisal
examination or otherwise, it is treated as a fee particular—should include: summary.
based on a percentage of appraised value. Excluded individuals. The following per-
However, appraisals are not disqualified 1) A complete description of the object, in- sons cannot be qualified appraisers with rewhen an otherwise prohibited fee is paid to a dicating the: spect to particular property:
generally recognized association that regu- a) Size,
lates appraisers if: 1) The donor of the property, or the taxb) Subject matter, payer who claims the deduction.
• The association is not organized for profit c) Medium, 2) The donee of the property.
and no part of its net earnings benefits
any private shareholder or individual, d) Name of the artist (or culture), and 3) A party to the transaction in which the
donor acquired the property being ap-
• The appraiser does not receive any e) Approximate date created. praised, unless the property is donated
compensation from the association or any within 2 months of the date of acquisition
other persons for making the appraisal, 2) The cost, date, and manner of acquisiand its appraised value does not exceed
and tion.
its acquisition price. This applies to the
• The fee arrangement is not based in 3) A history of the item, including proof of person who sold, exchanged, or gave
whole or in part on the amount of the authenticity. the property to the donor, or any person
appraised value that is allowed as a de- who acted as an agent for the transferor
4) A photograph of a size and quality fully or donor in the transaction.
duction after an Internal Revenue Service showing the object, preferably a 10 × 12
examination or otherwise. inch print. 4) Any person employed by, married to, or
related under section 267(b) of the
5) The facts on which the appraisal was Internal Revenue Code, to any of the
Information included in qualified apbased, such as: above persons. For example, if the dopraisal. A qualified appraisal must include the
following information: a) Sales or analyses of similar works nor acquired a painting from an art
by the artist, particularly on or dealer, neither the dealer nor persons
1) A description of the property in sufficient around the valuation date. employed by the dealer can be qualified
detail for a person who is not generally appraisers for that painting.
familiar with the type of property to de- b) Quoted prices in dealer's catalogs
of the artist's works or works of 5) An appraiser who appraises regularly for
termine that the property appraised is a person in (1), (2), or (3), and who does
the property that was (or will be) con- other artists of comparable stature.
not perform a majority of his or her aptributed, c) A record of any exhibitions at which praisals made during his or her tax year
the specific art object had been for other persons.
2) The physical condition of any tangible
displayed.
property, In addition, a person is not a qualified apd) The economic state of the art mar- praiser for a particular donation if the donor
3) The date (or expected date) of contribu- ket at the time of valuation, partiction, had knowledge of facts that would cause a
ularly with respect to the specific reasonable person to expect the appraiser to
4) The terms of any agreement or under- property. falsely overstate the value of the donated
standing entered into (or expected to be e) The standing of the artist in his property. For example, if the donor and the
entered into) by or on behalf of the donor profession and in the particular appraiser make an agreement concerning the
that relates to the use, sale, or other school or time period. amount at which the property will be valued,
disposition of the donated property, and the donor knows that such amount ex-
Number of qualified appraisals. A sep- ceeds the FMV of the property, the appraiser
5) The name, address, and taxpayer iden- is not a qualified appraiser for the donation.
arate qualified appraisal is required for each
tification number of the qualified ap- Penalties. Any appraiser who falsely or
item of property that is not included in a group
praiser and, if the appraiser is a partner, fraudulently overstates the value of property
of similar items of property. You need only
an employee, or an independent con- described in a qualified appraisal or an apone qualified appraisal for a group of similar
tractor engaged by a person other than praisal summary that the appraiser has
items of property contributed in the same tax
the donor, the name, address, and tax- signed may be subject to a civil penalty for
year, but you may get separate appraisals for
payer identification number of the part- aiding and abetting an understatement of tax
each item. A qualified appraisal for a group
nership or the person who employs or liability, and may have his or her appraisal
of similar items must provide all of the reengages the appraiser, disregarded.
quired information for each item of similar
6) The qualifications of the qualified ap- property. The appraiser, however, may propraiser who signs the appraisal, includ- vide a group description for selected items,
ing the appraiser's background, experi- the total value of which is not more than $100. Appraisal Summary
ence, education, and any membership in Generally, if the claimed deduction for an item
professional appraisal associations, Qualified appraiser. A qualified appraiser is of donated property is more than $5,000, you
an individual who declares on the appraisal must attach an appraisal summary (Form
7) A statement that the appraisal was pre- summary that he or she: 8283) to your tax return. Only a partially
pared for income tax purposes, completed appraisal summary is required in
• Holds himself or herself out to the public some situations. See Deductions of More
8) The date (or dates) on which the prop- Than $5,000, earlier.
erty was valued, as an appraiser or performs appraisals
on a regular basis, Note: If you deduct $20,000 or more for
9) The appraised FMV on the date (or ex- • Is qualified to make appraisals of the type donated art, you must attach a complete copy
pected date) of contribution, of property being valued because of his of the signed appraisal. See Paintings, An-
10) The method of valuation used to deter- or her qualifications described in the ap- tiques, and Other Objects of Art, discussed
mine FMV, such as the income ap- praisal, earlier under Valuation of Various Kinds of
proach, the comparable sales or market Property.
• Is not an excluded individual, and
data approach, or the replacement cost
less depreciation approach, and • Understands that an intentionally false Form 8283. Section B of Form 8283 is the
overstatement of the value of property appraisal summary. If you do not attach the
11) The specific basis for the valuation, such may subject him or her to the penalty for form to your return, the deduction will not be
as any specific comparable sales trans- aiding and abetting an understatement allowed unless your failure to attach it was
action. of tax liability. due to a good faith omission. If the IRS re-
Page 9

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 213
quests that you submit the form because you 1) The value or adjusted basis claimed on need. The items you request will be faxed to
did not attach it to your return, you must the return is 200% or more of the correct you.
comply within 90 days of the request or the amount, and
deduction will be disallowed.
You must attach a separate Form 8283 for 2) You underpaid your tax by more than
each item of contributed property that is not $5,000 because of the overstatement.
Phone. Many services are available
part of a group of similar items. If you con- by phone.
tribute similar items of property to the same 40% penalty. The penalty is 40%, rather than
donee organization, you need attach only one 20%, if:
Form 8283 for those items. If you contribute • Ordering forms, instructions, and publi-
1) The value or adjusted basis claimed on
similar items of property to more than one cations. Call 1–800–829–3676 to order
the return is 400% or more of the correct
donee organization, you must attach a sepa- current and prior year forms, instructions,
amount, and
rate form for each donee. and publications.
2) You underpaid your tax by more than • Asking tax questions. Call the IRS with
$5,000 because of the overstatement.
Internal Revenue Service your tax questions at 1–800–829–1040.
Review of Appraisals • TTY/TDD equipment. If you have access
to TTY/TDD equipment, call 1–800–829–
In reviewing an income tax return, the Service 4059 to ask tax questions or to order
may accept the claimed value of the donated
property, based on information or appraisals How To Get More forms and publications.
sent with the return, or may make its own • TeleTax topics. Call 1–800–829–4477 to
determination of FMV. In either case, the Information listen to pre-recorded messages covering
Service may: You can order free publications and forms, various tax topics.
ask tax questions, and get more information Evaluating the quality of our telephone
• Contact the taxpayer to get more infor- from the IRS in several ways. By selecting the
mation, services. To ensure that IRS representatives
method that is best for you, you will have give accurate, courteous, and professional
• Refer the valuation problem to a Service quick and easy access to tax help. answers, we evaluate the quality of our teleappraiser or valuation specialist, phone services in several ways.
Free tax services. To find out what services
• Refer the issue to the Commissioner's are available, get Publication 910, Guide to
Art Advisory Panel (a 25-member group • A second IRS representative sometimes
Free Tax Services. It contains a list of free tax monitors live telephone calls. That person
of dealers and museum directors who
publications and an index of tax topics. It also only evaluates the IRS assistor and does
review and recommend acceptance or
describes other free tax information services, not keep a record of any taxpayer's name
adjustment of taxpayers' claimed values
including tax education and assistance pro- or tax identification number.
for major paintings and sculptures, Far
grams and a list of TeleTax topics.
Eastern and Asian art, Primitive and • We sometimes record telephone calls to
Pre-Columbian art), or Personal computer. With your per- evaluate IRS assistors objectively. We
• Contract with an independent dealer, sonal computer and modem, you can hold these recordings no longer than one
scholar, or appraiser to appraise the access the IRS on the Internet at week and use them only to measure the
property when the objects require ap- www.irs.gov. While visiting our web site, you quality of assistance.
praisers of highly specialized experience can select: • We value our customers' opinions.
and knowledge. Throughout this year, we will be survey-
• Frequently Asked Tax Questions (located ing our customers for their opinions on
Responsibility of the Service. The Service under Taxpayer Help & Ed) to find anour service.
is responsible for reviewing appraisals, but it swers to questions you may have.
is not responsible for making them. Support- • Forms & Pubs to download forms and
ing the FMV listed on your return is your re- publications or search for forms and
sponsibility. publications by topic or keyword. Walk-in. You can walk in to many
• Fill-in Forms (located under Forms & post offices, libraries, and IRS offices
The Service does not accept appraisals to pick up certain forms, instructions,
without question. Nor does the Service rec- Pubs) to enter information while the form
is displayed and then print the completed and publications. Also, some libraries and IRS
ognize any particular appraiser or organiza- offices have:
tion of appraisers. form.
• Tax Info For You to view Internal Reve- • An extensive collection of products avail-
Timing of Service action. The Service gen- nue Bulletins published in the last few able to print from a CD-ROM or photoerally does not approve valuations or ap- years. copy from reproducible proofs.
praisals before the actual filing of the tax re-
• Tax Regs in English to search regulations • The Internal Revenue Code, regulations,
turn to which the appraisal applies. In
and the Internal Revenue Code (under Internal Revenue Bulletins, and Cumulaaddition, the Service generally does not issue
United States Code (USC)). tive Bulletins available for research puradvance rulings approving or disapproving
• Digital Dispatch and IRS Local News Net poses.
such appraisals.
Exception. On January 16, 1996, the (both located under Tax Info For Busi-
Service began accepting requests for a ness) to receive our electronic newslet-
Statement of Value for a donated item of art ters on hot tax issues and news.
appraised at $50,000 or more. For a request • Small Business Corner (located under
submitted as described earlier under Art val- Tax Info For Business) to get information Mail. You can send your order for
ued at $50,000 or more, the Service will issue on starting and operating a small busi- forms, instructions, and publications
a Statement of Value that can be relied on ness. to the Distribution Center nearest to
by the donor of the item of art. you and receive a response within 10 work-
You can also reach us with your computer days after your request is received. Find the
using File Transfer Protocol at ftp.irs.gov. address that applies to your part of the
country.
Penalties
You may be liable for a penalty if you over- • Western part of U.S.:
state the value or adjusted basis of donated TaxFax Service. Using the phone Western Area Distribution Center
property. attached to your fax machine, you can Rancho Cordova, CA 95743–0001
receive forms and instructions by • Central part of U.S.:
20% penalty. The penalty is 20% of the calling 703–368–9694. Follow the directions Central Area Distribution Center
underpayment of tax related to the over- from the prompts. When you order forms, P.O. Box 8903
statement if: enter the catalog number for the form you Bloomington, IL 61702–8903
Page 10

214 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
• Eastern part of U.S. and foreign ad- • Current tax forms, instructions, and pub- by calling 1–877–233–6767 or on the Internet
dresses: lications. at www.irs.gov/cdorders. The first release
Eastern Area Distribution Center is available in mid-December and the final
• Prior-year tax forms, instructions, and release is available in late January.
P.O. Box 85074 publications.
Richmond, VA 23261–5074 IRS Publication 3207, Small Business
• Popular tax forms which may be filled in Resource Guide, is an interactive CD-ROM
electronically, printed out for submission, that contains information important to small
and saved for recordkeeping. businesses. It is available in mid-February.
• Internal Revenue Bulletins. You can get one free copy by calling
CD-ROM. You can order IRS Publi- 1–800–829–3676.
cation 1796, Federal Tax Products on The CD-ROM can be purchased from
CD-ROM, and obtain: National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Index

Terms of purchase or sale ..... 2 Replacement cost ........................ 3
A L Reversion interests ...................... 6
Aircraft ......................................... 5 Life insurance .............................. 7
Annuities ...................................... 6
Annuity contracts ......................... 7 D S
Antiques ....................................... 4 Date of contribution ..................... 2
Appraisal summary ...................... 9 Deductions of more than $5,000 . 8 M Stamps ........................................ 4
Appraisals .......................... 8, 9, 10 Market conditions, effect on value 3 Statement of Value .................... 10
Appraisal summary ................ 9 More information ....................... 10 Stocks .......................................... 5
Cost of .................................... 8
IRS review of ........................ 10 F
Penalties, overstated value .... 9 Fair market value .................... 2, 3
N T
Qualified appraisal ................. 8 Comparable properties, sales Tax help (See More information)
Qualified appraiser ................. 9 of ....................................... 2 Nonpublicly traded stock ............. 8 TTY/TDD information ................ 10
Art objects ................................... 4 Cost ........................................ 2
Valued at $20,000 or more .... 4 Date of contribution ................ 2
Determining FMV ................... 2
Valued at $50,000 or more .... 4
Assistance (See More information) Opinions of experts ................ 3 O U
Problems in determining FMV 3 Opinions of experts ..................... 3 Used clothing ............................... 4
Replacement cost .................. 3
Form 8283 ................................... 9
Formulas, use in valuing property 2
P V
B Free tax services ....................... 10
Future events, effect on value .... 3 Paintings ...................................... 4
Valuation of property ....... 4, 5, 6, 7
Boats ........................................... 5 Annuities ................................. 6
Partial interest ............................. 7 Cars, boats, and aircraft ........ 5
Bonds .......................................... 5 Past events, effect on value ........ 3
Books ........................................... 5 Collections .............................. 4
Penalty, overstated value .......... 10 Household goods ................... 4
H Publications (See More information) Interest in a business ............. 6
Help (See More information) Publicly traded securities ............ 8 Inventory ................................. 5
Household goods ........................ 4 Jewelry and gems .................. 4
C Life insurance and annuity con-
Cars ............................................. 5 Q tracts ................................. 7
Paintings, antiques, art objects 4
Coins ........................................... 4 I Qualified appraisal ....................... 8
Partial interest in property ...... 7
Collections ............................... 4, 5 Interest in a business .................. 6 Qualified appraiser ...................... 9
Books ..................................... 5 Inventory ...................................... 5 Qualified conservation Real estate ............................. 6
Coins ...................................... 4 IRS review of appraisals ........... 10 contribution ............................. 7 Remainder interests ............... 6
Stamps ................................... 4 Exception .............................. 10 Reversion interests ................ 6
Comparable properties, sales Stocks and bonds .................. 5
of ........................................ 2, 3 Terms of years ....................... 6
Conservation contribution ............ 7 R Used clothing ......................... 4
Cost ............................................. 2 J Real estate .................................. 6 
Rate of increase or decrease 2 Jewelry and gems ....................... 4 Remainder interests .................... 6

Page 11

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 215
Donee Information Return
Form 8282
(Rev. September 1998) (Sale, Exchange, or Other Disposition of Donated Property)
OMB No. 1545-0908

Department of the Treasury Give a Copy to Donor
Internal Revenue Service
See instructions on back.

Name of charitable organization (donee) Employer identification number

Please
Print Address (number, street, and room or suite no.)
or
Type City or town, state, and ZIP code

Part I Information on ORIGINAL DONOR and DONEE Receiving the Property
1a Name(s) of the original donor of the property 1b Identifying number

Note: Complete lines 2a–2d only if you gave this property to another char itable organization (successor donee).
2a Name of charitable organization 2b Employer identification number

2c Address (number, street, and room or suite no.)

2d City or town, state, and ZIP code

Note: If you are the original donee, skip Part II and go to Part III now.
Part II Information on PREVIOUS DONEES—Complete this part only if you were not the first donee to receive the property.
If you were the second donee, leave lines 4a–4d blank. If you were a third or later donee, complete lines 3a–4d. On
lines 4a–4d, give information on the preceding donee (the one who gave you the property).
3a Name of original donee 3b Employer identification number

3c Address (number, street, and room or suite no.)

3d City or town, state, and ZIP code

4a Name of preceding donee 4b Employer identification number

4c Address (number, street, and room or suite no.)

4d City or town, state, and ZIP code

Part III Information on DONATED PROPERTY—If you are the original donee, leave column (c) blank.
(a) Description of donated property sold, exchanged, or otherwise (d) Date item(s) sold, (e) Amount received
(b) Date you received (c) Date the first donee exchanged, or otherwise
disposed of (if you need more space, attach a separate statement) the item(s) received the item(s) disposed of upon disposition

For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see back of form. Cat. No. 62307Y Form 8282 (Rev. 9-98)

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 217
Form 8282 (Rev. 9-98) Page 2

determination of whether the appraised value 1. The name, address, and EIN of your
General Instructions of the item exceeds $500, all shares of organization.
Section references are to the Internal nonpublicly traded stock, or items that form a 2. A copy of the Appraisal Summary (the
Revenue Code. set, are considered one item. For example, a Form 8283 that you received from the donor
collection of books written by the same or a preceding donee).
Purpose of Form author, components of a stereo system, or six
3. A copy of this Form 8282, within 15
place settings of a pattern of silverware are
Donee organizations use Form 8282 to report days after you file it.
considered one item.
information to the IRS about dispositions of
2. Items consumed or distributed for You must furnish items 1 and 2 above
certain charitable deduction property made
charitable purpose. You do not have to file within 15 days after the latest of the date:
within 2 years after the donor contributed the
property. Form 8282 if an item is consumed or ● You transferred the property,
distributed, without consideration, in fulfilling
your purpose or function as a tax-exempt ● The original donee signed the Appraisal
Definitions organization. For example, no reporting is Summary, or
Note: For Form 8282 and these instructions, required for medical supplies consumed or ● You received a copy of the Appraisal
the term “donee” includes all donees, unless distributed by a tax-exempt relief organization Summary from the preceding donee if you are
specific reference is made to “original” or in aiding disaster victims. also a successor donee.
“successor” donees. Information the successor donee must give
Original donee. The first donee to or for When To File you. The successor donee organization to
which the donor gave the property. The If you dispose of charitable deduction whom you transferred this property is
original donee is required to sign an Appraisal property within 2 years of the date the required to give you their organization’s
Summary presented by the donor for original donee received it and you do not name, address, and EIN within 15 days after
charitable deduction property. meet exception 1 or 2 above, you must file the later of:
Successor donee. Any donee of property Form 8282 within 125 days after the date of ● The date you transferred the property, or
other than the original donee. disposition. ● The date they received a copy of the
Appraisal summary. Section B of Form Exception. If you did not file because you Appraisal Summary.
8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions. had no reason to believe the substantiation Information you must give the donor. You
requirements applied to the donor, but you must give a copy of your Form 8282 to the
Charitable deduction property. Property
later become aware that they did apply, file original donor of the property.
(other than money or certain publicly traded
Form 8282 within 60 days after the date you
securities) for which the original donee Recordkeeping. You must keep a copy of
become aware you are liable. For example,
signed, or was presented with for signature, the Appraisal Summary in your records.
this exception would apply where an
the Appraisal Summary (Form 8283,
Appraisal Summary is furnished to a
Section B).
successor donee after the date that donee Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask
Generally, only items or groups of similar disposes of the charitable deduction property.
items for which the donor claimed a for the information on this form to carry out
the Internal Revenue laws of the United
deduction of more than $5,000 are included Missing Information States. You are required to give us the
on the Appraisal Summary. There is an
exception if a donor gives similar items to If Form 8282 is filed by the due date, you information. We need it to ensure that you are
more than one donee organization and the must enter your organization’s name, complying with these laws and to allow us to
total deducted for these similar items address, and EIN and complete at least Part figure and collect the right amount of tax.
exceeds $5,000. For example, if a donor III, column (a). You do not have to complete You are not required to provide the
deducts $2,000 for books given to a donee the remaining items if the information is not information requested on a form that is
organization and $4,000 for books to another available. For example, you may not have the subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
donee organization, the donor must present a information necessary to complete all entries unless the form displays a valid OMB control
separate Appraisal Summary to each if the donor’s Appraisal Summary is not number. Books or records relating to a form
organization. For more information, see the available to you. or its instructions must be retained as long as
Instructions for Form 8283. their contents may become material in the
Where To File administration of any Internal Revenue law.
Who Must File Send Form 8282 to the Internal Revenue Generally, tax returns and return information
Service, Ogden, UT 84201-0027. are confidential, as required by section 6103.
Original and successor donee organizations
must file Form 8282 if they sell, exchange, The time needed to complete this form will
consume, or otherwise dispose of (with or Penalty vary depending on individual circumstances.
without consideration) charitable deduction The estimated average time is:
You may be subject to a penalty if you fail to
property within 2 years after the date the file this form by the due date, fail to include Recordkeeping 3 hr., 7 min.
original donee received the property. See all of the information required to be shown on Learning about the law
Charitable deduction property earlier. this form, or fail to include correct information or the form 35 min.
Exceptions. There are two situations where on this form (see Missing Information Preparing and sending
Form 8282 does not have to be filed. above). The penalty is generally $50. For the form to the IRS 41 min.
1. Items valued at $500 or less. You do more details, see section 6721.
If you have comments concerning the
not have to file Form 8282 if, at the time the
original donee signed the Appraisal Summary, Other Requirements accuracy of these time estimates or
suggestions for making this form simpler, we
the donor had signed a statement on Form Information you must give a successor would be happy to hear from you. You can
8283 that the appraised value of the specific donee. If the property is transferred to write to the Tax Forms Committee, Western
item was not more than $500. If Form 8283 another charitable organization within the Area Distribution Center, Rancho Cordova,
contains more than one similar item, this 2-year period discussed earlier, you must give CA 95743-0001. DO NOT send the form to
exception applies only to those items that are your successor donee all of the following this address. Instead, see Where To File on
clearly identified as having a value of $500 or information. this page.
less. However, for purposes of the donor’s

218 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Form 8283 Noncash Charitable Contributions OMB No. 1545-0908
(Rev. October 1998)
Attach to your tax return if you claimed a total deduction
of over $500 for all contributed property. Attachment
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
See separate instructions. Sequence No. 55
Name(s) shown on your income tax return Identifying number

Note: Figure the amount of your contribution deduction before completing this form. See your tax return instructions.
Section A—List in this section only items (or groups of similar items) for which you claimed a deduction of $5,000 or
less. Also, list certain publicly traded securities even if the deduction is over $5,000 (see instructions).
Part I Information on Donated Property—If you need more space, attach a statement.
(a) Name and address of the
1 donee organization
(b) Description of donated property

A

B

C

D

E

Note: If the amount you claimed as a deduction for an item is $500 or less, you do not have to complete columns (d), (e), and (f).
(c) Date of the (d) Date acquired (e) How acquired (f) Donor’s cost (h) Method used to determine the fair
(g) Fair market value
contribution by donor (mo., yr.) by donor or adjusted basis market value

A
B
C
D
E
Part II Other Information—Complete line 2 if you gave less than an entire interest in property listed in Part I.
Complete line 3 if conditions were attached to a contribution listed in Part I.
2 If, during the year, you contributed less than the entire interest in the property, complete lines a–e.
a Enter the letter from Part I that identifies the property
. If Part II applies to more than one property, attach a
separate statement.
b Total amount claimed as a deduction for the property listed in Part I: (1) For this tax year
.
(2) For any prior tax years
.
c Name and address of each organization to which any such contribution was made in a prior year (complete only if different
from the donee organization above):
Name of charitable organization (donee)

Address (number, street, and room or suite no.)

City or town, state, and ZIP code

d For tangible property, enter the place where the property is located or kept

e Name of any person, other than the donee organization, having actual possession of the property


3 If conditions were attached to any contribution listed in Part I, answer questions a – c and attach the required
statement (see instructions).
a Is there a restriction, either temporary or permanent, on the donee’s right to use or dispose of the donated Yes No
property?
b Did you give to anyone (other than the donee organization or another organization participating with the donee
organization in cooperative fundraising) the right to the income from the donated property or to the possession
of the property, including the right to vote donated securities, to acquire the property by purchase or otherwise,
or to designate the person having such income, possession, or right to acquire?
c Is there a restriction limiting the donated property for a particular use?
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see page 4 of separate instructions. Cat. No. 62299J Form 8283 (Rev. 10-98)

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 219
Form 8283 (Rev. 10-98) Page 2
Name(s) shown on your income tax return Identifying number

Section B—Appraisal Summary—List in this section only items (or groups of similar items) for which you claimed a
deduction of more than $5,000 per item or group. Exception. Report contributions of certain publicly
traded securities only in Section A.
If you donated art, you may have to attach the complete appraisal. See the Note in Part I below.
Part I Information on Donated Property—To be completed by the taxpayer and/or appraiser.
4 Check type of property:
Art* (contribution of $20,000 or more) Real Estate Gems/Jewelry Stamp Collections
Art* (contribution of less than $20,000) Coin Collections Books Other
*Art includes paintings, sculptures, watercolors, prints, drawings, ceramics, antique furniture, decorative arts, textiles, carpets, silver, rare
manuscripts, historical memorabilia, and other similar objects.
Note: If your total art contribution deduction was $20,000 or more, you must attach a complete copy of the signed appraisal. See instructions.

5 (a) Description of donated property (if you need (b) If tangible property was donated, give a brief summary of the overall (c) Appraised fair
more space, attach a separate statement) physical condition at the time of the gift market value

A
B
C
D
(d) Date acquired (e) How acquired (f) Donor’s cost or (g) For bargain sales, enter See instructions
by donor (mo., yr.) by donor adjusted basis amount received (h) Amount claimed as a (i) Average trading price
deduction of securities
A
B
C
D
Part II Taxpayer (Donor) Statement—List each item included in Part I above that the appraisal identifies as
having a value of $500 or less. See instructions.
I declare that the following item(s) included in Part I above has to the best of my knowledge and belief an appraised value of not more than $500
(per item). Enter identifying letter from Part I and describe the specific item. See instructions.


Signature of taxpayer (donor)
Date

Part III Declaration of Appraiser
I declare that I am not the donor, the donee, a party to the transaction in which the donor acquired the property, employed by, or related to any
of the foregoing persons, or married to any person who is related to any of the foregoing persons. And, if regularly used by the donor, donee, or
party to the transaction, I performed the majority of my appraisals during my tax year for other persons.
Also, I declare that I hold myself out to the public as an appraiser or perform appraisals on a regular basis; and that because of my qualifications
as described in the appraisal, I am qualified to make appraisals of the type of property being valued. I certify that the appraisal fees were not based
on a percentage of the appraised property value. Furthermore, I understand that a false or fraudulent overstatement of the property value as
described in the qualified appraisal or this appraisal summary may subject me to the penalty under section 6701(a) (aiding and abetting the
understatement of tax liability). I affirm that I have not been barred from presenting evidence or testimony by the Director of Practice.
Sign
Here Signature
Title
Date of appraisal

Business address (including room or suite no.) Identifying number

City or town, state, and ZIP code

Part IV Donee Acknowledgment—To be completed by the charitable organization.
This charitable organization acknowledges that it is a qualified organization under section 170(c) and that it received the donated
property as described in Section B, Part I, above on

(Date)

Furthermore, this organization affirms that in the event it sells, exchanges, or otherwise disposes of the property described in Section
B, Part I (or any portion thereof) within 2 years after the date of receipt, it will file Form 8282, Donee Information Return, with the
IRS and give the donor a copy of that form. This acknowledgment does not represent agreement with the claimed fair market value.
Does the organization intend to use the property for an unrelated use?
Yes No
Name of charitable organization (donee) Employer identification number

Address (number, street, and room or suite no.) City or town, state, and ZIP code

Authorized signature Title Date

220 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Instructions for Form 8283 Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
(Revised October 1998)
Noncash Charitable Contributions
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.

your Schedule K-1, not the amount shown on the Form
General Instructions 8283.
If the partnership or S corporation is not required to give
Purpose of Form you a copy of its Form 8283, combine the amount of
Use Form 8283 to report information about noncash noncash contributions shown on your Schedule K-1 with
charitable contributions. your other noncash contributions to see if you must file
Do not use Form 8283 to report out-of-pocket expenses Form 8283. If you need to file Form 8283, you do not
for volunteer work or amounts you gave by check or credit have to complete all the information requested in Section
card. Treat these items as cash contributions. Also, do A for your share of the partnership's or S corporation's
not use Form 8283 to figure your charitable contribution contributions. Complete only column (g) of line 1 with your
deduction. For details on how to figure the amount of the share of the contribution and enter “From Schedule K-1
deduction, see your tax return instructions. (Form 1065 or 1120S)” across columns (c)–(f).

Additional Information When To File
You may want to see Pub. 526, Charitable Contributions File Form 8283 with your tax return for the year you
(for individuals), and Pub. 561, Determining the Value of contribute the property and first claim a deduction.
Donated Property. If you contributed depreciable property, Which Sections To Complete
see Pub. 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.
If you must file Form 8283, you may need to complete
Who Must File Section A, Section B, or both, depending on the type of
You must file Form 8283 if the amount of your deduction property donated and the amount claimed as a deduction.
for all noncash gifts is more than $500. For this purpose, Section A. Include in Section A only items (or groups of
“amount of your deduction” means your deduction before similar items as defined on this page) for which you
applying any income limits that could result in a carryover. claimed a deduction of $5,000 or less per item (or group
The carryover rules are explained in Pub. 526. Make any of similar items). Also, include the following publicly
required reductions to fair market value (FMV) before you traded securities even if the deduction is more than
determine if you must file Form 8283. See Fair Market $5,000.
Value (FMV) on page 2. ● Securities listed on an exchange in which quotations are

Form 8283 is filed by individuals, partnerships, and published daily,
corporations. ● Securities regularly traded in national or regional

Note: C corporations, other than personal service over-the-counter markets for which published quotations
corporations and closely held corporations, must file Form are available, or
8283 only if the amount claimed as a deduction is over ● Securities that are shares of a mutual fund for which
$5,000. quotations are published on a daily basis in a newspaper
Partnerships and S corporations. A partnership or S of general circulation throughout the United States.
corporation that claims a deduction for noncash gifts over Section B. Include in Section B only items (or groups of
$500 must file Form 8283 with Form 1065, 1065-B, or similar items) for which you claimed a deduction of more
1120S. If the total deduction of any item or group of similar than $5,000 (omit publicly traded securities reportable in
items exceeds $5,000, the partnership or S corporation Section A). With certain exceptions, items reported in
must complete Section B of Form 8283 even if the amount Section B will require information based on a written
allocated to each partner or shareholder does not exceed appraisal by a qualified appraiser.
$5,000.
Similar Items of Property
The partnership or S corporation must give a completed
copy of Form 8283 to each partner or shareholder Similar items of property are items of the same generic
receiving an allocation of the contribution deduction category or type, such as stamp collections, coin
shown in Section B of the partnership's or S corporation's collections, lithographs, paintings, books, nonpublicly
Form 8283. traded stock, land, or buildings.
Partners and shareholders. The partnership or S Example. You claimed a deduction of $400 for
corporation will provide information about your share of clothing, $7,000 for publicly traded securities (quotations
the contribution on your Schedule K-1 (Form 1065 or published daily), and $6,000 for a collection of 15 books
1120S). ($400 each). Report the clothing and securities in Section
In some cases, the partnership or S corporation must A and the books (a group of similar items) in Section B.
give you a copy of its Form 8283. If you received a copy Special Rule for Certain C Corporations
of Form 8283 from the partnership or S corporation, attach
A special rule applies for deductions taken by certain
a copy to your tax return. Deduct the amount shown on
C corporations under section 170(e)(3) or (4) for
contributions of inventory or scientific equipment.
Cat. No. 62730R

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 221
To determine if you must file Form 8283 or which ● The contributed property is tangible personal property
section to complete, use the difference between the that is put to an unrelated use (as defined in Pub. 526)
amount you claimed as a deduction and the amount you by the charity.
would have claimed as cost of goods sold (COGS) had Qualified conservation contribution. If your donation
you sold the property instead. This rule is only for qualifies as a “qualified conservation contribution” under
purposes of Form 8283. It does not change the amount section 170(h), attach a statement showing the FMV of
or method of figuring your contribution deduction. the underlying property before and after the gift and the
If you do not have to file Form 8283 because of this rule, conservation purpose furthered by the gift. See Pub. 561
you must attach a statement to your tax return (similar to for more details.
the one in the example below). Also, attach a statement
if you must complete Section A, instead of Section B,
because of this rule. Specific Instructions
Example. You donated clothing from your inventory for Identifying number. Individuals must enter their social
the care of the needy. The clothing cost you $5,000 and security number or individual taxpayer identification
your claimed charitable deduction is $8,000. Complete number. All other filers should enter their employer
Section A instead of Section B because the difference identification number.
between the amount you claimed as a charitable
deduction and the amount that would have been your
COGS deduction is $3,000 ($8,000 – $5,000). Attach a Section A
statement to Form 8283 similar to the following:
Part I, Information on Donated Property
Form 8283—Inventory Line 1
Contribution deduction $8,000 Column (b). Describe the property in sufficient detail. The
COGS (if sold, not donated) – 5,000
greater the value, the more detail you need. For example,
For Form 8283 filing purposes =$3,000 a car should be described in more detail than pots and
pans.
Fair Market Value (FMV) For securities, include the following:
Although the amount of your deduction determines if you ● Name of the issuer,
have to file Form 8283, you also need to have information ● Kind of security,
about the value of your contribution to complete the form. ● Whether a share of a mutual fund, and
FMV is the price a willing, knowledgeable buyer would ● Whether regularly traded on a stock exchange or in an
pay a willing, knowledgeable seller when neither has to over-the-counter market.
buy or sell.
Note: If the amount you claimed as a deduction for the
You may not always be able to deduct the FMV of your item is $500 or less, you do not have to complete columns
contribution. Depending on the type of property donated, (d), (e), and (f).
you may have to reduce the FMV to get to the deductible
amount, as explained next. Column (d). Enter the approximate date you acquired the
property. If it was created, produced, or manufactured by
Reductions to FMV. The amount of the reduction (if any) or for you, enter the date it was substantially completed.
depends on whether the property is ordinary income
property or capital gain property. Attach a statement to Column (e). State how you acquired the property (i.e.,
your tax return showing how you figured the reduction. by purchase, gift, inheritance, or exchange).
Ordinary income property is property that would result Column (f). Do not complete this column for publicly
in ordinary income or short-term capital gain if it were sold traded securities or property held 12 months or more.
at its FMV on the date it was contributed. Examples of Keep records on cost or other basis.
ordinary income property are inventory, works of art Note: If you have reasonable cause for not providing the
created by the donor, and capital assets held for 1 year information in columns (d) and (f), attach an explanation.
or less. The deduction for a gift of ordinary income Column (g). Enter the FMV of the property on the date
property is limited to the FMV minus the amount that you donated it. If you were required to reduce the FMV
would be ordinary income or short-term capital gain if the of your deduction or you gave a qualified conservation
property were sold. contribution, you must attach a statement. See Fair
Capital gain property is property that would result in Market Value (FMV) on this page for the type of
long-term capital gain if it were sold at its FMV on the date statement to attach.
it was contributed. It includes certain real property and Column (h). Enter the method(s) you used to determine
depreciable property used in your trade or business, and the FMV. The FMV of used household goods and clothing
generally held for more than 1 year. You usually may is usually much lower than when new. A good measure
deduct gifts of capital gain property at their FMV. of value might be the price that buyers of these used items
However, you must reduce the FMV by the amount of any actually pay in consignment or thrift shops.
appreciation if any of the following apply. Examples of entries to make include “Appraisal,” “Thrift
● The capital gain property is contributed to certain private shop value” (for clothing or household goods), “Catalog”
nonoperating foundations. This rule does not apply to (for stamp or coin collections), or “Comparable sales” (for
qualified appreciated stock. real estate and other kinds of assets). See Pub. 561.
● You choose the 50% limit instead of the special 30%
Part II, Other Information
limit.
If Part II applies to more than one property, attach a
separate statement. Give the required information for
Page 2

222 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
each property separately. Identify which property listed in A separate qualified appraisal and a separate Form
Part I the information relates to. 8283 are required for each item of property except for an
item that is part of a group of similar items. Only one
Lines 2a Through 2e appraisal is required for a group of similar items
Complete lines 2a–2e only if you contributed less than the contributed in the same tax year, if it includes all the
entire interest in the donated property during the tax year. required information for each item. The appraiser may
On line 2b, enter the amount claimed as a deduction for group similar items with a collective value appraised at
this tax year and in any prior tax years for gifts of a partial $100 or less.
interest in the same property. If you gave similar items to more than one donee for
Lines 3a Through 3c which you claimed a total deduction of more than $5,000,
you must attach a separate form for each donee.
Complete lines 3a–3c only if you attached restrictions to Example. You claimed a deduction of $2,000 for books
the right to the income, use, or disposition of the donated given to College A, $2,500 for books given to College B,
property. An example of a “restricted use” is furniture that and $900 for books given to a public library. You must
you gave only to be used in the reading room of an attach a separate Form 8283 for each donee.
organization's library. Attach a statement explaining (1)
the terms of any agreement or understanding regarding See Regulations section 1.170A-13(c)(3)(i)–(ii) for the
the restriction, and (2) whether the property is designated definition of a “qualified appraisal” and information to be
for a particular use. included in the appraisal.
Line 5
Section B Note: You must complete at least column (a) of line 5
Part I, Information on Donated Property (and column (b) if applicable) before submitting Form
8283 to the donee. You may then complete the remaining
You must have a written appraisal from a qualified columns.
appraiser that supports the information in Part I. However, Column (a). Provide enough detail so a person unfamiliar
see the Exceptions below. with the property could identify it in the appraisal.
Use Part I to summarize your appraisal(s). Generally, Column (c). Include the FMV from the appraisal. If you
you do not need to attach the appraisals but you should were not required to get an appraisal, include the FMV
keep them for your records. But see Art valued at you determine to be correct.
$20,000 or more below. Columns (d)–(f). If you have reasonable cause for not
Exceptions. You do not need a written appraisal if the providing the information in columns (d), (e), or (f), attach
property is: an explanation so your deduction will not automatically be
● Nonpublicly traded stock of $10,000 or less, disallowed.
● Certain securities considered to have market Column (g). A bargain sale is a transfer of property that
quotations readily available (see Regulations section is in part a sale or exchange and in part a contribution.
1.170A-13(c)(7)(xi)(B)), Enter the amount received for bargain sales.
● A donation by a C corporation (other than a closely held Column (h). Complete column (h) only if you were not
corporation or personal service corporation), or required to get an appraisal, as explained earlier.
● Inventory and other property donated by a closely held Column (i). Complete column (i) only if you donated
corporation or a personal service corporation that are securities for which market quotations are considered to
“qualified contributions” for the care of the ill, the needy, be readily available because the issue satisfies the five
or infants, within the meaning of section 170(e)(3)(A). requirements described in Regulations section
Although a written appraisal is not required for the types 1.170A-13(c)(7)(xi)(B).
of property listed above, you must provide certain
information in Part I of Section B (see Regulations section Part II, Taxpayer (Donor) Statement
1.170A-13(c)(4)(iv)) and have the donee organization Complete Part II for each item included in Part I that has
complete Part IV. an appraised value of $500 or less. Because you do not
Art valued at $20,000 or more. If your total deduction have to show the value of these items in Part I of the
for art is $20,000 or more, you must attach a complete donee's copy of Form 8283, clearly identify them for the
copy of the signed appraisal. For individual objects valued donee in Part II. Then, the donee does not have to file
at $20,000 or more, a photograph must be provided upon Form 8282, Donee Information Return, for items valued
request. The photograph must be of sufficient quality and at $500 or less. See the Note on page 4 for more details
size (preferably an 8 x 10 inch color photograph or a color about filing Form 8282.
transparency no smaller than 4 x 5 inches) to fully show The amount of information you give in Part II depends
the object. on the description of the donated property you enter in
Part I. If you show a single item as “Property A” in Part I
Appraisal Requirements and that item is appraised at $500 or less, then the entry
The appraisal must be made not earlier than 60 days “Property A” in Part II is enough. However, if “Property A”
before the date you contribute the property. You must consists of several items and the total appraised value is
receive the appraisal before the due date (including over $500, list in Part II any item(s) you gave that is
extensions) of the return on which you first claim a valued at $500 or less.
deduction for the property. For a deduction first claimed All shares of nonpublicly traded stock or items in a set
on an amended return, the appraisal must be received are considered one item. For example, a book collection
before the date the amended return was filed. by the same author, components of a stereo system, or
six place settings of a pattern of silverware are one item

Page 3

Appendix B—Changes in United States Tax Regulations 223
for the $500 test. The person acknowledging the gift must be an official
Example. You donated books valued at $6,000. The authorized to sign the tax returns of the organization, or
appraisal states that one of the items, a collection of a person specifically designated to sign Form 8283. After
books by author “X,” is worth $400. On the Form 8283 that completing Part IV, the organization must return Form
you are required to give the donee, you decide not to 8283 to you, the donor. You must give a copy of Section
show the appraised value of all of the books. But you also B of this form to the donee organization. You may then
do not want the donee to have to file Form 8282 if the complete any remaining information required in Part I.
collection of books is sold. If your description of Property Also, Part III may be completed at this time by the
A on line 5 includes all the books, then specify in Part II qualified appraiser.
the “collection of books by X included in Property A.” But In some cases, it may be impossible to get the donee's
if your Property A description is “collection of books by signature on the Appraisal Summary. The deduction will
X,” the only required entry in Part II is “Property A.” not be disallowed for that reason if you attach a detailed
In the above example, you may have chosen instead to explanation why it was impossible.
give a completed copy of Form 8283 to the donee. The Note: If the donee (or a successor donee) organization
donee would then be aware of the value. If you include disposes of the property within 2 years after the date the
all the books as Property A on line 5, and enter $6,000 in original donee received it, the organization must file Form
column (c), you may still want to describe the specific 8282, Donee Information Return, with the IRS and send
collection in Part II so the donee can sell it without filing a copy to the donor. An exception applies to items having
Form 8282. a value of $500 or less if the donor identified the items and
signed the statement in Part II (Section B) of Form 8283.
Part III, Declaration of Appraiser See the instructions for Part II.
If you had to get an appraisal, the appraiser must
complete Part III to be considered qualified. See Failure To File Form 8283, Section B
Regulations section 1.170A-13(c)(5) for a definition of a If you fail to attach Form 8283 to your return for donated
qualified appraiser. property that is required to be reported in Section B, your
Persons who cannot be qualified appraisers are listed deduction will be disallowed unless your failure was due
in the Declaration of Appraiser. Usually, a party to the to a good-faith omission. If the IRS asks you to submit the
transaction will not qualify to sign the declaration. But a form, you have 90 days to send a completed Section B
person who sold, exchanged, or gave the property to you of Form 8283 before your deduction is disallowed.
may sign the declaration if the property was donated
within 2 months of the date you acquired it and the
property's appraised value did not exceed its acquisition Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask for the
price. information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue
laws of the United States. You are required to give us the
An appraiser may not be considered qualified if you had information. We need it to ensure that you are complying
knowledge of facts that would cause a reasonable person with these laws and to allow us to figure and collect the
to expect the appraiser to falsely overstate the value of the right amount of tax.
property. An example of this is an agreement between you
and the appraiser about the property value when you You are not required to provide the information
know that the appraised amount exceeds the actual FMV. requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork
Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB
Usually, appraisal fees cannot be based on a control number. Books or records relating to a form or its
percentage of the appraised value unless the fees were instructions must be retained as long as their contents
paid to certain not-for-profit associations. See Regulations may become material in the administration of any Internal
section 1.170A-13(c)(6)(ii). Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return
Part IV, Donee Acknowledgment information are confidential, as required by section 6103.
The donee organization that received the property The time needed to complete and file this form will vary
described in Part I of Section B must complete Part IV. depending on individual circumstances. The estimated
Before submitting page 2 of Form 8283 to the donee for average time is: Recordkeeping, 20 min.; Learning
acknowledgment, complete at least your name, identifying about the law or the form, 29 min.; Preparing the form,
number, and description of the donated property (line 5, 37 min.; Copying, assembling, and sending the form
column (a)). If tangible property is donated, also describe to the IRS, 35 min.
its physical condition (line 5, column (b)) at the time of the If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these
gift. Complete Part II, if applicable, before submitting the time estimates or suggestions for making this form
form to the donee. See the instructions for Part II. simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. See the
instructions for the tax return with which this form is filed.

Page 4

224 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
224 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Appendix C:
Investment Policy
For the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
the United States (1998)
This policy is not intended to apply to, or serve as a model for, the investment, control
and safekeeping of funds of any Bahá’í institution except the National Spiritual Assembly. The National Spiritual Assembly and the Office of the Treasurer cannot provide individuals with specific investment or tax advice. Considering whether one would
be comfortable defending investment decisions to the press may serve as a good test.

I. Introduction and Purpose
The purpose of this Investment Policy is to set forth operating procedures from
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States to guide the
administration of the investment portfolios managed on its behalf by the O¹ce
of the Treasurer (also referred to as the “Treasurer’s O¹ce”).

This statement of Investment policy outlines the objectives, goals, and guidelines
for the Bahá’í Funds and is set forth in order to achieve the general objectives
outlined below.

A. There is to be a clear understanding on the part of the Treasurer’s
O¹ce regarding the investment objectives and policies for investment
of the funds of the Bahá’í Faith.

B. The Treasurer’s O¹ce shall have a meaningful basis for the evaluation
of portfolio performance in terms of meeting the ³nancial targets and
following the guidelines of this policy.

C. In those cases where a professional, external investment manager(s) is
chosen, such manager should be given guidance and limitations in the
investment of the Fund’s assets; in this document such manager or man-

Appendix C—Investment Policy 225
agers will be termed “Investment Manager.” This de³nition also applies
to mutual funds or similar vehicles in which participants’ funds are commingled.

D. The investment of the Fund’s assets shall be for the exclusive purpose of
providing for the advancement of the Bahá’í Faith.

E. The Fund shall be managed at all times in accordance and compliance
with standards of prudent investment. The ³duciary responsibilities of
prudent management are those de³ned in the Uniform Management of
Institutional Funds Act of 1972 and the Prudent Investor Rule under
the Trust and Trustees Act of 1992 (as both may be amended from time
to time) which have been adopted in the State of Illinois.

F. The investments shall be selected and diversi³ed so as to maximize rate
of return commensurate with safety of principal, both of these in the
context of the investment portfolio(s) as a whole, not to investments in
isolation.

G. All parties understand the need to avoid making any investment or dealing with any ³rm which might be an embarrassment to the Bahá’í Faith
and its institutions.

H. It is the intent of this document to state general attitudes, guidelines,
and a philosophy which will guide both the Treasurer’s O¹ce and any
Investment Manager toward the performance desired. It is intended that
the investment policies be su¹ciently speci³c to be meaningful but
su¹ciently ·exible to be practicable.

I. All investments and all portions of this policy statement are required to
be in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations. Any section of this policy not in compliance with such regulations is automatically void.

II. Responsibilities of the
National Spiritual Assembly
A. The National Spiritual Assembly has responsibility for approving this
policy.

B. The National Assembly will hire and discharge Investment Managers,
³nancial consultants and custodians, taking into account the recommendations of the Treasurer’s O¹ce. It will designate the o¹ces and individuals who are empowered to make day-to-day investment decisions, deal

226 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
with Investment Managers, ³nancial consultants and custodians, collect and transfer investment monies, and otherwise implement this policy.

C. The National Spiritual Assembly will decide whether the ³rms and investments proposed under this policy by the Treasurer’s O¹ce comply
with the teachings and principles of the Bahá’í Faith and inform the
Treasurer’s O¹ce of its decisions. To the extent possible this will be
done prior to any commitments to such ³rms or investments.

D. The National Spiritual Assembly will inform the Treasurer’s O¹ce of
restrictions in terms of sale or maturity, including earmarking, on any
investment funds. It will request donor acquiescence to release restrictions where, in the National Assembly’s view, this would be desirable. It
will also review and approve Treasurer’s O¹ce plans for maturities of
the various investment fund categories to make certain that the timelines
of assets and liabilities are matched. This is particularly important for
project funds but can apply to other categories as well. This aproval will
take place prior to commitment to sell, invest or expend investment
assets. The National Spiritual Assembly will also designate which funds
are endowment-type funds with no de³ned maturity.

E. Besides income from interest and dividends, the National Spiritual Assembly may authorize access to the net appreciation of any endowment
fund over the historic dollar value of the fund unless the donor has
speci³cally directed that the net appreciation cannot be accessed and
the donor shall not have released this restriction.

III. Responsibilties of the
Treasurer’s Office
General Responsibilities of the Treasurer’s Office
A. The Treasurer’s O¹ce will have the responsibility for carrying out the
Investment Policy.

B. The Treasurer (or the Chief Financial O¹cer/Finance Coordinator or
the Controller of the National Spiritual Assembly, if so designated by
the National Assembly) shall be the person(s) with the authority and
responsibility to communicate and enforce, on the National Assembly’s
behalf, compliance with this policy and also to recommend to the National Assembly the appointment and approval of those who are entitled to make investments, select or replace the Investment Manager
and any ³nancial consultants, and approve all transactions related to

Appendix C—Investment Policy 227
the National Assembly’s investments. Such designations or appointments
are subject to approval of the National Spiritual Assembly (or such o¹cers
of the National Assembly as it may from time to time designate to provide such approval on its behalf ). It is also the responsibility of the
Treasurer’s O¹ce to report on investment results on a timely basis to the
National Spiritual Assembly.

C. For longer term investments, the Treasurer’s O¹ce may choose to select
an investment committee of individuals knowledgeable in ³nancial matters who will recommend such Investment Managers or ³nancial consultants they deem necessary, and shall comment on investment return
objectives, asset-mix guidelines, investment allocations and any restrictions on investments. Such committee may be used to review portfolio
performance, suggest the reallocation of assets, recommend Investment
Manager changes to the Treasurer, and related issues. The composition
of any such committee shall be recommended by the Treasurer, subject
to the review and approval of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Specific Responsibilities of the Treasurer’s Office
A. The Investment Process

1. The Treasurer’s O¹ce will determine whether one fund, or multiple
funds, are appropriate to meet the needs of the National Spiritual
Assembly and comply with any restrictions, including earmarking,
requested by any donor.

2. With input from the National Spiritual Assembly, the O¹ce will determine the projected cash needs from the fund, or funds, and the
projections of additional cash investment into such funds, and communicate these to the Investment Manager(s) on a timely basis.

3. Mutual or commingled fund investments: Monies which may have been
donated with restrictions on their investment, or for speci³c funds,
but the amounts of which are too small initially to warrant the services of an Investment Manager, still need to be invested. In such
cases, the use of mutual funds or commingled funds, either actively
or passively managed, which otherwise meet the criteria herein may
be utilized to e²ectively manage such monies. Such investment vehicles may also be attractive for use in the construction of larger portfolios.

4. Establishing investmment return objectives appropriate for the asset
mix and sectors chosen.

5. Hiring a ³nancial consultant, if necessary, to assist in establishing in
vestment guidelines, both for the National Assembly itself and also

228 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
which any Investment Manager can use in formulating investment
decisions; providing performance and investment philosophy; and
sharing knowledge of manager experience and performance analysis.

6. Selecting quali³ed Investment Managers when the National Spiritual Assembly determines that longer term investments, including
equities and corporate bonds, would be appropriate for certain funds
and such managers are justi³ed by the size of such investments.

7. Communicating clearly the major duties and responsibilities of the
Investment Manager.

8. Monitoring and evaluating performance results to assure that policy
guidelines are being adhered to and that objectives are being met.

9. Taking appropriate action to replace an Investment Manager for failure to perform.

10.Complying with all applicable rulings and regulations of relevant
regulatory agencies.

B. This Statement of Investment Policy will need to be reviewed at least every
³ve years, and more often if necessary, and revised as appropriate to ensure that this Statement continues to re·ect the National Spiritual
Assembly’s attitudes, expectations, and objectives, as well as re·ecting
material changes in the markets or in investment philosophy and methods. These changes will be implemented by the Treasurer’s O¹ce in
accordance with the other sections of this policy.

C. Custodial Services: the Treasurer’s O¹ce will select a suitable custodian
to oversee all securities and brokerage transactions and provide monthly
detail of all such transactions to both the Treasurer’s O¹ce and any
consultant selected to monitor Investment Manager performance (see
VI J. 2.).

D. Proxy Voting: The Treasurer’s O¹ce will take action to assure the proper
voting of proxies by either designating the investment manager with
this responsibility, or by hiring an outside service to conduct voting of
proxies for the funds. The Treasurer’s O¹ce is responsible to review at
least annually all proxy voting activity.

IV. Responsibilities of
the Investment Manager
Investment Managers are responsible for the following:

Appendix C—Investment Policy 229
A. Adherence to Statement of Investment Policy

1. The teachings of the Bahá’í Faith should be referred to for guidance
on any issues of socially responsible investing. The Treasurer’s O¹ce
will consult with, and seek guidance from, the National Spiritual
Assembly on selected issues as necessary and communicate the decisions to the Investment Manager who is expected to observe these
rigorously.

2. The Investment Manager’s acceptance of the responsibility to manage assets of the Funds will constitute a rati³cation of this Statement
of Investment Policy, a¹rming the belief that the Manager is capable of achieving the National Assembly’s objectives within the guidelines and limitations stated herein and as ampli³ed by the Treasurer’s
O¹ce.

B. Discretionary Authority

1. Within the context of the guidelines provided herein, the Investment Manager will be responsible for making investment decisions
on a discretionary basis regarding all assets placed under its jurisdiction and will be held accountable for achieving the investment objectives indicated herein. Such discretion shall include decisions to buy,
hold, and sell securities in amounts and proportion’s that are re·ective
of the Investment Manager’s current investment strategy and compatible with the Fund’s investment guidelines.

C. Communication

1. The Investment Manager will keep the Treasurer’s O¹ce informed
on a timely basis of major changes in its investment outlook, investment strategy, asset allocation, and other matters that re·ect investment policies or philosophy.

2. The Treasurer’s O¹ce shall be informed on a timely basis of any
signi³cant changes in the ownership, organizational structure,
³nancial condition or senior sta¹ng of the Investment Manager’s
³rm.

3. Whenever the Investment Manager believes that any particular guide
line should be changed, it will be the Investment Manager’s responsibility to initiate written communication with the Treasurer’s O¹ce
expressing its views and recommendations.

D. Reporting

1. The Treasurer’s O¹ce shall receive timely notices of transaction activities as well as no less than quarterly performance reports. In addi-

230 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
tion, there should be at least one face-to-face meeting with the Investment Manager annually.

2. In addition, any information needed to assist the Treasurer’s O¹ce
in conducting its evaluation of the Investment Manager’s performance
as it relates to fund assets will be presented on a timely basis. This
will include transaction activities and commissions generated to compensate the broker/dealer for consulting and other services as speci³ed
under Section 28(e) of the Securities and Exchange Commission Act
of 1934.

E. Proxy Voting

1. The Investment Manager, as a part of its duties and responsibilities,
shall have the exclusive right, when designated by the Treasurer’s
O¹ce, to vote any and all proxies solicited in connection with securities held by the Fund. The Investment Manager shall keep accurate
records with respect to its voting of proxies and shall submit a report
on an annual basis to the Treasurer’s O¹ce summarizing the voting.

F. Investment Transactions

1. Understanding that the Investment Manager, as ³duciary, has the
responsibility to execute every transaction in the best interests of the
Fund and its participants, the Treasurer’s O¹ce reserves the right to
direct brokerage commissions to ³rms which provide bene³cial service directly to the fund, recognizing that the cost of such services
would otherwise have to be paid in hard dollars from the Fund.

V. Short Term Portfolio Composition
and Cash Flow Management
The portfolio should be comprised of securities with the following characteristics: a low degree of default risk; a low degree of price risk resulting from changes
in the level of interest rates; and a high degree of marketability. These characteristics limit the types of investments that may be acquired. In this section investments authorized are outlined along with maturity and diversi³cation requirements. In addition, certain unauthorized investment transactions are speci³ed.

A. Authorized Investments

1. Direct obligations of the United States of America and agencies
thereof;

2. Obligations fully guaranteed by the United States of America;

Appendix C—Investment Policy 231
3. Certi³cates of deposit issued by or bankers’ acceptances of, or a time
deposits with, any bank, trust company, or national banking association incorporated or doing business under the laws of the United
States of America or one of the States thereof which is FDIC insured
and having a rating assigned by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. of at
least Aa3 and by Standard & Poor’s Corporation of at least AA-;

4. Commercial paper of any holding company of a bank, trust company or national banking association described in paragraph 3;

5. Commercial paper of companies having a rating assigned to such
commercial paper by Standard and Poor’s Corporation or Moody’s
Investors Service, Inc. of A-1/P-1;*

6. United States-issued Yankee certi³cates of deposit issued by, or
bankers’acceptances of, or commercial paper issued by, any bank having rated by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. of at least Aa3 and Standard & Poor’s Corporation of at least AA- and headquartered in
Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, West Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain or Italy;

7. Canadian Treasury Bills fully hedged to United States dollars;

8. Bonds or other debt instruments of any company, if such bond or
other debt instruments, at the time of purchase, is rated at least AA-
by Standard & Poor’s Corporation and Aa3 by Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc.; *

9. Money-market mutual funds that meet the above stated criteria for
quality, safety, and liquidity.

B. Maturity of Investments

1. In order to control the risk of loss resulting from increase in the level
of rates and the forced sale of securities, the maturity distribution of
the investment portfolio must be controlled by the Treasurer’s o¹ce.
Normally, investment decisions shall be restricted to securities with
a maturity of one year or less. When the needs of the Fund are such
that su¹cient funds are being generated to cover short term needs,
and with the review and approval of the Chief Financial O¹cer, up
to 20% of the portfolio may be for investment maturities of one to
four years. In such cases, bond investments must have call protection. If the bond proceeds are expected to be needed prior to matu
rity they should not be deep discount or zero coupon bonds due to
their volatility.

* Investments must be screened prior to investment to ensure they meet Bahá’í guidelines for
“social responsibility”

232 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
C. Diversi³cation Requirements

1. Securities issued by the United States Treasury and by agencies of the
Federal Government may be held in unlimited amounts.

2. All other classes of investments as detailed in section V. A. are limited to 40% of total investments. Further, no more than 5% of total
investments may be invested in any corporate issuer or any single
country outside the United States The purpose of this limitation is
to achieve diversi³cation and avoid the risk of over-concentration of
risk in a single entity.

D. Unauthorized Transactions

The following transactions are unauthorized for use by the O¹ce of the Treasurer:

1. Futures Contracts—A futures contract is an agreement calling for a ³xed
price, future delivery of standardized commodities including certain
United States Government and Agency securities.

2. Forward Placement Contracts—There are two types of forward placement contracts, both of which are unauthorized:

a. Standby Commitment—This is an agreement for the sale of a security at a future date whereby the buyer of the security is required to
accept delivery at the option of the seller.

b. Cash Forward Agreement—This is an agreement to purchase or sell
a security at a future date with mandatory delivery and acceptance.

3. Short Sales—This is the sale of a security that is not owned by the seller.

4. Adjusted Trades—This is a method of hiding an investment loss by sell
ing a security at a ³ctitiously high price to a dealer and simultaneously
buying another over-priced security from the same dealer.

5. Any future, covered option, margin, or derivative contract which has
the e²ect of leveraging the portfolio.

6. Investments in securities of the Investment Manager, custodian or other
security which would be considered a self-dealing transaction.

7. Investment in warrants.

8. Repurchase agreements (“repos”) and reverse repos may not be held as
individual securities.

9. All other investment vehicles that are not speci³cally referred to in Section V.A. above.

Appendix C—Investment Policy 233
VI. Longer Term Portfolio
Composition and Investment
Objectives
These funds are comprised of assets that the National Spiritual Assembly has
approved for a longer term investment strategy.

The primary investment objectives in acquiring these assets are to achieve maximum rates of return commensurate with safety of principal, given the guidelines
on asset mix, diversi³cation, credit quality and the other restrictions contained
herein. The guidelines are consistent with the overall objective, which is to grow
the assets on an in·ation-adjusted basis.

The National Spiritual Assembly has concluded that:

1. It is prepared to tolerate a moderate degree of volatility in the returns on
longer-term Assembly assets in an e²ort to increase returns; and

2. An appropriate commitment to equities is warranted since equities are
expected to outperform all other asset classes over the long-term.

A. Asset-Mix Guidelines

The asset-mix guidelines are recommended by the Treasurer’s O¹ce to the
National Spiritual Assembly for its approval and are designed to re·ect an
investment risk posture appropriate for long-term investments. Accordingly,
the Treasurer’s O¹ce will allocate assets among asset classes or Investment
Managers to achieve the stated guidelines. These guidelines will be changed
as circumstances warrant but will be reviewed at least annually.

Asset Class Percent Allocation
Minimum Long-Term Maximum
Policy Target
Equity Investments 40 60 70
Domestic [35] [47.5] [55]
Small Cap [10] [12] [15]
Large Cap Diversi³ed* [25] [35.5] [40]
International [5] [12.5] [15]
Domestic Fixed Income 30 40 60

*Note: The “Large cap” sector could be in a passive or indexed investment

234 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
The above allocations do not include any allocation for short-term investments.
It is recognized that pooled funds and mutual funds may carry some balances of
short term cash. It is also recognized that the Investment Manager may, on occasion and particularly in times of higher-than-normal market volatility, reasonably
hold a percentage of cash for a longer period of time in order to limit the devaluation risk of invested assets. Such a cash position would be viewed as a subset of
the “Domestic Fixed Income” class of assets; the determination to increase or
hold cash would qualify as one of those events requiring advice by the Investment
Manager to the Treasury. In general, however, cash or equivalents in the longterm portfolios should be kept to a minimum, with any larger balances of cash
governed by the short-term investment guidelines in Sect. V.

The basis for the reallocation of assets will be as follows:

1. At any time any Asset Class reaches its maximum or minimum allocation, the Treasurer’s O¹ce (or its Investment Committee, should one
have been appointed by the National Assembly) must discuss, at its earliest convenience (or at the next following meeting of the Investment
Committee, if appropriate), the reallocation of the assets back to the
long-term policy target levels. If the Committee must decide, the actual
decision will be voted upon.

2. It is expected that periodically the Treasurer’s O¹ce will also review,
ideally in consultation with outside advisors and/or the Investment Committee, and possibly make changes in asset mix levels even if percent
ages are within the minimum/maximum bands.

It is also expected that there may be a need for a small amount of liquid
assets to meet the day-to-day operating requirements of end-use
bene³ciaries, or for the reasons mentioned above. These assets generally
will be invested in a high quality money-market fund or an equivalent.

B. Capitalization and Active/Passive Guidelines

Re³ning the general allocations shown above, among domestic equities it is
desirable to diversify further among large, medium and small capitalization
companies, as well as among active and passive styles of investing. An investment allocation among these categories is shown in the following sections.
Although not all of the fund categories which follow may be utilized in every
instance, they are included for purposes of completeness. Passive (index)
fund investments are shown since they have had a consistently attractive longterm return, especially for large capitalization equity investments.

C. Investment Return Objectives

The return objectives outlined below have been established in order to provide the Treasurer’s O¹ce and any Investment Committee with a means to

Appendix C—Investment Policy 235
evaluate the overall performance of all the major investment funds as well as
each individual asset class within the funds. Each fund’s performance will be
evaluated against these objectives annually. The results will be measured after adjusting returns for management fees. A three-year moving, annualized,
time-weighted total rate of return will be the primary measurement calculation.

Total Fund Return Objectives

1. The total return, net of reasonable and customary fees and other expenses, is intended to exceed in·ation in order to maintain the purchasing power of Fund assets.

2. The Fund’s overall net return should exceed the total return on a
diversi³ed target composite, derived from the limits outlined in the above
table and comprised of 32.5% large-cap issues rated in the S&P 500,
small-cap issues distributed 7.5% Russell 2000 Value, 7.5% Russell 2000
Growth, 12.5% MSCI EAFE (or a composite of its regional indices),
and 40% ³xed income issues rated by the Lehman Brothers Aggregate
Bond Index, by 0.50%.

3. The total return should rank in the top third of the universe of endowment/foundation funds with similar asset allocations.

Domestic Equity Asset Return Objectives
For Small Cap Managers

1. The total return of the small cap growth portfolio, net of reasonable
and customary fees and other expenses, should exceed the total return
of the Russell 2000 Growth Index by 1.0%.

2. The total return of the small cap value portfolio, net of reasonable and
customary fees and other expenses, should exceed the total return of the
Russell 2000 Value Index by 1.0%.

3. The total return of the portfolios should rank in the top third of the
universe of equity managers with similar investment styles.

For Passive Fund Managers

1. The large cap index portfolio should closely track the total return of the
S&P 500 Index.

International Equity Asset Return Objectives
For Active Portfolio Managers

1. The total return on the international portfolio, net of reasonable and

236 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
customary fees and other expenses, should exceed the total return of the
MSCI EAFE Index (or a composite of its regional indices), by 1.0%.

2. The total return of the portfolio should rank in the top third of the
consultant’s universe of international managers with similar investment
styles.

For Passive Fund Managers

1. The total return of the passive international portfolio should closely
track the total returns of the MSCI EAFE Index (or a composite of its
regional indices).

Fixed-income Asset Objectives - Active Managers

1. The total return of the ³xed-income portion of the portfolio, net of
reasonable and customary fees and other expenses, should exceed the
total return of the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index by 0.3%.

2. The total return should rank in the top third of the universe of ³xed
income managers with similar investment styles.

D. Investment Guidelines

Insofar as the Investment Committee is directly involved in the selection of
mutual funds and/or commingled funds, it will do so with the advice of a
consultant and the use of analytical resources such as Morningstar. Copies
of fund prospectuses will be kept on ³le at the O¹ce of the Treasurer. For
active, separately managed portfolios the following guidelines will apply. These
guidelines will be reviewed annually.

Overall Guidelines for Active, Separately Managed Portfolios

1. No more than 5% of total assets can be invested in any one company’s
securities, and no more than 15% in any one industry unless authorized
by the Treasurer’s O¹ce. (Managers may employ any acceptable industry classi³cation approach.) This restriction does not apply to investments made in United States Government securities.

2. No more than 5% of a corporation’s outstanding issues in a given security class may be purchased.

3. Futures, covered options or any other derivative investments may be
used for hedging or defensive purposes only. Use of these investments to
leverage the portfolio is prohibited. The Treasurer’s O¹ce must review
prospectuses for pooled funds and mutual funds to ensure that such
portfolios meet this restriction.

Appendix C—Investment Policy 237
4. Investments in securities of the investment manager, custodian, or any
other security which would be considered a self-dealing transaction are
prohibited.

Domestic Equity Guidelines

1. Equity issues purchased must be traded in the New York Stock Exchange,
the American Stock Exchange, or the National Over-the-Counter Market (NASDAQ). However, NASDAQ securities purchased must be
“marginable” (i.e.: securities of su¹cient quality and liquidity to be accepted by the market generally as collateral supporting “margin trad
ing”).

2. American Depository Receipts (ADRs) should be limited to l0% of the
domestic equity portfolio.

International Equity Guidelines

1. The portfolio should be well diversi³ed by country and by number of
securities. At least 75% of the market value of the portfolio must be
invested in securities of companies domiciled in EAFE countries and/or
Canada. Investments in the United States should not be made.

2. Securities must be traded on major, recognized exchanges within each
country.

Fixed-Income Guidelines

1. No more than 25% of the portfolio may be invested in an individual
United States Agency’s securities, no more than 35% in mortgage-backed
issues, and no more than 15% in an individual corporate sector.

2. Except as stated below, all issues must be investment grade quality and
be denominated in United States dollars. The portfolio must have an
average quality rating of at least “A” by a recognized rating agency. All
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMO’s) must pass the F.F.I.E.C.
tests.

3. Up to 10% of the portfolio may be invested in issues that are rated less
than investment grade.

4. Up to 10% of the portfolio may be invested in foreign bonds, dollar or
non-dollar denominated.

5. The average duration of the portfolio must be within one year of the
average duration of the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index.

238 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Cash Equivalents Guidelines

These are found in Sect. V.A.

E. Investment Performance Review and Evaluation

1. Performance results for the Investment Manager will be measured on a
quarterly basis.

2. The investment performance of the total portfolios(s) and equity and
³xed income segments will be measured as described in Sections VI. D.
through G.

3. Mutual fund performance(s) will be compared to the appropriate
Morningstar measurement of results and risk.

4. Consideration shall be given to the extent to which the investment results are consistent with the investment objectives, goals and guidelines
set forth in this document.

5. While the Treasurer’s O¹ce intends to fairly evaluate portfolio performance over the agreed period of evaluation, the Treasurer’s O¹ce reserves the right to recommend to the National Spiritual Assembly that
the Investment Manager be changed if there is:

a. Unacceptable justi³cation for poor results.

b. Lack of responsiveness to Treasurer’s O¹ce overall concern about
the market or an in·exibility to the Investment Manager’s approach.

c. Failure to meet the Treasurer’s O¹ce communication and reporting
requirements.

d. Su¹cient reason in the sole judgment of the Treasurer’s O¹ce to believe a change of Investment Manager would be bene³cial.

F. Other Items and Procedures
Securities Dealers

1. Investment transactions will be conducted with ³nancially strong and
reputable ³rms.

2. Transactions with ³rms not already known to the National Spiritual Assembly may be conducted subject to screening and review by the Financial Advisory Committee or the National Spiritual Assembly or its representative. In addition, when buying Government or Agency securities, it
should be done on a competitive basis with at least two bids.

Appendix C—Investment Policy 239
Payment, Delivery, Safekeeping and Custodianship

1. Payment for securities purchases and securities sold shall be in accordance with the normal and usual practice of the industry. The use of
due bills is not authorized.

2. Most securities should be held in “Street Name” for the purpose of ease
of transaction or transfer, lower custodial costs, ease of accounting, and
less opportunity for loss of certi³cates. However, in the event that safekeeping is used, the following policies shall be followed:

a. All certi³cates of securities not in the physical possession of the National Spiritual Assembly will be held in a third party (a bank, other
³nancial institution, or a securities dealer) account.

b. All securities held in safekeeping shall be evidenced by a safekeeping
receipt and/or a periodic statement of account from the safekeeping
institution.

c. The Treasurer’s O¹ce will, as part of its audit, con³rm or have
con³rmed by its auditor, all securities held in safekeeping with the
safekeeping institution and that all safekeeping arrangements include
adequate insurance.

d. Safekeeping agreements shall provide that all transactions be ordered
only by a duly authorized employee or o¹cial of the National Spiritual Assembly or its designated Investment Manager.

e. If the safekeeping institution is to be used to transmit funds for the
purchase of securities, the agreement shall provide that the funds
shall not be transferred until the securities are received by the institution.

f. Safekeeping services shall be covered by a “bailment for hire” contract. Under this arrangement, the institution agrees to exercise ordinary care in protecting the securities held in safekeeping. Unless
speci³cally covered by statute or contract, the institution is not an
insurer of securities. It is liable only for negligence in caring for and
protecting the securities.

Donation of Securities

1. It is the policy of the National Spiritual Assembly to sell immediately all
individual securities which are donated to avoid trying to time the market. The only exceptions to this requirement are securities with donor
restrictions prohibiting immediate sale, securities in closely held corporations where the sale of a large block may depress the stock price, or
letter stock with restrictions on sale.

240 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
G. Exceptions

1. It shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer’s O¹ce to determine whether
a policy exception is necessary and, if so, whether the exception should
be submitted to the National Spiritual Assembly or its appropriate
o¹cer(s) for approval.

Appendix C—Investment Policy 241
242 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Appendix D:
Banking Relationship
Policy
For the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
the United States (1998)
This policy is not intended to apply to, or serve as a model for, the investment, control
and safekeeping of funds of any Bahá’í institution except the National Spiritual Assembly.

I. Purpose
The purpose of this Banking Relationship Policy is to set forth operating procedures to guide the administration of the banking relationship portfolios managed
by the O¹ce of the Treasurer (the “Treasurer’s O¹ce”) for and on behalf of the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States (the “National
Assembly”).

All portions of this policy statement are required to be in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations. Any section of this policy not so in compliance is automatically void.

II. Responsibility
The Treasurer’s O¹ce will have the responsibility for carrying out this Banking
Relationship Policy. The Treasurer, the Chief Financial O¹cer and/or the Controller of the O¹ce of the Treasurer shall be the persons who have the authorization and the responsibility to administer and enforce compliance of their respective sections of this policy as delegated by the National Assembly.

Appendix D—Banking Relationship Policy 243
III. Banking Relationship Objectives
The primary objective of the National Spiritual Assembly’s banking relationships
is to ensure the availability of funds at competitive prices to ³nance seasonal contributions shortfalls and capital projects. Secondarily, banking relationships should
also provide the National Assembly with the required non-credit banking services. Corollary to the primary objective, the O¹ce of the Treasurer will endeavor
to minimize the di²erence between the interest rate on the National Assembly’s
loans and investments at the same banking institution, maximize the rate of return on funds in demand accounts and minimize the cost of banking services.

IV. Relationship Philosophy
The most e²ective method of meeting the objectives stated above is through the
development of long-term relationships with a small group of core banks.

The number of relationships maintained at any time will need to be balanced
between the amount of business we have to o²er and the willingness of existing
relationship banks to increase their exposure to the National Spiritual Assembly.
We want to make sure we provide meaningful business to each relationship bank;
however, as the needs of the Faith grow we do not want to become overly dependent on too limited a number of service providers. We do not want to reach a
point where a relationship bank is unwilling to increase its exposure to the National Assembly because we have over-concentrated our business.

V. Maintenance and Use of Credit
Facilities for Operations
The Treasurer’s O¹ce should maintain available lines of credit and/or committed
facilities to ensure funds availability to ³nance seasonal contributions shortfalls.
Lines of credit and/or committed facilities must not be used to ³nance long-term
capital projects. Credit usage would normally not exceed ten percent (10%) of
the previous twelve months’ contributions. In addition, the loan balance should
be reduced to zero at least once every twelve (12) months.

Where feasible, multi-year committed facilities may be preferable to lines of credit
since funding is more assured.

The size and form (i.e., lines of credit or committed facilities) of available credit
should be reviewed annually at the time the annual budget is announced, and
whenever increases/decreases in the contribution budget are made during the year.

244 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
The level of available credit should be based on a month-by-month forecast of
cash ·ow, taking into account cash reserves.

All borrowing under lines of credit and/or committed facilities should be on an
unsecured basis and allow for prepayment without penalty.

Lines of credit and/or committed facilities may be appropriate for funding capital
projects during construction or while long-term ³nancing is being arranged. This
period must not exceed one year, however.

VI. Credit Facilities for Long-Term
Funding Requirements
The Treasurer’s O¹ce should obtain long-term funding to ³nance capital projects.
Long-term funding must not be used to fund seasonal needs.

Long-term borrowing may be incurred on a secured basis. Where practicable,
security should be in the form of a mortgage on the project being ³nanced. The
House of Worship, including all of its land and any other related ³xed assets, shall not
be mortgaged or otherwise encumbered. Other properties of the National Spiritual
Assembly may be mortgaged only with the express written approval of the National Assembly or its designated o¹cer(s).

Pledging unencumbered assets not associated with a project being ³nanced as
collateral for long-term borrowings is not recommended and should be done only
in extreme circumstances and with express approval of the National Assembly or
its designated o¹cer(s).

Loan prepayment without penalty is highly desirable. Interest rate reductions
o²ered by a lender in exchange for limiting prepayment options may be considered; however, since prepayment is a valuable option, particularly at higher rates.
Any such interest rate reductions should be of one percent (1%) or greater.

The life of the loan should not exceed the expected useful life of the project
³nanced.

Long-term ·oating rate funding must include a stipulated cap rate (i.e., a maximum increase of X percent over the life of loan).

VII. Non-Credit Banking Services
The use of non-credit banking services should be monitored by the O¹ce of the

Appendix D—Banking Relationship Policy 245
Treasurer. Each relationship bank should provide a regular listing of the use of
each service and associated fees.

Payment for operating services should be in cash, where possible, and not in the
form of compensating balances. As a general statement, because of reserve requirements, compensating balances are an ine¹cient form of banking compensation and should be avoided, even in connection with bank lines of credit.

VIII. Control of line of Credit and
Accounts
In consultation with the National Assembly’s outside auditors, controls on the
maintenance and use of bank accounts and lines of credit should be periodically
reviewed.

1. All advances under a line of credit should be evidenced by a note and/or
a periodic statement of account from the lending institution.

2. The Treasurer’s O¹ce will, as part of its audit, con³rm, or have con³rmed
by its auditor, all loans with each lending institution.

3. Lending agreements shall stipulate that all actions will be ordered only
by a duly authorized employee or o¹cial of the National Spiritual Assembly and of the bank.

4. Account Operating Agreements shall provide that all transactions will
be ordered and all checks will be signed by duly authorized employees
or o¹cials of the National Assembly and of the bank.

5. All bank account signatory additions and deletions should be approved
by the National Spiritual Assembly or its designated o¹cer(s).

IX. Exceptions and Review
It shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer’s O¹ce to determine whether a
policy exception or amendment is necessary, and, if so, propose such change to
the Treasurer of the National Assembly. Further approvals, including review and/
or approval by the full National Assembly, will be sought at the Treasurer’s option.

This policy statement shall be reviewed periodically and amended as circumstances
warrant.

246 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Appendix E:
Bibliography
Many of the publications listed below are available through the Bahá’í Distribution Service at 800–999–9019 or bds@usbnc.org.

From Bahá’í Institutional Sources
Bahá’í Administration. Shoghi E²endi.
• The “textbook” on Bahá’í administration principles, practices and development.
Bahá’í Funds: Contributions and Administration. Compiled by the Universal
House of Justice. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada, Thornhill,
Ontario. 1988.

Developing Distinctive Bahá’í Communities, Guidelines for Spiritual Assemblies. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States.

Þuqúqu’lláh. The Universal House of Justice, Research Department. National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada, 1989.

Messages From the Universal House of Justice 1963–1986. Bahá’í Publishing
Trust, Wilmette. 1996.
• This new compilation of nearly 500 messages of the House of Justice represents a key resource for institutions, communities and individuals.

Sacred Trust . . . a Destined Recompense and Sure Reward. Bahá’í Publishing
Trust, Wilmette. 2001

A Workbook for Understanding and Applying the Law of Þuqúqu’lláh.

Appendix E—Bibliography 247
Books Authored by Bahá’ís
Created Rich: How Spiritual Altitudes and Material Means Work Together to
Achieve Prosperity. Patrick Barker. Naturgraph Publishers, 1995.
• Presented in two parts, this book examines “how spiritual attitudes and
material means work together to achieve prosperity.” Part One discusses
the ultimate purpose of wealth in a Bahá’í context, o²ering a contrast between the possession of material means and the curse of materialism. Part
Two lends itself to a series of deepenings on the role of material means in
our lives as Bahá’ís.

Stories About the Funds. Compiled by Gloria Faizi.
• A collection of inspiring stories, old and new, about giving to the Funds.
Retold by Gloria Faizi, these are wonderful to share at Feasts and during
deepenings on the Funds.

The True Foundation of All Economics: A Bahá’í Approach for the Promotion of Universal Development, Justice and Prosperity. Compiled by
Hooshmand Badi’í.
• Focusing primarily on social and economic development, this compilation includes sections addressing “Economic Moderation and Contentment,” “Material and Spiritual Coherence” and other chapters helpful to
the Treasurer in sparking thought and discussion on issues related to our
material lives.

General Books
Designs for Fund Raising. Harold Seymour. The Taft Group, Publishers.
• A useful, readable introduction to the best kind of fund raising. Order by
calling 800/877-8238; cost is $15.

Give to Live: How Giving Can Change Your Life. Douglas M. Lawson. ALTI
Publishing, La Jolla, CA, 1991. 1-800-284-8537.
• Thought-provoking views from one of the best known fund-raisers, documenting the e²ects of giving and volunteering on life expectancy and
health, and on the quality of life in general.

Money and the Meaning of Life. Jacob Needleman. Doubleday Currency Publication.
• A noted philosopher’s discussion of concepts relating to money and its
place in life. Available in bookstores.

Wealthy and Wise. Claude Rosenberg, Jr. Published by Little, Brown and Co.
• Outlines e²ective means by which our donations may be maximized while
o²ering strategies for cultivating more constructive ³nancial habits. Available in bookstores.

248 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Your Money or Your Life. Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. Penguin Books.
• A fascinating examination of money—its true purpose and our attitudes
about it. The views of these non-Bahá’í authors are surprisingly consistent
with those of the Faith. Lends itself well to a group study. Available in
bookstores.

Resources for Children
The Berenstain Bears—Trouble With Money—for children up to age 11

• Written by Stan and Jan Berenstain (published by Random House, New
York 1983), this book teaches children about earning, saving and spending money.

Brilliant Star—True Wealth—for pre-youth ages 6–12

• The September-October 1996 special issue of this Bahá’í publication is
committed solely to the topic of true wealth – and the spiritual nature of
giving.

The Buck Book: All Sorts of Things to do With a Dollar Bill—Besides Spend
It—all ages

• Published by Klutz, Palo Alto, CA, 1993. This “how-to” book comes
with a real one-dollar bill that you can fold several di²erent ways, as well
as tidbits of historical information about money and its uses.

The Feelings of L-B-F: a Young Local Bahá’í Fund—or all ages

• A learning coloring book by Heidi Lakshman—approved for publication
by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada. 1997—
Heidi Lakshman—Treena Grenier; distributed by Unity Arts, Inc., Canada
(800-465-3287) email unityarts@aol.com

Money, by Joe Cribb, published by Alfred Knopf—New York (1990)—for all
ages

• Discover the story of money —its history, its meaning, and its many
forms around the world.

Money Matters for Teens Workbook —for pre-youth ages 11–14

• This Moody Press (Chicago, 1998) publication, written by Larry Burkett,
is an excellent source of information and applications about managing
money, planning for later, borrowing, and charitable giving for young
people.

Appendix E—Bibliography 249
Money, Money, Money :The Meaning of the Art and Symbols on United
States Paper Currency—for pre-youth ages 7–12

• This HarperCollins publication, written by Nancy Winslow Parker (1995)
is an excellent teaching tool for children as well as adults. Learn about the
signi³cance of some of the elements of the Great Seal of the United States
on the dollar bill – including “Glory of God!”

One Magazine—Wealth and Poverty —for youth ages 15 +

• 2.5 ‘Ilm/Qudrat (Knowledge/Power) BE 154 (1998). This publication
(by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Eliot, Maine), is in
magazine format, and is geared towards youth. It’s goal is to assist young
people in expressing themselves and connecting with others. This issue’s
aim is to stimulate thought and discussion about the topic of poverty and
wealth.

Stories of the Greatest Holy Leaf—for all ages

• ³nd stories by Bahíyyih Khánum related to the spiritual nature of giving.
Adapted by Jacqueline Mehrabi, published by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust
of London, 1997.

Stories from the Star of the West—for all ages

• Compiled and edited by Andrew Gash (published by Bahá’í Publications
Australia, 1985), this is a good resource for topics related to the spiritual
principles of giving.

Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá —for all ages

• Explore the virtues of giving in this cherished collection edited by
Annamarie Honnold; 2nd edition published by George Ronald, 1991.

Zillions Consumer Reports —for pre-youth ages 12–16

• Zillions is published bi-monthly by Consumers Union, a nonpro³t organization established in 1936 to give consumers the information they need to
use their money wisely. CU also publishes Consumer Reports.

250 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Index

A B
‘Abdu’l-Bahá Bahá’í, responsibility for giving, 5–7
extracts from writings of, 1, 175–176 Bahá’í centers
Accounting, 127–152 and building flourishing communities,
for earmarked contributions, 42 156–157
Treasurer’s basics for, 127–152 checklist
Account Operating Agreements, 246 financial considerations, 163–166
Acknowledgment, 64 legal matters and insurance for, 166–167
Adoption expenses, 190 planning for growth and development,
Advisor, Treasurer as, 26–28 160–163
Aircraft, valuation of, 191, 209 unity issues, 157
American Bahá’í Community, responsibility local, 155–169
of, 4–5 reporting to National Spiritual Assembly,
Annuities, valuation of, 210 169
Antiques, valuation of, 208 Bahá’í Funds, 41
Appeals, 29–30 achieving greatest good, 46
Appraisals, 212 automatic contribution system (ACS), 50–
Arc Projects, 61 51
Arm’s length offer, 206 Bahá’í Identification (BID) numbers, 50
Art objects, valuation of, 208 Bahá’í International Fund, 47–49
Athletic events, 187 believers discretion in giving to, 41–42
Audit, 87–97 Continental Bahá’í Fund, 47–48
and confidentiality, 97 contributing to, 11, 84–85
preparing annual, 87–88, 150 form for, 152
procedures checklist for, 113–121 by recipients of public charity, 9
procedures of, 111 earmarking and accounting for earmarked
sample report, 123 contributions, 42–44
Auditors giving and entry by troops, 12–14
identifying, 88 giving to, as spiritual privilege, 3
tasks of, 88–89 giving to National, 49
Autographs, 209 importance of knowing about, 11–12
Automatic Contribution System (ACS), 50– local, 50
52, 86 making decision on supporting, 41
enrollment form for, 90 priorities in giving, 46–47
subscriptions, 50–51 setting goals for contributions to various,
Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust, 173
Bahá’í Identification (BID) numbers, 50
Bahá’í International Fund, 47–49
Bahá’í National Center management and
technical issues, 167–169

Index 251
Bahá’í Spirit, 3–4
Bahá’í Treasurers Bulletin, 147 C
Bahá’u’lláh, 153 Campaign of Glorious Privilege, 61
acceptance of, as Manifestation of God, 3 Canceled check, 129–130
extracts from writings of, 174–175 “Candle Chart,” 87
recognition of, and contributions by, 9 Capital assets, 192
reliance on, and formulation of audacious Capital gain property, 192
plans, 13 Capitalization of income, 210
requirement for will, 66–67 Carryovers, 196
teachings of, 10 Cars
Bahá’u’lláh World Order, champion builders record keeping for expenses of, 197
of, 9–10 valuation of, 191
Banking Cash contributions, record keeping for, 196–
opening checking account for Local Fund, 197
127–128 Cash flow management, 231–233
relationship policy, 243 Cash journal, 138–143
control of line of credit and accounts, brackets in, 140
246 keeping accurate, 141–142
credit facilities for long-term funding recording contributions in, 139–141
requirements, 245 recording expenses in, 140
exceptions and review, 246 sample, 143–145
maintenance and use of credit facilities set up of, 138
for operations, 244 Central Fund, contribution to, 42
non-credit banking services, 245 Charitable contributions
objectives, 244 deductible, 182
philosophy, 244 definition of, 185
purpose, 243 determining value of donated, 205–215
responsibility, 243 getting more information on, 214
Bar association, 190 limits on deductions, 193
Bargain sales, nondeductibility of, 191 nondeductible, 189–190
Believers, discretion in giving to Bahá’í Fund, organizations that qualify for deductions,
41–42 186–187
Benefits received from contributions, 187 of property, 190–191
Bequests records to keep, 196–198
designating Fund, 69 reporting, 198
types of, 67–68 Charity benefit events, 187
Bills, prompt payment of, 136–137 Checking account, opening, for Local Fund,
Bingo, 63 127–128
Blood donations, 186 Checks
Boats, valuation of, 191–192 bounced, 141
Bonds, valuation of, 209 canceled, 129–130
Bounced checks, 141 duplicate, 128
Brackets, use of, in cash journal, 140 Children, contributions by, 31–35
Budget Clothing, valuation of used, 191
preparing, 83–85 Coin collections, 208
using, as guide, 85 Collections, valuation of, 208–209
worksheet for, 91 Communications, focusing, 58–59
Budget Committee, 83 Communities
Burial, 78 building flourishing, 17–22; 156–157
Business communicating goals to, 87
interest in, valuation of, 210 integration of, component elements in
action, 18
Community at Feast, making reports to, 146–

252 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
Community development plan, 162
Community honor roll, 86 E
Comparable property, sales of, 206–207 Earmarked contributions, 42–43
Comparable sales, 207 accounting for, 45
Confidentiality, 89 Earmarking instruction, nonobservation of,
of information, 23 43–44
Continental Bahá’í Fund, 47–48 Educator, Treasurer as, 24–26
Contingent bequest, 68 Emergency campaign, 61
Contributed expenses, receipts for, 136 Employer Identification Number (EIN),
Contributed item, selling, 131 application for, 99–100, 127
Contributions Estate planning, 66
by children, 31–35 resources from Office of Treasurer, 70–71
earmarked, 42–43
effect of guilt on, 30–31
in Honor, 87, 93
in-kind, 130–131 F
in Memory, 87, 94 Fair market value
pledges in encouraging, 20–21 definition of, 206
of property, 205 determining, 191
recording, in cash journal, 139–141 problems in determining, 207–208
of stock, 134–135 Faith, reasons for giving to, 4
Contributors, distributing receipts to, 130 Fee-for-service companies, creating network
Credit facilities of, 21
for long-term funding requirements, 245 Financial considerations for Bahá’í center, 163
maintenance and use of, for operations, Financial Report to National Spiritual
244–245 Assembly, 83, 85, 92
Current earnings, 60 Foreign organizations, 187
Custodial services, 229 Form 8282, Donee Information Return, 217–
Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contribu-

D tions, 219–224
Foster parents, 188
Deduction limits, 193 Foundations, contributions to private
Default risk, 231 nonoperating, 192
Depreciable property, 192 Fraternal order dues, 186
Deputization, 51–52 Fund-raising
Devise, 67 and planned giving, 55–71
Devotional life, 11 relationships and heart, 55–58
Diaries, 209 Future events, 207
Donated property, determining value of, 205 Future interest in tangible personal property,
Donated real estate, 132–133 191
Donee Information Return (Form 8282), 217–
Donors, substantiation requirements of, 181–
182 G
Double-entry system, 138 General bequest, 67
Duplicate checks, 128 General public, 65
Duplicate receipts, preparing, 128 Gifts
establishing priorities for, 46–47
freedom to specify purpose of, 43
planning, 69–70
of securities, issuing receipts for, 135–136
Giving
believers discretion in, to Bahá’í Fund, 41–

Index 253
planned, 69–70 Investment policy of National Spiritual
and fund-raising, 55–73 Assembly, 225–241
saying thanks for, 64–65 longer term portfolio composition and
as spiritual privilege, 3 investment objectives, 234–241
and spiritual progress, 5–6 responsibilities of Treasurer’s office in,
Goals 227–229
communicating, to community, 87 short term portfolio composition and cash
setting, for contributions to Funds, 84 flow management, 231–233
Good, achieving the greatest, 46
Guilt, effect of, on contributions, 30–31
J
H Jewelry and gems, valuation of, 208

Hazíratu’l-Quds, 155
Heart chart, 95
Heroic deeds of service, 4 K
Holographic (handwritten) wills, 67, 71 Kingdom of God and material resources, 10–
Household goods, valuation of, 191 11
Þuqúqu’lláh Kitáb-i-Aqdas (the Book of Laws), 10
sacred law of, 173–179 requesting of estate as outlined in, 68
supplement to the compilation on, 174
extracts from letters written on behalf of
Universal House of Justice, 176–
L
extracts from letter written by Shoghi Legal issues surrounding acquisition of center,
Effendi, 176 166–167
extracts from writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Line of credit, control of, 246
175–176 Living the life, 3–4
extracts from writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Lobbying, 190
174–175 Local assembly, need for Employee Identification Number by, 127
Local Bahá’í centers, 155–169
Local Fund, opening checking account for,
I 127–128
Income Local Spiritual Assembly, making reports to,
capitalization of, 210 146–150
tips on recording unusual, 140 Longer term portfolio composition and
Individuals, contribution to, as nondeduct- investment objectives, 234–241
ible, 189 Lottery, 63
Information, confidentiality of, 23
In Honor contributions, 87, 93
In-kind contributions, 130–131
In Memory contributions, 87, 94
M
Inspirer, Treasurer as, 28–29 Manuscripts, 208
Institutes and need for facilities, 156–157 Market value, 160
Insurance Material resources and Kingdom of God, 10–
liability, 107–108 11
Request for certificate of, 109–110 Meals, 189
requirements for Bahá’í center, 167 Money, different kinds of, 59–61
title, for Bahá’í center, 166 Monthly bank statement, balancing, 137
Interest in a business, valuation of, 210 Mutual exchange program, 188
Inventory, valuation of, 209
Investment Managers, responsibilities of, 226

254 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
N Personal property, future interest in tangible,
National Bahá’í Fund, 49 Planned giving, 69–70
contribution forms, 152 Planned giving resources from Office of
contributions to, 41, 130 Treasurer, 70–71
giving to, 49 Pledges in encouraging contributions, 20–21
National Spiritual Assembly Pocket file folders, 128
and acquisition of, on local Bahá’í center, Possessions, disposing of, 74
155–156 Priorities in giving, 46–47
automatic contribution system of, 50–51 Professionals, 65
and budget preparation, 83–85 Property. See also Real estate
on changes in U.S. tax regulations, 181– appraisals of, 212
183 bargain sales, 193
contributions to, 43 basis, 192
disclosure by, of receipt of quid pro quo capital gain, 193
contribution, 182–183 capital gain election, 192
Financial Report to, 85, 92 contributions of, 191
informing, on bequests, 68–69 cost or selling price of donated, 203
investment policy of, 225–241 decreased in value, 192
National Bahá’í Fund in supporting work depreciable, 193
of, 49 determining fair market value of, 192
reporting to, 169 determining value of donated, 205–215
responsibilities of, 226–227 donee information return for, 217–218
in building flourishing communities, fair market value of, 192, 206–208
17–22 future interests in, 191
treasury as responsibility of entire, 17 increased in value, 191–192
National Teaching Committee, 160–161 inventory, 192
Noncash contributions nondeductibility of, 191–193
record keeping for, 196–197 ordinary income, 192–193
reporting, 198 partial interests, 191
tax form for, 219–224 penalties for overstating value of, 193
Non-credit banking services, 245–246 sales of comparable, 206–207
Nonqualified organizations, contribution to, subject to debt, 191
as nondeductible, 190 unrelated use, 192
valuation of various kinds of, 208–210
Proxy voting, 229, 231
O Public charity, contributions of recipients of,
to Bahá’í Fund, 9
Offerings, receiving from the friends, 129
Opinions of experts, 207
Ordinary income property, 192
Organizations Q
foreign, 187 Qualified organization, 185
nonqualified, 190 Qualifying expenses, 188
qualified, 190 Quickbooks, 137
Out-of-pocket expenses, 188 Quid pro quo contribution, disclosure by
National Spiritual Assembly of receipt
of, 182–183

P
Penalty for valuation overstatement, 193
Percentage bequest, 68
Personal expenses, nondeductibility of, 189

Index 255
R Stocks
contributions of, 134–136
Raffles, 63, 186 valuation of, 209–210
Real estate. See also Property Student expenses
donated, 132–134 reporting, 194
valuation of, 210 tax deduction for, 188
Receipt book, need for duplicate, 128 Substantiation requirements of donors, 181–
Receipts 182
distributing, to contributors, 130
issuing, for gifts of securities, 135–136
for loose change, 130
Record keeping, 150–151 T
in cash journal, 138–143 Tangible personal property, future interest in,
for charitable contributions, 196–198 191
materials for efficient, 150–151 Tax changes, keeping abreast of, 129–130
preparing for audit, 87–88 Taxes. See United States tax regulations
suggested time-frames for, 151 Teaching, spirit of, 18
time frames for, 151 Technical issues and Center management,
tips for, 150–151 167–169
for unusual income, 140 Thank you, saying, 64–65
Reimbursed expenses, 188 Time, value of, 190
Relationship-building, value of, in fund Title insurance for Bahá’í center, 166
development, 58 Token items, 188
Rental facility for Bahá’í center, 158 Toxic waste liability for Bahá’í center, 166
Replacement cost, 207 Trade, valuation of property used in, 192
Reports, making, 146–147 Training institutes, importance of, 52, 157
Residual bequest, 68 Travel expenses, 189
Resource material, 147 Treasurer
Responsibility, inescapable, 4–5 as advisor, 26–28
Retirement home, 190 assistance for, 22–23
Right of God, 11–12, 173–174 change in, and need for audit, 88
as educator, 24–26
estate planning and planned giving
S resources from office of, 70–71
and fund raising, 66
Sacrifice, meaning of, 7–10 as inspirer, 28–29
Securities, issuing receipts for gifts of, 135– responsibilities of, 23, 227–229
136 in accounting, 89, 127–152
Service, heroic deeds of, 4 in banking relationship policy, 243
Short term portfolio composition, 231–233 in budget preparation, 83–85
Solicitations, 29–30 Treasury
Special events and campaigns, 61–64 automating, 137
Special-purpose funds, creation of, 41 as responsibility of Spiritual Assembly, 17
Specific bequest, 67 Treasury Committee, functions of, 22–23
Spiritual Assemblies, responsibilities of, 9 Trustworthiness, 23
Spiritual principles teaching, through writings, 20
giving, 3–7, 12–14 Tuition, 186
knowledge of fund, 11–12
material resources and the kingdom of
God, 10–11
Spiritual privilege, giving as, 3–5
Spiritual progress and giving, 5–6
Stamp collections, 208
Stock certificate, 135

256 Stewardship and Development 3rd Edition
U W
underprivileged youths selected by charity, Will
188 advantages of, 74–75
Uniforms, 188 checklist for preparing your, 76–78
United States tax regulations importance of, 74
changes in, 181–219 preparation of, 67
on charitable contributions, 185–204 sample memorandum to accompany
donor’s substantiation requirements, 181– husband and wife’s, 79
182 steps to successful, 75–76
Unity of thought and need to acquire Bahá’í
center, 157
Universal House of Justice, 9, 53, 81, 124
and context of giving, 6
Y
extracts from letters written on behalf of, Year-to-Date Report of Income and Expense,
176–179 preparing, 149–150
Universal participation, 5–6, 7

Z
V Zoning and building code issues for Bahá’í
Value, determining, for donated property, 205 center, 166
Volunteers, 27, 61, 156, 168, 189

Index 257