A.A. Contributions & Seventh Tradition

Supporting Your Local A.A. Community

Learn how to contribute to Alcoholics Anonymous in the Monterey Bay Area. Discover secure ways to support your local A.A. groups, Central Office, and General Service through online donations and traditional methods. Your contributions help maintain meeting spaces, provide literature, support newcomers, and keep A.A. services available to those who need them.

 

“Self-support begins with me, because I am part of us – the group. We pay our rent and utility bills, buy coffee, snacks and A.A. Literature. We support our central office, our area committee, and our General Service Office. If it were not for those entities, many new people would never discover the miracles of A.A.”

Reprinted from Self-Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix, page 5, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

NOTE: March 5, 2025 – Please know that we are working diligently to restore our nonprofit status and will provide updates to the fellowship as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and support during this process.

How to Contribute to A.A. Monterey

Choose from several secure methods to support Alcoholics Anonymous in the Monterey Peninsula:

 

Zelle Contributions

Contribute to MBAIAA using Zelle and the following steps:

  1. Log into your banking app
  2. Select “Send Money” with Zelle
  3. Enter MBAIAA email:  info@aamonterey.org
  4. Enter contribution amount
  5. Add a note if desired
  6. Confirm and send 

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Venmo Contributions

Digital payments with privacy protection

Important Privacy Note: For anonymity, set your Venmo account to “Private” in Settings > Privacy. Encourage group members to do the same or set individual contributions to “Private.”

Click This Button to Make a Contribution Using VENMO

Donate to AA Monterey Venmo button.

Venmo account:  @aamonterey

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Check Contributions

Traditional mail-in contributions

Mail checks to:

Monterey Bay Area Intergroup of A.A. (MBAIAA)
546 Hartnell Street, Suite E
Monterey, CA 93940

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PayPal Contributions

Secure online donations

Click This Button to Make a Contribution Using PayPal




Donate to AA Monterey via PayPal button

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A.A. Contribution Guidelines

Who Can Contribute

In keeping with the Seventh Tradition, we accept contributions from:

  • A.A. Groups – No contribution limit
  • Individual A.A. Members – Maximum $7,500 per year (per General Service Conference guidelines)
  • Bequests – One-time gifts up to $10,000 (not perpetual)

What Your Contributions Support

Your A.A. donations help fund essential services:

Local Group Operations:

  • Meeting space rent and utilities
  • Coffee, refreshments, and meeting supplies
  • A.A. literature and materials
  • Basic group operating expenses

Central Office Services:

  • Phone support and 12-step call coordination
  • Website maintenance and online resources
  • Literature distribution
  • Administrative support for local groups

Broader A.A. Service:

  • District and Area committee work
  • General Service Office support
  • Hospitals & Institutions programs
  • Special events and workshops

 

Group Contribution Priorities

Central Office appreciates member contributions but encourages groups to prioritize in this order:

  1. Local Group Expenses First – Rent, utilities, coffee, literature
  2. Service Entity Support – After basic expenses are covered:
    • Local District
    • Area Committee
    • Central Office (MBAIAA)
    • General Service Office

For detailed guidance, see the A.A. pamphlet: SELF SUPPORT: Where Money & Spirituality Mix

 

Digital Contributions for Online Meetings

Why Online Meetings Still Collect Seventh Tradition

Physical Meeting Spaces:

  • Rent and utilities continue during closures
  • Meeting supplies needed for reopening
  • Facility support for venues that host A.A.

A.A. Service Operations:

  • Website hosting and maintenance
  • Phone lines and office expenses
  • Insurance and administrative costs
  • Paid Special Workers compensation

District and Area Support:

  • Committee work and future events
  • Venue deposits and cancellation fees
  • Web services for groups
  • Ongoing service structure expenses

Setting Up Digital Contributions for Your Group

Click To Learn About Digital Contributions.

Digital contribution setup is simple and provides groups with additional ways to practice the Seventh Tradition beyond the traditional basket.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are A.A. contributions tax-deductible?
A: Please consult with a tax professional regarding the deductibility of contributions to A.A.

Q: How much should I contribute?
A: Contributions are voluntary and based on your ability. Many members contribute what they can afford, often the equivalent of what they might spend on coffee or a small meal.

Q: Is my contribution information private?
A: Yes, we respect contributor privacy. When using digital payment methods, consider privacy settings for additional anonymity.

Q: Can non-AA members contribute?
A: No, A.A. accepts contributions only from A.A. groups and individual A.A. members in keeping with our tradition of self-support.

Together, group and individual contributions make it possible for us to coordinate the services which individual groups in the Monterey area cannot provide and to facilitate twelfth step work.