Purpose

Provide guidance on establishingproject and church funds.

Scope

This standard applies to all church and project funds.

Policy Supporting This Standard

• Funds and Grant-Making Policy for Churches and Projects

Standard Statement

The Reliant Board of Directors delegates Reliant leadership the authority to approve church and project funds to further Reliant’s tax-exempt purposes by establishing these new funds, in a matter compliant with applicable laws and regulations and according to the requirements outlined below. The Reliant board will approve any funds deemed necessary. The Program Team will oversee all church/project fund requests, including approvals and submission and finalizing fund setup.

Partnership:

All church and project funds must be vetted first by the Program Team lead to confirm the church/ministry partnership with Reliant and to confirm that this request is one that they believe Reliant should move forward on.

A partner does not need to have workers or volunteers associated with Reliant in order to create a project fund. Any church/ministry may become a partner with Reliant with the sole purpose of project fundraising. 

Purpose:

Unrestricted Church/Project Fund: The Program Team will review and approve every unrestricted church and project fund request as the sole purpose of these designated funds (accounts) is to absorb leftover funds (money) from exited staff that were a part of their church/ministry (typically for residencies/internships) and use those funds to help support other staff at the same church/ministry who need assistance with raising support.

Restricted Church/Project Fund: The Director of Organizational Affairs will review for approval every restricted church and project fund request to confirm the purpose of the fund is in alignment with Reliant's tax-exempt purpose. If secondary approval is deemed necessary by the Director of Organizational Affairs, it will be sent to the Chief Financial Officer. If the purpose varies too greatly from the normal purpose requests or from Reliant's original tax-exempt purpose, board approval may be deemed necessary. 

The Director of Organizational Affairs will also confirm that the proposed budget categories included on the restricted church/project fund request for fund distribution through grants are in alignment with the fund purpose given.

Projected Amount:

Required approval related to the projected amount of the church/project fund is as follows:

• Funds projected to receive under $25,000 annually are approved by the Director of Organizational Affairs.
• Funds projected to receive between $25,000 and $100,000 annually require approval from the Director of Organizational Affairs and the Chief Financial Officer.
• Funds projected to receive over $100,000 annually require approval of the Reliant board. The Director of Organizational Affairs will create a request for board submittal.

Reliant does not hold the fund to this pre-approved projected amount, it is simply used as a boundary for initial approval of the fund. 

Approval:

All approvals including approval from the Reliant board must be received prior to church/project fund creation. 

Project funds whose sole purpose is to fund Designated Grantees will not be officially created until the Designated Grantees associated with the fund have been approved. 

Approval authorizes the solicitation and receipt of any funds for the approved recipient’s projects. Designated contributions generally will be honored, but Reliant shall retain full discretion over the ultimate expenditure or use of those contributions and retains the right to discontinue funding at any time.

Related Links: 

• Requesting a Restricted Church or Project Fund - Program Team Instructions
• Requesting a New Unrestricted Church Fund - Program Team Instructions