Author: Patrick
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Church Insurance without a Building
part 2 in a 4-part series on church plant insurance issues: Along with the government, the insurance industry seems to be hung up on church buildings. But you’re a church planter; how do you get church insurance without a building? You’re going to want church insurance sooner rather than later, even when it’s just a…
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Church Plant Insurance
part 1 in a 4-part series on church plant insurance issues: There are few things planters want to think about less than church plant insurance. But with all the lawyers and wacky lawsuits out there, your organization simply has to be covered as a cost of being a nonprofit organization here in the US. Don’t…
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Church Board vs Officers – What’s the Difference?
So you’re in the throws of hammering out Bylaws for your new church. Every nonprofit needs them; they simply spell out how the association or corporation will govern itself. The sample Bylaws you got from a friend describes a Board of Directors/Elders. But then it mentions Corporate Officers. Wait, aren’t those the same thing? I’ve…
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Are Churches Required to File Form 990?
Other nonprofits have to file an annual Form 990 tax return, but I sometimes get asked, “Are Churches Required to File Form 990?” Nonprofits spend hours and significant dollars preparing and filing some version of the IRS Form 990 every year. It’s important to know if your church is required to before you go committing…
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State Nonprofit Filing
part 4 in a 4-part series about Church Tax Exemption Depending on where your church is, there may be a state nonprofit filing requirement. This is different from incorporating, getting federal 501c3 nonprofit status, and your sales tax exemption. I’ve seen two different reasons for state nonprofit filing requirements, depending on the state: 1. Nonprofit…
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How to Get Your Church Sales Tax Exemption
part 3 in a 4-part series about Church Tax Exemption An easily-overlooked bit of paperwork for new plants is the church sales tax exemption. If you’re still paying sales tax, you could be throwing away hundreds of dollars each year, money that could be used to further your mission. No state is going to require…
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Why is the IRS Hung Up on Buildings?
part 2 in a 4-part series about Church Tax Exemption We know that the church is the people. It was about people from the beginning and wasn’t intended to be about real estate. So when a church applies for 501c3 nonprofit status, why is the IRS hung up on buildings? In 2010, I helped a…
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Are Missional Communities 501c3? How the IRS Feels About It
part 1 in a 4-part series about Church Tax Exemption I have written before about how the IRS considers churches automatically 501c3 tax exempt. It’s how separation of church and state works in the Church’s favor. I’m sometimes asked, “Are missional communities 501c3?” What’s Missional Community Planting? The conversation about planting churches through a missional…
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3 Ways to Train Church Plant Launch Team
Over the summer, you church planters shooting for a fall launch will be gathering people and shaping them into a launch team. Considering all the ministry teams you’ll be forming, you’re going to need help making sure the right people have the right skills to do the various jobs that need to happen to see…