Approaches to Funding
Dennis Yoder, an accountant at Yoder Financial Services, surveys common funding methods and the practical and legal questions that accompany them.
Tuition — Benefits and drawbacks; hybrid models; setting budgets; handling struggling families.
Scholarships / tax-credit programs (PA, VA, OH, etc.) — Discretion and control; policies to avoid conflict-of-interest issues; avoiding entitlement and dependency.
Donations — When contributions are truly deductible; church-budget approaches; clear communication of actual cost.
Fundraisers — Tax treatment of donated items and over-fair-market purchases; mileage and reimbursements; balancing work input with financial and relational gain.
Brief notes on restricted gifts, Section 529 plans, and the idea that nonprofits exist to serve donors by enabling them to accomplish kingdom goals.
Presented by Dennis Yoder at CASBI 2026, Strasburg Mennonite Church, Strasburg, Virginia.
