Year-end Contribution: "Hold for 2012"

Question:

A church member made a contribution by check this past week and noted in the memo section “2012 donation”. Since they actually made the donation in 2011, what are our options? I know we can't deposit the contribution now and show it on the contributor's giving statement for 2012. Can a church "hold" the check until 2012 and deposit it then? What would be the ideal way to handle this?

Answer:

You could return the check to the donor to amend the issue date to January 1, 2012. I believe s/he should cross out the date with a single line, then record and initial the new, post-dated entry. Of course, a replacement check could also be drafted.