I would like to be able to run everything on tithes, offerings, and donations. To make a donation online, click here.
To live in the community, we'd ask for a percentage of anything you make as income. Ideally, we will not hunt an individual down for this money. In fact, we may never know if one gives nor how much, unless it is so indicated (via checks or notes, and I think online giving is tracked). (I realize this may be fanciful thinking relying on the integrity of the residents to actually pay, but I'd hope we cultivate honest people.) I would like to have a box in the lobby of the main meeting room labeled "tithe and offering," where people could give the 10% instructed tithe and any extra offering when we meet there once a week, and a box in the cafe open to the public labeled "tithe and donations," where residents could drop of their 10% and anyone could donate to the cause.
I'm not sure if we'd be able to be called a non-profit (and get governmental aid) as a "religious" community, but advice from a knowledgeable person in this regard would be appreciated. I do want to have the free public cafe to feed the hungry and while I don't want to charge hungry people, I would like to have money to pay the workers and professionals.