There are many ways to defraud a nonprofit organization, such as a church or a charity. Rollie Dimos provides case studies of at least twelve ways in his new book, Integrity at Stake. Thankfully, he also demonstrates how simple internal controls can reduce the incidence of fraud and insure that donations make their way to their intended beneficiaries. If you’re not sure whether your church has been defrauded, he outlines the procedures for a fraud risk assessment and an internal audit in the book’s appendixes.

Dimos is director of Internal Audit for the Assemblies of God (USA) and a certified fraud examiner and certified internal auditor. This book arises out of his years of experience in the nonprofit world. If you are a pastor, board officer or member, or staff accountant at a local church, reading this book will help you safeguard your church’s finances.

The fallout of fraud in a church’s finances has both short- and long-term consequences. In the short term, fraud embarrasses the congregation, tightens a church’s finances, harms ministries, and entangles the church in legal controversy. In the long term, fraud destroys the church’s honor, making donors doubt whether their money is going to ministry purposes and blackening the church’s reputation in the eyes of the community.

The answer to fraud can be summarized in three terms: accountability, transparency, and internal controls. As Dimos writes:

“I encourage churches to embrace accountability and transparency, two essential keys that will minimize risk and help your church fulfill its mission. And by adding a few simple internal controls, you will increase the accountability and transparency of your nonprofit organization, bring integrity to your financial operations, and in my opinion, characterize biblical stewardship!”

Don’t let fraud ruin your ministry! Buy this book and make accountability, transparency, and internal controls hallmarks of how your church handles money!

P.S. Full disclosure: I am a friend and colleague of Rollie Dimos at the Assemblies of God (USA) national office, but I work in a separate, non-finance related department.