One option would be to ask the IRS to search for your EIN by calling the Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. This department is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. Or you could check with your state's department of revenue for more information.
One of the benefits of Google for Nonprofits is Gmail business email using your baldwinstreetcrc.org domain name. So your pastor could, for example, have an email address of [email protected]. Also access your Google Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Slides from any device, any time with 30GB of storage space per user across Gmail and Google Drive. Hope this helps.
I'm assuming your church is not using an envelope system. But if you're using a church management system that includes a contributions module, the system reporting tools should be able to provide the needed visibility. Except for those who may be giving cash. If you're not using such a system, but are interested in some advice, feel free to reach out to me.
Hello Justin, thanks for the informative article. I am a member of Community CRC in DeMotte, Indiana. I believe our membership is around 500 and weekly attendance around 400. We presently are using a number of different ChMS tools, PowerChurch (membership and attendance), QuickBooks (financials and budgeting), Vanco (online giving), Planning Center (children's ministry check-in and worship planning), Instant Directory (online and printed directory), Share Faith (graphics and videos), Microsoft Office 365 (not free version), and Adobe Acrobat Pro (not free version). I believe some tools have been added over time due to need or frustration in using existing tools. I should add that we are also looking into using G (Google) Suite for Nonprofits.
I think it's time that we look for a comprehensive cloud-based ChMS suite. From my initial research, it appears that Planning Center, Servant Keeper, and Elexio are strong players in the market. Are there others that you would recommend investigating? Are you aware of any detailed comparisons and/or reviews of these systems? I would also appreciate any insight you would be willing to provide regarding end-to-end functionality, ease of use, 'CRC' configurability, ease of custom reporting including configurable fields (also export to MS Excel or Google Sheets, mobile app and tool access, ease of mass updates, configurable security roles (such as office administrator, lead pastor, discipleship pastor, elder, deacon, ministry leader, event leader)?
Has there been any recent updates regarding the various ChMS software suites, particularly for US churches? Our church is using various software tools, including PowerChurch (membership), Vanco (online giving), QuickBooks (financials and budgeting), Planning Center (worship planning and children's ministry check-ins), and Instant Church Directory (online and printed directories). I believe it's time for us to look at replacing most of it with a cohesive and comprehensive cloud-based suite that offers strong best-in-class functionality, intuitive ease of use, 'CRC' configurability, excellent custom reporting including configurable fields, web app for use by pastors, support staff, council members, ministry leaders, event leaders, as well as members. I would appreciate any insight from the denomination staff or other churches that have experience (good or bad) with ChMS suites. Thanks!
Hello Tim, our church (Community CRC Roselawn) is looking to upgrade from Power Church to an integrated suite. Are you aware of any good resources that compare the features and functionality, ease of use, reporting, customer support, and future feature development for leading church management systems? Also, are you aware of churches that have recently gone through the process of evaluating, selecting and implementing an integrated system? Thanks!
Hi Shari, I would appreciate hearing more about your church's experiences with Planning Center (PC) and Church Community Builder (CCB). Doesn't PC offer a comprehensive set of integrated tools? Are there specific reasons it was decided to go with CCB? Are there specific functionality that CCB offers that isn't found in PC?
We currently use a number of tools, Power Church for membership, Planning Center for worship planning and children's ministry check-in, Instant Church Directory for online and printed directory, and Vanco for online giving. Primarily because we're very disappointed with the reporting capabilities of Power Church, we're beginning a process to investigate and choose a comprehensive system.
Wendy, does your church have a written policy stating that individual wages and cost of benefits will not be shared? If so, would you be willing to share a copy of the policy? Our church has had an unwritten policy for a number of years, but we now want to adopt a written policy. Thanks in advance.
Hello Ken, the administrative team of our church has also discussed the questions raised. I'm wondering whether any documents have been developed? And if so, whether you would be willing to share them? Thanks!
Hi Joshua, as others have noted, there are many companies offering church management software systems. Last year after evaluating many systems, we converted to One Church Software, and I would highly recommend them. I believe they still offer special pricing for small churches. However, if your church doesn't need the other tools and features of a comprehensive system, I think it would be quite workable to set up an Excel spreadsheet to record key dates and information for your members and regular attenders. Please feel free to reach out if you need any additional assistance.
Hi Joshua, to add to my previous comments, if you decide to set up a spreadsheet, I would strongly encourage you to review the annual denomination questionnaire for categories and dates you would want to set up and include. Some of the information requested is date driven.
Posted in: Google for Nonprofits
One option would be to ask the IRS to search for your EIN by calling the Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. This department is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. Or you could check with your state's department of revenue for more information.
One of the benefits of Google for Nonprofits is Gmail business email using your baldwinstreetcrc.org domain name. So your pastor could, for example, have an email address of [email protected]. Also access your Google Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Slides from any device, any time with 30GB of storage space per user across Gmail and Google Drive. Hope this helps.
Posted in: What's a Safe, Confidential Way to Monitor Congregational Giving?
I'm assuming your church is not using an envelope system. But if you're using a church management system that includes a contributions module, the system reporting tools should be able to provide the needed visibility. Except for those who may be giving cash. If you're not using such a system, but are interested in some advice, feel free to reach out to me.
Posted in: What Financially Struggling Families Need to Hear
Is a video of this meeting available? Thanks!
Posted in: Church Data Storage Tutorial for CRC Churches (Planning Center) - Part I
Hello Justin, thanks for the informative article. I am a member of Community CRC in DeMotte, Indiana. I believe our membership is around 500 and weekly attendance around 400. We presently are using a number of different ChMS tools, PowerChurch (membership and attendance), QuickBooks (financials and budgeting), Vanco (online giving), Planning Center (children's ministry check-in and worship planning), Instant Directory (online and printed directory), Share Faith (graphics and videos), Microsoft Office 365 (not free version), and Adobe Acrobat Pro (not free version). I believe some tools have been added over time due to need or frustration in using existing tools. I should add that we are also looking into using G (Google) Suite for Nonprofits.
I think it's time that we look for a comprehensive cloud-based ChMS suite. From my initial research, it appears that Planning Center, Servant Keeper, and Elexio are strong players in the market. Are there others that you would recommend investigating? Are you aware of any detailed comparisons and/or reviews of these systems? I would also appreciate any insight you would be willing to provide regarding end-to-end functionality, ease of use, 'CRC' configurability, ease of custom reporting including configurable fields (also export to MS Excel or Google Sheets, mobile app and tool access, ease of mass updates, configurable security roles (such as office administrator, lead pastor, discipleship pastor, elder, deacon, ministry leader, event leader)?
Thanks!
Bob Swanson
Posted in: Church Software
Has there been any recent updates regarding the various ChMS software suites, particularly for US churches? Our church is using various software tools, including PowerChurch (membership), Vanco (online giving), QuickBooks (financials and budgeting), Planning Center (worship planning and children's ministry check-ins), and Instant Church Directory (online and printed directories). I believe it's time for us to look at replacing most of it with a cohesive and comprehensive cloud-based suite that offers strong best-in-class functionality, intuitive ease of use, 'CRC' configurability, excellent custom reporting including configurable fields, web app for use by pastors, support staff, council members, ministry leaders, event leaders, as well as members. I would appreciate any insight from the denomination staff or other churches that have experience (good or bad) with ChMS suites. Thanks!
Posted in: Retaining Records
The embedded link is no longer active. Are you able to update? Thanks!
Posted in: How Does Your Church Do Photo Directories?
Hello Tim, our church (Community CRC Roselawn) is looking to upgrade from Power Church to an integrated suite. Are you aware of any good resources that compare the features and functionality, ease of use, reporting, customer support, and future feature development for leading church management systems? Also, are you aware of churches that have recently gone through the process of evaluating, selecting and implementing an integrated system? Thanks!
Posted in: Software for Scheduling Church Volunteers
Hi Shari, I would appreciate hearing more about your church's experiences with Planning Center (PC) and Church Community Builder (CCB). Doesn't PC offer a comprehensive set of integrated tools? Are there specific reasons it was decided to go with CCB? Are there specific functionality that CCB offers that isn't found in PC?
We currently use a number of tools, Power Church for membership, Planning Center for worship planning and children's ministry check-in, Instant Church Directory for online and printed directory, and Vanco for online giving. Primarily because we're very disappointed with the reporting capabilities of Power Church, we're beginning a process to investigate and choose a comprehensive system.
If you would prefer to email, my address is [email protected]
Thanks!
Bob Swanson, Council President
Community CRC
Demotte, Indiana
Posted in: The Disclosure of Church Staff Salaries
Wendy, does your church have a written policy stating that individual wages and cost of benefits will not be shared? If so, would you be willing to share a copy of the policy? Our church has had an unwritten policy for a number of years, but we now want to adopt a written policy. Thanks in advance.
Posted in: Best Practices for Operational Oversight and Staff Salaries?
Hello Ken, the administrative team of our church has also discussed the questions raised. I'm wondering whether any documents have been developed? And if so, whether you would be willing to share them? Thanks!
Posted in: Track Church Membership Using Excel?
Hi Joshua, as others have noted, there are many companies offering church management software systems. Last year after evaluating many systems, we converted to One Church Software, and I would highly recommend them. I believe they still offer special pricing for small churches. However, if your church doesn't need the other tools and features of a comprehensive system, I think it would be quite workable to set up an Excel spreadsheet to record key dates and information for your members and regular attenders. Please feel free to reach out if you need any additional assistance.
Posted in: Track Church Membership Using Excel?
Hi Joshua, to add to my previous comments, if you decide to set up a spreadsheet, I would strongly encourage you to review the annual denomination questionnaire for categories and dates you would want to set up and include. Some of the information requested is date driven.