Thrivent Financial for Lutherans wants to demonstrate that active volunteer chapters serve an important purpose in local communities. Accurately reporting the funds generated by chapter service teams helps illustrate the real value of our local chapters. Every dollar reported strengthens our ability to prove that we leverage our fraternal tax exemption to have a greater impact in communities than paying taxes ever could.

Beginning in 2012, we will no longer require chapters to deposit all dollars raised into the chapter's checking account. However, the checking account will still be available to chapters when it makes sense for donors to issue their checks to the chapter.

• The chapter's account is available for depositing checks from donors in those cases where it makes sense. When a chapter service team is coming together to assist an individual in need, for example, it makes sense that checks issued at the event could be made payable to the chapter and deposited into the chapter's account.
• If chapter is co-hosting an event with another not-for-profit where that not-for profit is the recipient, checks at the event should be made payable directly to the not-for-profit and stay with that not-for-profit. Those dollars SHOULD NOT be sent to the chapter.
• If the chapter's service team is working with other organization's to benefit a third party, such as the chapter service team joining forces with the church and another not-for-profit to benefit a local food bank, it might make sense to have all donor checks issued directly to the recipient food bank or to the church. If those working on the event feel they'd like to use the chapter's account to collect all the funds raised, they could ask donors to issue their checks to the chapter and the chapter would then deposit those funds.
• Chapters should no longer ask churches or organizations to send one check for proceeds raised to the chapter.
• Individual donor's checks made payable to the chapter should continue to be deposited into the chapter's account.
  • Checks should be issued to the chapter. (e.g., ABC Chapter; XYZ Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, etc.).  Consider using operating funds to purchase one or two stamps with their chapter’s full name imprinted on it.   This stamp could be loaned to service teams who plan to have donor checks issued to the chapter; and 
  • Include a deposit ticket with the chapter’s correct name and account number; and
  • Balance the deposit ticket.
• Regardless of whether donors' dollars are made payable to the chapter, the chapter service teams still need to complete paperwork and provide an estimate of the service team's FAIR SHARE of the dollars raised at the event (the amount attributed to their participation), volunteer hours worked, etc., at the event. Refer to CHIP about how to determine the chapter's fair share.
• A check for the Care Abounds in Communities' funding is sent to the recipient, along with any fundraiser proceeds that were deposited into the chapter's account, when applicable.