SO YOU’RE THE
CLUB TREASURER
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy,
race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or status as a U.S. veteran. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may
be directed to the Diversity Officer, 2150 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, 515-294-1482, [email protected]. All other inquiries may be directed to 800-262-3804.
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You and all 4-H officers are representatives of your 4-H club, and the entire 4-H program. Your skills
and abilities, standards and ideals, speech, and even smiles represent all Iowa 4-H members.
Representing others is one of your most important responsibilities because it exists at all times—not
only while you are at 4-H meetings.
A club treasurer is responsible for keeping the official record of all money received and spent by the
club or learning community. As treasurer, you will not spend money unless the expense is approved
by the membership.
At each meeting, you should report:
• The amount and purpose of all money spent.
• The balance in the club account at the county Extension office.
• Expenses to be paid.
At the end of each year the president should appoint an auditing committee to check the financial
records for accuracy and completeness.
CHECKLIST FOR TREASURERS
I will inform my county Extension office that I am the new treasurer.
I will handle all of the money matters of the group.
I will keep an accurate record in a treasurer’s book of how all money is used.
I will bring funds to be deposited to the county Extension office as soon as possible.
I will request payment for all bills promptly, as directed by the group.
I will present a summary of income and expenses at each meeting. I also will report the current
club account balance.
I will complete a financial summary report in the treasurer’s book at the end of the year.
HOW ARE CLUB FUNDS TREATED?
The Office of the Auditor of the State of Iowa has determined the county Extension office should
maintain the accounting records for 4-H Clubs. The Extension Council is a publicly-elected body and
has to comply with certain laws as directed by Iowa Code. This means the county Extension office
has to include all funds in its budget, including club funds. That also means the county Extension
office has to make the payments.
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MAKE AN ANNUAL BUDGET
How much money does your club or learning community need? To find out, create a spending plan or
budget as a group. It can be helpful to use your annual club plan or calendar.
Step 1: List your anticipated annual income sources and amounts. Calculate the total income you
expect to receive throughout the entire year.
Step 2: Add expense categories. Try to predict how much you will spend in each category. Calculate
the predicted total amount needed to cover expenses.
Step 3: Compare the total income to total expenses. Make adjustments to your plans until you can
be sure you have enough income to cover your expenses.
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ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
The annual financial report lists the 4-H Club/Learning Community’s financial activities during the
program year. All businesses and nonprofit organizations operate by having annual financial reporting,
and the same is true for County Extension Districts. County Extension Districts must have an annual
audit because their funds are public.
The Iowa 4-H Youth Development Program believes learning about financial matters is a very
important part of being a 4-H member, even more so for you as Club Treasurer. If you need an idea of
what a financial report should include, additional resources can be found at https://www.extension.
iastate.edu/4h/regulations-and-guidance.
Each active club in Iowa must have a charter. This is because clubs use the 4-H name and emblem.
The United States Congress authorizes the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to
manage the Name and Emblem, and they require each state 4-H program to have a chartering
process.
An annual financial report is required as part of keeping an active charter status. Each year, your
County Youth Coordinator or equivalent will upload your club’s annual financial report in 4-HOnline.
The report should include your county, club name, club account number, treasurer name, treasurer
phone number and treasurer’s email address.
The county Extension office will provide you with a monthly report of income and expenses. On your
annual report, write in the total income and expenses for each month. Subtract the expenses from
the income, and show the running balance for each month. After you have entered this for all twelve
months, you can add up the income and add up the expenses for your yearly total.
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REQUESTING A PAYMENT
1. Your county Extension office will give you a form similar to the sample 4-H Club Voucher
Request. Use ink on all forms.
2. This form will ask you for your club name, club account number, date, the payee name (who are
you making payment to), address, city, state, zip.
3. Complete the description of payment and club purpose—what do you want to buy, why are you
buying it, and did your club approve it?
4. Please attach all receipts or an invoice. Because 4-H club funds are considered public funds,
documentation is necessary, as all Extension funds are audited or annually reviewed.
5. If you do not have a receipt or invoice, provide a copy of your club meeting minutes to
document that your club approved the expense. If you need an idea of what you need to vote
on at your club meeting, here are some sample motions:
• Jay Jones, treasurer, reported the club has $112 in their account, and $6.50 in
outstanding bills for supplies for the fund-raiser. Sally Smith moved the club pay $6.50
for the fund-raiser supplies to the club leader. The motion was seconded by Patty Person,
and passed.
• Jane Jacobs moved the club allow the club leader to purchase pizza, spending up to
$150 for the November club meeting. The motion was seconded by Sally Smith and
passed.
6. Include the total amount of the purchase.
7. Sign the form as club treasurer.
8. Have your club leader sign the form.
9. Turn into the Extension office.
Below is a sample form for payments. Follow the steps to complete the form and turn it into your
Extension office.
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MAKING DEPOSITS
The county Extension office serves as the bank for your club’s funds. This means you need to bring
money and checks to the Extension office for deposit, just like you would at a bank. Your county
Extension office will give you a form to fill out for depositing money.
1. Your county Extension office will give you a form similar to the 4-H Club Account Deposit Slip.
Use ink to fill out the form your county Extension office gives you.
2. The form will probably ask you for your club name, account number and the date.
3. The form may ask for the source of the money, check numbers and amount of cash, and a
description or purpose for the money raised.
4. You should always have at least one other person count the funds before you take the funds to
the Extension office. It is recommended that the deposits are counted again with staff at the
Extension office.
5. Always keep cash and checks in a secure place. Never mail cash.
6. Ask that people make checks payable to the county Extension office. If the check is written to
your club, turn the check over and write “For deposit only” on the back of the check and sign
the back of the check.
7. Sign and print your name. Ask a county Extension office staff member to sign the form,
confirming receipt.
8. Leave the form, the money, and the checks to be deposited at the Extension office.
9. Keep a copy of the deposit slip for your club records.
September 17, 2018
Happy Helpers 4-H Club
xxx-x-x-xx-xxx-x
Connie Donaldson 1206 Community Service $5.25
First Bank 5719 Fall field trip $7.50
Paula Andrews 1200 4-H t-shirts $24.00
Samantha Habbins 1935 Fruit sales $72.00
Amy Simmons 1025 4-H membership $30.00
Devon Rogers 1001 Butter braids fundraiser $35.00
Cash Cash Bake Sale $64.00
$237.75
John Walker
Susan Miller
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TRACKING INCOME AND EXPENSES
Your county Extension office will give you a monthly “Receipts and Expenses Report.” The report has
your club number on it and the club name.
At the top of the report is a listing of revenue. There is a date for each transaction. You can see the
source of the receipt or where the money came from, as well as a description of the item, and the
amount received.
The next section of the report is expense. Again, there is a date for each expense, who the payment
was made to, and the amount. Numbers in an accounting report shown in parenthesis to indicate
they are being subtracted from the total. At the bottom of the report is the total expense, total net
income, and balance.
You should keep a record of your club transactions in your treasurer’s book. There are many ways
you can track your club’s income and expenses. You can use a paper record such as a printable check
register. You could also use a financial management app or website. Here is an example of what your
record may look like.
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RECEIPTS AND EXPENSES REPORT ACTIVITY
Individually, or working with a partner, find the following information on the sample “Receipts and
Expenses” report.
1. What time frame is covered by the report?
2. What is the name of the club?
3. What is the beginning club balance?
4. What is the total revenue for the time frame of the entire report?
5. What is the total of all expenses for the time frame of the entire report?
6. What activity or event are most of the deposits for?
7. How much revenue did the “flower planters” activity generate?
8. Which person spent the most at the bake sale?
9. What did the $35 journal entry pay for?
10. The number 397617 represents what type of item or document?
11. The account number assigned to this club is what?
12. For the year, the club increased its balance by how much?
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ANSWERS
1. 7/1/17-6/30/18
2. Happy Helpers
3. $2596.16
4. $1102.92
5. $472.20
6. Bake Sale
7. $492.45
8. Emily Flanders
9. Club YQCA
10. A receipt
11. 4719-0-8-000-840-2
12. $630.75
Revised by Mitchell Hoyer, 4-H Youth Development Program Specialist, Iowa State University
Extension and Outreach; Marybeth Foster, 4-H Youth Development Organizational Accountability
Manager, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; Bonnie Dalager, 4-H Youth Development
Program Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
So You’re the Club Treasurer is available online at store.extension.iastate.edu/product/103
4H 0071 R
evised October 2018
FINANCIAL GUIDELINES
For Iowa 4-H Clubs and Learning Communities
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic information, marital
status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or status as a U.S. veteran. (Not all prohibited bases apply to
all programs.) Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Diversity Officer, 2150 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames,
Iowa 50011, 515-294-1482, extdiversity@iastate.edu. All other inquiries may be directed to 800-262-3804.
Iowa 4-H Youth Development Financial Guidelines for 4-H Clubs and Learning Communities
4HP 3000 Revised October 2018
Rev
ised by Marybeth Foster, Organizational Accountability Manager and Mitchell Hoyer, Iowa State University
Extension 4-H youth development program coordinator from materials originally prepared by Don Goering, former
ISU Extension 4-H youth development specialist.
