Year-End Contribution Guidelines
Year-End Contributions – What you need to know.
*Please note that the CFC Office will be OPEN on Wednesday, December 31st , so all checks dated December 31 and received in the office on December 31 will be considered a 2025 contribution.
Receipts
To deduct any charitable donation of money on your tax return, regardless of amount, the IRS requires that a donor have either a bank record or written communication from the charity. Bank records include canceled checks, bank or credit union statements, and credit card statements. For any single contribution over $250, the donor must have a written acknowledgement from the charity. CFC will assist those who
have donated a total of $200 or more to the church during 2024 by mailing contribution statements in January 2025. Please do not file your income taxes until you have received this receipt. If you have given less than $200, your bank records are sufficient for the IRS. However, if you would still like a statement from CFC, you may call and request one be sent. CFC posts all contributions to individual accounts (excluding cash contributions where the donor is unknown) and this information can be available to you at any time.
Year of deductibility of year-end contributions
The IRS states that contributions are deductible in the year made. Checks will count as a 2025 contribution if they are mailed in 2025 and are postmarked before 12/31/25. Donations made online or charged to a credit card will count as a 2025 contribution if they are made by 12/31/2025 but don’t post to your statement until January 2026. At CFC we will follow these guidelines as we want to have full integrity regarding the timeliness and cut-off of year-end contributions.
Examples:
1) A check written and/or dated December 31, 2025, but deposited in the church offering in January 2026 will not be a year 2025 contribution.
2) A check written and postmarked December 31, 2025, is a year 2025 contribution, even if it is not received until January 2026.
3) A check written December 31, 2025, but not postmarked until January 2026 is a year 2026 contribution.
4) Credit card contributions that are made by 12/31/2025 but may post to your statement until January 2026 count for 2025, even if the credit card bill is not paid until 2026.
Designated Giving
Our Elders have established four approved funds to which you can designate your giving. They are the general fund, missions fund, building fund, and benevolence fund. Donations made to these funds are tax-deductible. According to IRS guidelines, such gifts remain under the authority and control of CFC.
Non-contribution issues
Checks received by Christian Fellowship Church as payments where the donor receives goods or services are not contributions and not tax deductible per the IRS. Examples are preschool tuition, camps and retreats, curriculum fees for classes, purchase of shirts, bookstore purchases, coffee shop purchases, etc.
If you have any questions regarding these issues, please feel free to contact the church, at (812) 867-6464.
*Please note that the CFC Office will be OPEN on Wednesday, December 31st , so all checks dated December 31 and received in the office on December 31 will be considered a 2025 contribution.
Receipts
To deduct any charitable donation of money on your tax return, regardless of amount, the IRS requires that a donor have either a bank record or written communication from the charity. Bank records include canceled checks, bank or credit union statements, and credit card statements. For any single contribution over $250, the donor must have a written acknowledgement from the charity. CFC will assist those who
have donated a total of $200 or more to the church during 2024 by mailing contribution statements in January 2025. Please do not file your income taxes until you have received this receipt. If you have given less than $200, your bank records are sufficient for the IRS. However, if you would still like a statement from CFC, you may call and request one be sent. CFC posts all contributions to individual accounts (excluding cash contributions where the donor is unknown) and this information can be available to you at any time.
Year of deductibility of year-end contributions
The IRS states that contributions are deductible in the year made. Checks will count as a 2025 contribution if they are mailed in 2025 and are postmarked before 12/31/25. Donations made online or charged to a credit card will count as a 2025 contribution if they are made by 12/31/2025 but don’t post to your statement until January 2026. At CFC we will follow these guidelines as we want to have full integrity regarding the timeliness and cut-off of year-end contributions.
Examples:
1) A check written and/or dated December 31, 2025, but deposited in the church offering in January 2026 will not be a year 2025 contribution.
2) A check written and postmarked December 31, 2025, is a year 2025 contribution, even if it is not received until January 2026.
3) A check written December 31, 2025, but not postmarked until January 2026 is a year 2026 contribution.
4) Credit card contributions that are made by 12/31/2025 but may post to your statement until January 2026 count for 2025, even if the credit card bill is not paid until 2026.
Designated Giving
Our Elders have established four approved funds to which you can designate your giving. They are the general fund, missions fund, building fund, and benevolence fund. Donations made to these funds are tax-deductible. According to IRS guidelines, such gifts remain under the authority and control of CFC.
Non-contribution issues
Checks received by Christian Fellowship Church as payments where the donor receives goods or services are not contributions and not tax deductible per the IRS. Examples are preschool tuition, camps and retreats, curriculum fees for classes, purchase of shirts, bookstore purchases, coffee shop purchases, etc.
If you have any questions regarding these issues, please feel free to contact the church, at (812) 867-6464.
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2025
January
Study Questions for January 5, 2025We Learn TogetherStaffing Changes This YearWeather Alert for This Sunday January 5Belong TogetherMembership MattersWeather Alert for Sunday January 12Study Questions for January 12, 2025Study Questions for January 19, 2025Worship TogetherCalling All Men (and help from ladies)Tax Info and 2 Core ValuesPray TogetherStudy Questions for January 26, 2025What a Response Thank YouStudy Questions for February 2, 2025Jesus Steps Forward
February
Jesus Meets a Variety of ResponsesStudy Questions for February 9, 2025God Is at Work in our LivesNew Check-In ProcessBe a Sidekick - Make a Lasting DifferenceJesus and the Kingdom of GodStudy Questions for February 16, 2025New Check-In ProcessStudy Questions for February 23, 2025Jesus and His Power in MinistryThe Hardest Days - Prayer for the Millers in SpainJesus and the Process of DiscipleshipStudy Questions for March 2, 2025
March
TOGETHER - Membership at CFCStudy Questions for March 9, 2025Jesus and His Service to PeopleStudy Questions for March 16, 2025Jesus and His Mission on EarthQuarterly Operations ReportWhat an Encouragement - Membership ClassStudy Questions for March 23, 2025Jesus and the Sacrificial LifeStudy Questions for March 30, 2025You've Been ServedEaster is 3 Weeks Away
April
Jesus Prepares for SacrificeGod Was Glorified through our StudentsStudy Questions for April 6, 2025Study Questions for April 13, 2025The Crucifixion of JesusIt's Next ThursdayIt is FinishedThe Resurrection of JesusStudy Questions for April 20, 2025New Sermon Series: The End Is NearStudy Questions for April 27, 2025All Caught UpStudy Questions for May 4, 2025The Signs Are EverywhereA New Ministry is Launching
May
June
Magnify God's CareStudy Questions for June 8, 2025Waiting to Take the FieldPray for High School & Middle School CampsGod Is the Owner of EverythingStudy Questions for June 15, 2025Magnify God's LoveIt's a PrivilegeStudy Questions for June 22, 2025Magnify God's ForgivenessStudy Questions for June 29, 2025Magnify God's FaithfulnessThe Challenge of Freedom
July
Study Questions for July 6, 2025A New InitiativeStudy Questions for July 13, 2025The Heart of PraiseServe Alongside a Medical TeamCrying out in LamentStudy Questions for July 20, 2025Welcoming Our New MembersStudy Questions for July 27, 2025Trusting God's ProtectionPrayer for Back to SchoolStudy Questions for August 3, 2025Mea Culpa