In recent years, churches and some Christian organizations have begun using script to raise funds for things like sending kids to camp. The way this works is that a person buys a script from a trained volunteer. The person then spends the script at a participating business. The business credits the nonprofit organization with the difference between the script and a discounted cost of what was bought. The percentage of the discount can vary from 1 to 12 percent, depending on the profit structure of the business donor.
Churches can receive other kinds of donations.
Dave Schutkee, administrator of Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, in California, says that when Fair Oaks has a capital stewardship drive, the church receives real estate, stocks, and bonds. Those assets can appreciate over time, but some can be a bother. Schutkee warns churches about accepting land that can be hard to sell. He advises that the title of any property be searched to make sure there are no liens against it or that the land contains no environmental hazards, such as toxic waste. Land gifts come with obligations, he adds, such as property taxes and insurance, which must be paid at least yearly.