Ideas for engaging young adults: creative dues structure models, leadership opportunities, and links to congregations offering these incentives. Also includes a brief introduction to young adult programming and leadership development.

Some suggestions for reshaping the financial commitment structure in synagogues.

Examples of dues structures used in some URJ congregations.

Examples of dues structures used in some URJ congregations.

A guide designed to assist congregations handle financial matters with members while meeting the financial needs of the synagogue.

A guide for congregations of all sizes with varied administrative and fiscal resources. It is meant to stimulate thought and planning and help your congregation write its own concrete, unique prescription for fiscal and spiritual health.

Every synagogue leader is always looking for additional ways to increase revenue. One way to do this is through affiliate marketing, a process in which a congregation signs up with an online vendor and adds a link on the congregation website for that vendor.

Tax Law revisions provide incentive for charitable giving to your synagogue through the "IRA Charitable Rollover"

Here's an example of an effective and well-written letter you can adapt for your use.

Send a letter to your membership (personalized letters are best) asking for end of year tax deductible contributions. Here is a sample letter that we like, along with a response form. If you have a direct mail letter that you want to share, please send it to us so it can be posted.

A guide designed to assist you in the process and discipline of long-range planning to help your congregation achieve its future goals.

URJ's new planned giving guide.

A look at development, sources of development funds and making the all-important ask.

Suggestions regarding the establishment and use of funds.

Who's minding the store? Some financial planning questions to think about.

Through 2011, Congress has extended a special provision to help those 70-1/2 and older dependent on social security and other forms of retirement income to encourage charitable giving. Persons with traditional or Roth IRAs may make tax-free gifts directly to qualified charities, including their synagogues. Such persons may choose to make charitable distributions from their IRA up to a total of $100,000 in 2011. A couple with separate IRAs each can make gifts up to $100,000. Here is a letter that you can adapt to send to your congregants in this age demographic or use for publication in your December newsletter.

Qualified synagogues- those with 25 or fewer "full time equivalent" employees and average wages less than $50,000) may be eligible for the Tax Credit if they contribute a uniform percentage of at least 50% towards the cost of their employees' health insurance (there is a limited exception to this uniformity requirement for 2010).

Synagogues that meet the requirements of section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code are automatically considered tax-exempt and are not required to apply for and obtain recognition of tax-exempt status from the IRS.

Identity theft and protection of personal information have become very important topics in today's technological world, and congregations are not immune to these concerns. The Federal Trade Commission recently laid out their "Red Flag" rules and there is a new Massachusetts regulation in effect that is aimed at protecting personal information.

Updated in 2011, this publication offers some guidance regarding certain financial and legal requirements congregations must meet in order to accomplish its mission.