THE UNITED THANK OFFERING
BEST FINANCIAL PRACTICE
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The United Thank Offering Prayer
Gracious God, source of all creation, all love, all true joy: accept we pray
these outward signs of our profound and continuing thankfulness for all
of life. Keep each of us ever thankful for all the blessings of joy and
challenge that come our way. Bless those who will benefit from these
gifts through the outreach of the United Thank Offering. This we ask
through Him who is the greatest gift and blessing of all, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Collecting our pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and dollar bills connects us with
people all over the world!
Little Blue Boxes: an opportunity to practice thankfulness
Every Penny for Grants: sharing our blessings
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United Thank Offering Ingathering Why is it so important?
• Ingatherings are teaching moments to share the theology of thankfulness.
• Ingatherings twice a year give people an opportunity to present their blessings…a Holy Action.
• Ingatherings start the journey of the tangible blessing to fund grants to people all over the world.
North Dakota Ingathering
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Western Massachusetts Ingathering
Parish Ingathering Overview How does it work?
• Twice a year request parishioners bring their Blue Box offerings to church.
• Make sure your treasurer has a restricted account as every penny goes to UTO for granting.
• $1.5 million was given for grants in 2014.
Make it a fun day!
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INGATHERING in the PARISH
Parish Coordinators are the heart of UTO in the parish and inspire
parishioners to practice thankfulness. They:
• Communicate with clergy and parishioners to gather funds twice a
year. Fall and Spring are good times representing growth and harvest.
• Request that the coins are counted and a bill or check is put in an
envelope with their name or pledge #.
• UTO envelopes can be put in the bulletin or pew.
• Ingatherings are always counted by two unrelated people.
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INGATHERING in the PARISH
• Funds are deposited in an account of the parish
• Communicate with the parish treasurer to:
• set up a designated and restricted fund for UTO;
• get a report on the fund balance;
• request funds be sent by the preferred diocesan method twice a
year; one check is recommended.
• Communicate the offering total to the parish.
• The parish pledge secretary includes individual UTO offerings on the giving
statement.
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INGATHERING: In the Diocese • Diocesan Coordinators communicate with parish
coordinators and arrange for parishes to bring or
send on their parish offerings: • Some dioceses have the parish offering go directly to the
diocese, sometimes in person, sometimes by mail.
• Some dioceses have the parish offering collected through the
diocesan ECW, often at a regularly scheduled Ingathering.
• Some dioceses have the parish offering sent directly from the
parish to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society lock box.
T H E U N I T E D T H A N K O F F E R I N G B E S T F I N A N C I A L P R A C T I C E
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INGATHERING: In the Diocese
• When counting money two unrelated, authorized people, are always present and funds are deposited in an authorized account. • More information will become available on best practices for establishing
accounts.
• Recording ingathered amounts and writing thank you notes and aknowledgements is important. • If you write acknowledgements for tax purposes there is wording that must be
used.
• Sample text will be available on the UTO website soon.
• Financial practice varies from diocese to diocese, but there are best practices that must be followed.
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T H E U N I T E D T H A N K O F F E R I N G B E S T F I N A N C I A L P R A C T I C E
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Whatever the diocesan tradition, the diocesan
UTO coordinator ensures the funds reach the
UTO office.
Checks are made out to: “DFMS” ,with “UTO” and
name of diocese, and diocese # if you have it, in
the memo.
Look at a UTO application forms at: Unitedthankoffering.org episcopalchurch.org/uto
UTO Grants Change Lives
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United Thank Offering Grants • Grants are for new
ministries—a way to get a good idea started.
• Dioceses are invited to submit one regular grant application.
• Dioceses are invited to submit one grant application on behalf of their companion diocese.
T H E U N I T E D T H A N K O F F E R I N G B E S T F I N A N C I A L P R A C T I C E S
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Financial Practices: Grants • Dioceses are invited to submit one grant application and an additional application
on behalf of a companion diocese.
• All grants must have the approval of the diocesan bishop or both bishops for
companion grants.
• It is recommended that all dioceses have a grant screening committee with the
diocesan UTO coordinator sitting on that committee.
• Once a grant request is funded, the bishop receives a letter and the funds are
released to the diocesan treasurer.
• The diocesan UTO coordinator should get a copy of the letter from the Province
UTO representative. Check in with the diocese if you don’t.
• The diocese must submit forms within one year, accounting for all funds spent on
the awarded grant project.
• Sample forms will be available on the UTO Website in the near future.
T H E U N I T E D T H A N K O F F E R I N G B E S T F I N A N C I A L P R A C T I C E
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T H E U N I T E D T H A N K O F F E R I N G B E S T F I N A N C I A L P R A C T I C E
O U R C H A N G E C H A N G E S L I V E S
• If the funds are released to another organization, that entity must
provide the diocese documentation for the funds, but the diocese is
responsible for the final reporting.
• Sample forms will be available on the UTO Website in the near
future.
• Keep copies of all grant paperwork: UTO coordinators and diocesan
office. These records can be digitally archived.
• A team approach is best, involving the grant recipient, the diocesan
UTO coordinator, the bishop or his or her designee, the bishop’s
administrative assistant and the diocesan treasurer.
UTO Website
UnitedThankOffering.org
MEMORIAL AND GIFT TRUST FUND
• Established in 1982 to cover administration expense, so
every penny from Ingatherings is used for grants.
• Earnings from investments provide:
• travel and expenses for the volunteer Board and UTO Staff
• materials for diocesan and parish UTO coordinators.
• Gifts given are tax deductible.
T H E U N I T E D T H A N K O F F E R I N G B E S T F I N A N C I A L P R A C T I C E
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Please mail Memorial and Gift Trust Fund checks to:
United Thank Offering
DFMS – Protestant Episcopal Church
815 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10017
episcopalchurch.org/page/manual-business-methods
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Or Google: Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs
A good resource for financial best practice
Communicate - Communicate - Communicate
Susan Howland: [email protected]
T H E U N I T E D T H A N K O F F E R I N G B E S T F I N A N C I A L P R A C T I C E
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A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with
one accord to make our common supplication to you; and
you have promised through your well-beloved Son that
when two or three are gathered together in his Name you
will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires
and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this
world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life
everlasting. Amen.
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