Tech Forum

Recently, we planned an activity to teach the activity days girls about service and how they can make a difference. One small part of the activity involved a "penny drive". All of the funds collected would go to Childhood Cancer Org. We have two children in our stake who are currently dealing with cancer and thought that this would be a good way to show that some forms of service come in donating money and items. We obtained permission from our stake presidency to hold the penny drive, who took the matter seriously and studied the handbook for the correct protocol. Of course, there was one woman that took great offense to the penny drive and stated that we were not following the handbook. A stake presidency member called Salt Lake to get clarification of the handbook. We were told that we were not fund raising for our own activity and if the stake presidency felt good about the event, we could go ahead. After another email from the woman, the stake president call the first presidency office. He was told that the church doesn't encourage fund raising events and that we should modify our event, which we promptly did. At the same time, I am being asked to donate money for Friends of Scouting. How is that any different than fund raising for a cancer charity? We are constantly asked to donate items for service projects, welfare needs, Eagle projects and refugees, how are those donations any less taxing on a budget or not monetarily applicable? Then today I received an email from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir asking for donations of time, talents and MONEY. I find this a double standard. Perhaps there should be some clarification on the fund raising topics in the handbook and the people answering questions from local church leaders should all be on the same page with the same information.

Good question. The stake presidency did the right thing by escalating the question to get clarification and acting on the advice. I suspect the advice was based on the specifics of that activity.

Friends of Scouting is covered by the Scouting Handbook so it is approved. There's certainly any number of other places for church members to donate for church and church-related programs. And of course, there's nothing prohibiting members from doing good with their own money. Just limitations on who/what/how it should be done "as a church group".

If anyone else has a question about fund raising, I'd follow the example illustrated - ask the stake presidency and if they have a question, they can call and check. This forum is mostly user-to-user support. There's no one here who can change or clarify policy. The best we can do is point out resources.