{"id":750,"date":"2026-01-20T15:24:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T21:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/adminmatters\/?p=750"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:24:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T21:24:59","slug":"index-of-the-january-2026-issue-of-administration-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/adminmatters\/index-of-the-january-2026-issue-of-administration-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Index of the January 2026 Issue of Administration Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Issue 102 of Administration Matters<\/h2>\n

January: Start the year strong with Portico\u2019s 2026 New Year Checklist<\/h3>\n

Kick off 2026 with tools and reminders designed to support your benefits administration work, including reviewing account access, reporting compensation changes, and accessing clergy and church tax guides. These quick checks can help ensure accurate benefits, smooth administration, and a confident start to the year for you and your employees. >More<\/a><\/p>\n

IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2026<\/h3>\n

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck are:
\n\u2022 72.5 cents per mile driven for business use<\/a>, up 2.5 cents from 2025.
\n\u2022 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, equal to the rate in 2025.
\nThe rates apply to fully electric and hybrid automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.
\nWhile the mileage rate for charitable use is set by statute, the mileage rate for business use is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. >More<\/a><\/p>\n

New purposes for old buildings<\/h3>\n

One challenge we face today is that many religious buildings are falling into disrepair. As facilities age and maintenance costs increase, congregations must discern how to move forward: by relocating or repurposing? >More<\/a><\/p>\n

Important considerations for church benevolence programs<\/h3>\n

Many churches have benevolence programs to assist members and others in the community during times of emergency or financial crisis. See how you can build a framework for faithful support<\/a> by applying benevolence program best practices, developing simple policies for demonstrating and documenting recipients\u2019 needs, and making disbursements in an accountable manner.<\/p>\n

Six tips to make meetings more productive<\/h3>\n

To conduct a productive meeting, start with a clear purpose and a detailed agenda (preferably sent to participants in advance), ensure that everyone understands the objectives, facilitate open discussion, stay on time and follow up with action items. >More<\/a><\/p>\n

Best practices for digital giving<\/h3>\n

The digital landscape is rife with cybersecurity risks that can directly impact organizations of all kinds. Nonprofits face many threats related to digital giving, from phishing attacks to data breaches. Understanding these threats is essential for developing effective defenses. >More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Issue 102 of Administration Matters January: Start the year strong with Portico\u2019s 2026 New Year Checklist Kick off 2026 with tools and reminders designed to support your benefits administration work, including reviewing account access, reporting compensation changes, and accessing clergy and church tax guides. These quick checks can help ensure accurate benefits, smooth administration, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":207,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-post"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIndex of the January 2026 Issue of Administration Matters - Administration Matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/adminmatters\/index-of-the-january-2026-issue-of-administration-matters\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Index of the January 2026 Issue of Administration Matters - Administration Matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Issue 102 of Administration Matters January: Start the year strong with Portico\u2019s 2026 New Year Checklist Kick off 2026 with tools and reminders designed to support your benefits administration work, including reviewing account access, reporting compensation changes, and accessing clergy and church tax guides. 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