Recap of Sunday’s Discussion on HG’s Finances

Hey guys! This is an update of what happened at our planning meeting this week. Due to an ongoing discussion about tithe and our larger relationship with FPC, We discussed how Holy Grounds might collect, store and distribute any moneys given to us. So this is basically the summary. HG will accept money as it always has in the form of check, cash, or credit card (this one we are still working out). We will store it in the HG line item account that FPC has alloted for us. We have decided that we want to start contributing a portion of our HG funds to FPC in order to help with their ministry as well. As a minimum standard that we have set for ourselves we will start with an amount equivalent to the “non-obligatory rent” paid by other non profits that use FPC. That amount is $150 monthly. As far as further distribution goes we have decided that income will be divided and stored into four categories:

1 – Emergency fund – a fixed ammount that once reached will be held in reserve to help with members in crisis.

2- FPC contributions – a percentage or fixed number above the minimum referenced above to help further the ministry of FPC

3 – Missions/ Outreach – this will be the largest of the four categories. this will be all money not spent on HG or FPC. Ideally this money will be spent in full quarterly.

4 – Administrative costs – This will be the smallest of the four categories. Ideally less than 1% of income. For coffee, plates, oil for the lamps etc.

We will collect any gifts given to us into our line item budget for the next quarter and at our next meeting we will take a look at what has been given and assign numerics for each of these categories and further nail down exactly how missions/ outreach money will be spent. We have also agreed that Missions money will be reevaluated for effectiveness on a semi-regular basis TBD at our next planning meeting. This is in no way the start of HG expecting members of the community to pay “tithe” to HG. This is merely in the interest of being transparent, so that those who choose to donate may be comfortable in knowing how their gifts will benefit others.