Reliant has a long-standing best practice policy that we do not allow our missionaries or their spouses to donate towards the MTD account they are responsible for. There are several reasons why Reliant has such a long-standing policy:
- A Reliant missionary is responsible to do outside fundraising (MTD). Per Reliant’s view, MTD is connecting, communicating vision, asking for commitment and cultivating a long-term ministry team for Reliant. Giving to one’s Reliant ministry MTD account does not satisfy this responsibility. Fundraising is a ministry and this practice undermines the carrying out of that important ministry.
- The donation has 12% administrative assessment applied to it. Then if the donation is used for salary, Reliant takes out applicable payroll taxes. Thus, the actual donation amount which processed back to the missionary is less than the original donation amount.
- Giving on an ongoing basis to the MTD account the missionary is responsible for is not sustainable for the missionary. The missionary will ultimately be taking money from their Reliant paycheck to support the MTD account they are responsible for.
- If the missionary raises some financial MTD ministry support, but does not meet their Reliant financial MTD support goal to be hired and remain employed, Reliant reserves ultimate discretion and full control of donated funds to ensure Reliant’s ministry purposes. Thus, the donated funds will remain with Reliant and no return of donation back to the missionary could be made.
If Reliant determines that a missionary, or missionary's spouse, has been donating towards the MTD account he or she is responsible for, our practice is to back out the donation(s) and refund the missionary.
