News & Updates

Q: A police officer with young children died from an illness and his funeral was held at our parish. His obituary read “Due to the family’s unexpected loss, the family requests assistance in covering funeral costs and the education and future for their children. Donations may be made directly to the family,” at a website…

Q: During our bylaws review, our district officers brought up a question about VOP and 501(c)3 compliance regarding advocacy. How can VOP do advocacy without jeopardizing the Society’s 501(c)3 status? A: IRS Publication 1828 states that churches and religious organizations are allowed to lobby unless it constitutes “a substantial part of its overall activities.” Given…

Q:  How long can a person hold the office of Interim President? I have searched the Rule and cannot find this topic mentioned. A: When a President resigns or is no longer able to fulfill his/her role, the vice president assumes the role of “Interim President” until an election is held. For Conferences the bylaws…

Q: What is the difference between Society twinning and co-pays? A: In Part III of the Rule, Statute 26 (Use of Funds) it states: The funds of the Society shall be used for the works of the Society, including Vincentian twinning and collaboration in payments for people we serve.  When funds are given from a…

Q: We are currently working on guidelines for our Conference Home Visit teams. Is it a St. Vincent de Paul Society policy to get a driver’s license number or other government issued identification from everyone we visit? A: There is no National Council Policy requiring identification checks, but Conferences may sometimes find that it is…