This page gives a general overview for International workers to requesting a project fund and onboarding an affiliate fundraiser. Before actually beginning the process, please refer to our full policy and standard section here.
Church/Project Funds and Grants
Determine who will carry out the following roles:
This is the Ministry for which project funds are being raised and operates as day-to-day supervision for ministry activities. In the case that there are Designated Grantees, the partner ministry will receive and distribute any stipends.
A fund custodian is required for all project funds. Any Reliant Employee or Associate can fill this role. He/She is responsible for the management of the fund and compliance with policy and standards. The fund custodian vouches for affiliate fundraisers, submits grant requests, and ensures reporting is prompt and in line with standards.
An affiliate fundraiser is a foreign national who will be deputized to raise funds on behalf of a Reliant project or ministry. (US citizens who wish to raise funds on behalf of a project will be considered Associate Field Workers)
This is a foreign national who serves with a Partner Ministry and receives a stipend. Often Designated Grantees are also Affiliate Fundraisers. However, there may be Designated Grantees who are not deputized to raise funds on behalf of the ministry, but do receive a monthly stipend.
Partnership Process
If the Partner Ministry is already an established partnership who has signed an MOU, nothing additional needs to be done.
If the Partner Ministry is new, and plans to onboard Reliant field workers as Associate Volunteers or Employees, the Standard Partnership MOU should be signed.
In the case that a foreign entity will receive and distribute funds, but is not actively partnered with Reliant, they will need to sign the Non-Employment Partnership Memorandum of Understanding.
New Project Fund Request
The first step is completing a project fund request form, located here - Church and Project Fund Request Form
Please allow around 2 weeks from Project fund request to having a live giving site.
Onboarding Steps
An affiliate fundraiser should
- Complete an Affiliate Fundraiser Application
- Understand and Sign the Fund Stipulations for Affiliate Fundraiser Agreement
- Be trained and deputized in MTD
- Be setup to track gifts
A fund custodian should
- Be appropriately vetted if not a Reliant field worker
- Submit a Church/Project Fund Request Form which includes a signed Master Grant Agreement
- Be added as a fund signer and given Toolbox access for fund
- Be trained in Project Funds Financial Overview
A Designated Grantee should
- Be checked on the OFAC site
- Sign the Stipend Agreement
Grant Process
As funds are raised for a project/ministry, the fund custodian may request expense or stipend grants for fund disbursement. For more information see Funds and Grant-Making Policy for Churches and Projects.
Grant disbursements are sent once per month (around the 10th of the month).
Grant Reports are required twice a year and are completed within the Grant Request form itself.
The Project Fund Expense Submission form may be used whenever one of the fund signers is a Reliant Field Staff. Grant Reporting is not required for Expense Submissions. For a fuller explanation see Reimbursements vs. Grants
