What can a youth treasurer do in a club or group?
Despite not being legally responsible for group money, there are many roles youth can have as treasurer.
The 4-H club treasurer role is an officer role many youths have the opportunity to hold. A group treasurer is responsible for managing the group’s funds. In the process of holding this officer position, youth can gain a variety of life skills including responsibility, record-keeping, planning and organizing, and decision making.
While youth cannot be held legally responsible for the group funds, it does not mean youth have a superficial role as treasurer. Adults should provide oversight, check the work of youth treasurers and sign checks.
As a club treasurer, youth can:
- Write out the check. A great idea is to use a blank paper version of checks for youth to practice on before writing the final version.
- Balance the account. The check book register can be used or other record-keeping applications.
- Log income and expense transactions into a register.
- Prepare the treasurer’s report and share it at the meetings.
- Receipt income into a receipt book.
- Collect and count money at a fundraiser. There is also an opportunity for a second youth to assist with double checking the count for good accountability practices.
- Create a budget along with 4-H members in the club.
- Collect dues and 4-H participation fees and log in a chart or spreadsheet.
- Prepare a fundraiser application.
- Prepare a fundraiser report form.
- Deposit money into the 4-H account at the financial institution.
- Assist with the Annual Financial Summary Report.
When youth engage in these activities as a youth treasurer, they can gain life skills that can be used for the rest of their life.
More information to support the 4-H treasurer can be found in the Financial Manual for 4-H Treasurer: A Guide to Managing Money Wisely.
Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to make important decisions about their professional future, ready to contribute to the workforce and able to take fiscal responsibility in their personal lives.
