Before you can enter your chapter’s operating funds expenses online for the year, you must enter the beginning-of-year balance. You only need to do this once for the year; however, the amount can be changed later if it was entered incorrectly.

How to find and enter your beginning-of-year chapter operating funds balance

1. Log on to the Chapter Leadership Administration Menu page (thrivent.com > Members/Chapters > For Chapter Leaders > Chapter Leadership Administration Menu).
   
   
2. In the right column, scroll down to the Reports/Listings area.
   
   
3. Click on the dropdown arrow by the year and choose the previous year (e.g., if entering the 2009 beginning-of-year balance, choose 2008.
   
   
4. Click on the dropdown arrow and choose one of these reports:
   
   • Operating Funds by Expense Category
   • Operating Funds Detail Summary
     
     
5. Scroll down to the bottom of either report. The amount listed as Remaining Balance should be your beginning-of-year balance for the new year (see note below).
   
   Note:  The amount shown on the reports is based on entries made by the chapter the previous year, including the previous year's beginning-of-year balance. We encourage you to double check that all of the previous year's operating funds expenses were reported online and that the year-end bank account reconciliation confirms the “Remaining Balance” figure.
   
   If you suspect that the “Remaining Balance” shown on the forms is incorrect, click on this link for instructions to manually calculate the beginning-of-year balance. 
   
   
6. Go back to the Chapter Leadership Administration Menu home page.
   
   
7. In the right column, scroll down to Manage Chapter Operating Funds and click Go to get to the Manager Chapter Operating Funds page.
   
   
8. Click Update Beginning-of-Year (Jan. 1) Balance.
   
   Note: If an amount already appears in the entry box, determine if the amount indicated matches the remaining balance posted in the reports you just reviewed.
   
   If the amount in the box is correct, no further action is needed. If you have determined that your chapter’s beginning-of-year balance differs from the amount posted, type the correct amount in the box (see Step 5 above).
   
   
9. Note: Do not include the current year's January deposit of chapter operating funds when figuring out your beginning-of-year balance. The system will automatically be updated with this amount.
   
   
10. Click Save/Verify. A message displays saying the beginning-of-year balance is saved. This balance also displays on the Manage Chapter Operating Funds page.
    

Instructions for "manually" calculating the beginning-of-year balance for chapter operating funds

If your chapter must manually calculate the beginning-of-year operating funds balance, please follow these steps:

1. Find your chapter's year-end checking account balance on the December bank statement from the previous year (e.g., if you are calculating the 2009 beginning-of-year balance, use the December 2008 bank statement).
   
   
2. Make the following adjustments to calculate your year-end operating funds balance:
   
   
   • Subtract the amount of all checks that were issued before Dec. 31, but have not cleared.
     
     
   • Subtract those Care Abounds in Communities® program funds and/or funds raised by community service teams that were deposited into your chapter checking account before Dec. 31, but a check not written to the recipient as of Dec. 31.
     
     
   • Note: Do not include the current year's January deposit of chapter operating funds when figuring out your beginning-of-year balance. The system will automatically be updated with this amount.
     
     
3. Go back to the Chapter Leadership Administration Menu home page.
   
   
4. In the right column, scroll down to Manage Chapter Operating Funds and click Go to get to the Manager Chapter Operating Funds page.
   
   
5. Click Update Beginning-of-Year (Jan. 1) Balance.
   
   Note: If an amount already appears in the entry box, determine if the amount indicated matches the remaining balance you just calculated (see Step 6).
   
   If the amount posted matches the amount you calculated, click Save/Verify.
   
   
6. If the amount you calculated differs from the amount in the box, enter the operating funds beginning-of-year balance you calculated (see Step 2 above).
   
   
7. Click Save/Verify. A message displays saying the beginning-of-year balance is saved. This balance also displays on the Manage Chapter Operating Funds page.

Additional Topics
Managing and Reporting Chapter Operating Funds (PDF, 302K)
Operating Funds - Overview (PDF, 302K)
Operating funds - deposit requirements/schedule
Operating funds - determining annual amounts
Operating funds - planning and appropriate uses
Operating funds - reporting operating expenses

This is proprietary information that is solely for use by employees, volunteers, and agents of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in connection with fraternal activities of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.