Frequently-Asked Questions -- SCS

What is the Society of Conscious Service? _[show]

Are SCS events really offered by DONATION? _[show]

Yes, all SCS-sponsored events are provided on a donation basis.  No one is turned away because of a lack of ability to contribute monetarily.

Please do not stay away from an event because you think you do not have enough money to contribute -- even small donations help, and we also welcome contributions of items such as fresh flowers, bees-wax candles (fragrance-free, please!), and non-fragranced hand-soap or earth-friendly toilet paper for the temple bathroom.

Donations to the Society are tax-deductible as a charitable contribution, but if you donate in cash and would like to claim the deduction, you must get a receipt for your deduction.  Your cancelled check, made payable to the Society of Conscious Service, serves as documentation of any donation you make by check.

How much do I donate at an SCS event? _[show]

We leave the amount of your donation to you.  We do usually provide a suggested donation range for our events (you can find this in the specific event description on our calendar page), but whether, and how much, you donate is your choice.  

We do ask that you make a monetary donation of some type when you attend SCS-sponsored events such as weekly Open Circle (even small donations really help!), or when you partake of SCS-sponsored services such as the weekly podcast.  

Your financial contributions make it possible for us to continue providing events and services by donation.

The SCS donations basket is blessed with "the law of ten-fold return" -- may your donation increase you in every way, ten-fold!

What does the SCS do with my donations? _[show]

The SCS does not have any paid staff.  The teachings, services, technical support, and administration for SCS-sponsored events are all provided by volunteers.  (Carol and Ashielah provide their services at Open Circle, Doing the Do, and in providing the weekly podcast, strictly on a volunteer basis).  They receive no remuneration for the preparation, presentation, or clean-up required for SCS-sponsored events from the SCS.

Your donations to the SCS pay for rent, utilities, supplies, and maintenance on the temple space where our Port Townsend events are held, and for office supplies, fees, licenses, and legal consultation required for the organization to maintain its non-profit status.

Choices about how donations to the SCS are used are made by the organization's all-volunteer Board of Directors.  Board meeting minutes are publicly available.

"Donate to SCS"/"Donate to Carol & Ashielah" -- What's the difference? _[show]

At some of our online events and services, you may see two different "Donate" buttons -- one for the SCS, and one for Carol & Ashielah.

When you donate to the SCS, your donations contribute only to the non-profit Society of Conscious Service.  These contributions go directly to support of donation-based SCS events, rather to any individual.  Contributions you make to the SCS are tax-deductible as a charitable contribution.  The SCS can provide you with a receipt for tax purposes.

When you donate to Carol and Ashielah, these donation are not tax-deductible -- they go directly to Carol and Ashielah as individuals, and help them do what most people do -- buy groceries, pay rent and utilities, etc..  Carol and Ashielah contribute all of their services as volunteers (channeling, set-up, and follow-up) when they sit as SCS ministers at weekly Open Circle and other SCS-sponsored events -- they do not receive remuneration for these services, so if you would like to help support them in this, please consider making a donation both to the SCS and Carol/Ashielah.

How do I find Directions to SCS events? _[show]

Can I become involved with the SCS as a member, or as a minister? _[show]