Share Finances

Ways to give and where it goes

offering

The best motivation for giving is simple: gratitude. We are encouraged to give back a portion of what God has blessed us with. The congregation sets priorities for how your offerings are used.

Sometimes the question comes up, especially for new attendees, how I can give financially to TUMC? We appreciate all gifts of service, prayer or financial support. There are several ways to support the work of TUMC financially:

  • Gifts via e-transfer. Donations can be sent by email to treasurer@tumc.ca. Please indicate any special purpose for your donation, eg the Building Fund. As well, you may use e-transfer for retreat fees and other types of payments.
  • Pre-approved (PAP) monthly offerings from your bank account. By filling in a simple form you can make monthly donations to TUMC directly from your bank account. The deductions are made on the same day each month and can be designated for the general fund or for specific projects, for example the refugee fund. The amounts will be deducted until you ask for them to be stopped, which you can do at any time, usually with one-month notice. Click here to get a PAP authorization form.
  • Cash in the offering plate. Cash donations are used for the general fund, which supports all aspects of church work. No receipts are given for cash, but if you place money in an envelope (available on the mail cart in the lobby) you can add your name and receive a tax receipt.
  • Cheques in the offering plate. Cheques should be made payable to Toronto United Mennonite Church. If you wish to support a specific project instead of the general fund, please indicate that with a note on the cheque memo line.
  • Donate via CanadaHelps. The CanadaHelps website allows you to donate to TUMC with your credit card or via PayPal. Go to the TUMC page and fill in the information. You can donate to the general fund or to specific projects and make one time or regular donations.
  • Matching Donations. Some companies will match donations made by employees. TUMC may be eligible under such programs.
  • United Way. Some companies allow employees to give via United Way and to designate the organization that receives the donation. TUMC can be designated to receive your United Way donations.
  • Gifts of Securities. Securities can be given to TUMC without the need to sell them first. This may have income tax advantages. Since the process can be complex we would recommend using Abundance Canada (previously Mennonite Foundation of Canada) to help with the process.

While CanadaHelps, Abundance and other third party portals issue their own receipts, TUMC receipts are issued once at the end of the year and distributed in February.

TUMC accepts donations for our own spending plan projects and will also accept extra donations for external agencies that we support such as Mennonite Central Committee or Mennonite Church Eastern Canada.  If you designate a donation to one of these organizations the money will be sent to them and you will get a receipt from TUMC. Such designated donations do not counted towards our spending plan commitment. Currently besides our general fund we are accepting money towards Aurora House, building fund, refugee fund, youth projects, special needs fund and a memorial fund.

TUMC does not accept donations designated to non-Mennonite causes we do not support.

Where it goes

TUMC’s annual Spending Plan, the name for our approach to finances, begins with estimating the financial resources the church will receive over the year. That total is then divided toward three main purposes:

  • Providing for a place of worship and community (facilities, materials for worship and Sunday School, etc.).
  • Providing for those who serve the church (salaries, allowances, and benefits for staff).
  • Providing for the wider community. Some examples:

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