From The Finance Committee

It has come to the Finance Committee’s attention that our parishioners sometimes write designated checks earmarked for a particular individual. Unfortunately, such donations can not be considered as charitable tax deductions by the donor.

Section 170 of the Federal Tax Code allows a charitable contribution deduction only with respect to donations to or for the use of charitable organizations. Contributions to an individual, however needy, are never tax deductible to the donor, since they can never be said to be to or for the use of a charitable organization.

In light of this, going forward, if the church receives a designated check earmarked for a particular individual person, the COA Finance Office will provide you with three options.

• They will return the check to you.

• You can specify that your donation go the Church’s Compassion Fund, in which case there is no guarantee that the funds will go to the intended recipient.

• You can specify that your donation go to the individual you have written on the check to COA. The COA Finance Office will forward the amount to that person. However, this amount will not be included in your Year End Statement of tax–deductible contributions.

Thank-you for your compassion, generosity, and continued support of COA and its members!

Sincerely,
Donald Foy, Junior Warden & Finance Chair
Philip Rooney, Financial Management Officer