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Standard Standard Name: | Church and Project Fund Standard |
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Relevant Policy: | |
Relevant Standard: | Grant-Making Standard |
Creation Date: | 8/23/2023 |
Last Revision Date: |
General Standards
Church/Project funds are created for Reliant church/ministry partners to further Reliant's tax-exempt purpose and grants are used to distribute monies for those funds.
Roles:
Affiliate Fundraiser is a foreign national raising funds through a church/project fund on behalf of Reliant. They must attend a Reliant training and become an officially approved deputized fundraiser. Affiliate Fundraisers are often also Designated Grantees.
Reliant Point Person is desired to be a Reliant employee/associate assigned to be the main contact for the church/project fund and is required for all church/project funds. The Reliant Point Person acts as a custodian of the fund, is responsible for the management of the fund and compliance with policy and standards, and in some cases may receive and distribute monies on behalf of the church/ministry. The Reliant Point Person signs the Master Grant Agreement on behalf of the church/ministry and as a representative for all parties associated with the church/ministry.
Authorized Signer(s) is the individual(s) who is authorized by the church/ministry to approve transfers, reimbursements, grants, and other payments from the church/project fund as outlined on the original church/project fund request form.
Designated Grantee(s) is a foreign national receiving monies distributed from the church/project fund in the form of a stipend. Designated Grantees are often also Affiliate Fundraisers.
Partnership:
All church and project funds must be vetted first by the Program Team lead to confirm the church/ministry partnership with Reliant (a Memo of Understanding has been signed) and to confirm that this request is one that they believe Reliant should move forward on.
Restricted church/project funds may be requested by Reliant partners regardless of whether that partner has Reliant employees/associates. Unrestricted church/project funds may only be created for partners who have Reliant employees/associates due to the purpose of the fund.
Purpose:
The purpose of the requested fund must be determined to be in alignment with Reliant's tax-exempt purpose as outlined in the policy linked above. If the agreed-upon purpose of the fund changes in the course of the life of the fund, an addendum to the Master Grant Agreement is required.
Unrestricted Church Fund: 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. These are unrestricted, non-revenue funds (accounts), and funds (money) only come in and out through internal transfers. (Exit transfers must follow the order of eligibility (outlined in Exiting MTD Funds Transfer) for exit funds distribution.) Any partner within any program team may create an unrestricted church fund.
Restricted Church/Project Fund: The purpose of church funds tends to be more general and fund distribution tends to be determined by church leadership. The purpose of project funds can vary but they tend to be more specific with a focused purpose in mind.
Those restricted church/project funds that include stipend distribution to Designated Grantees, should have a two-fold purpose: to enable the church/ministry to expand its ministry activities through these Designated Grantees and allow for the training and spiritual formation of these Designated Grantees as they prepare for/serve in full-time ministry, and these monies would be used as a monthly stipend for those Designated Grantees. Reliant acknowledges that a Designated Grantee receives a stipend to fulfill the purpose of the fund through conducting the ministry activities outlined on the Master Grant Agreement, and due to these ministry activities, may not be able to devote time to other work activities sufficient to support the Designated Grantee's family, therefore Reliant recognizes that some of the funds may be used for personal expenses.
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If the purpose of a church/project fund includes supporting the funding of a Designated Grantee(s) stipend, the following applies:
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Fundraising:
Any Reliant employee/associate may raise funds on behalf of a church/project fund.
A U.S. citizen who is not a Reliant employee/associate must become an associate with Reliant in order to raise church/project funds on behalf of Reliant. Associates are eligible to submit church/project fund reimbursements and grant requests.
Foreign nationals may raise support as a deputized Affiliate Fundraiser through a church/project fund on behalf of Reliant under the conditions that the foreign national:
- Work alongside an existing Reliant partnership.
- Be identified and vouched for by a Reliant worker or church/ministry partner.
- Complete an assessment and application that is reviewed and approved by the Program Team.
- Be vetted using the OFAC Watchlist Verification.
- Complete training for raising church/project funds on behalf of Reliant and be officially deputized.
Complete a dual solicitation agreement (Dual Solicitation) if raising funds for both Reliant and another organization.
Note Foreign nationals may raise funds on behalf of the church/project fund but do not receive an individual MTD fund number. If a registered foreign organization with multiple Affiliate Fundraisers partners with Reliant, they can request solicitor reporting tags be used for tracking donations.
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- Church/Project Fund purpose and fund details
- Signed Master Grant Agreement
Master Grant Agreement:
Church/Project funds are created to receive donations, and grants are used to distribute monies for those funds. Therefore, a Master Grant Agreement must be signed at the time of submission of a new church/project fund request to ensure a proper understanding of grant use when monies are distributed.
The Master Grant Agreement is attached to the Church/Project fund request form and is signed by the Reliant Point Person and a Reliant representative. It includes an acknowledgment and approval of the requested purpose of the fund , by both parties. It also includes an acknowledgment that the church/ministry Reliant Point Person read and agrees that all parties associated with the fund will follow the Funds and Grant-Making Policy for Churches and Projects as well as both associated Reliant Standards (, Grant-Making Standard, Church and Project Fund Standard) have been read and that the Reliant Point Person who is signing on behalf of the church/ministry representing the requested church/project fund signs that all parties associated with the fund are in agreement to follow. A Reliant representative will also review the request and will sign the Master Grant Agreement in approval that they agree upon the purpose of the fund and that the fund can now be created.... The Reliant Point Person (agrees to communicate all information on the Master Grant Agreement to the church/ministry they are representing and signing on behalf of)
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Master Grant Agreements are customized for each church/project fund with information found on the church/project fund request form, but generally include acknowledgments of the following:
Many other items are outlined on the policy/standard but we wanted to highlight the following...
Bring over everything on the tab.... |
Approval:
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 types of church and project funds as defined in the related policy, in a matter compliant with applicable laws and regulations and according to the requirements outlined above. If deemed necessary by Reliant leadership, the Reliant Board may be asked for their additional approval. The Program Team will oversee all church/project fund requests, including obtaining approvals, coordinating with relevant departments, and finalizing fund set up.
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Fund approval authorizes fund creation by Accounting as well as the solicitation and receipt of any donations for the approved funds.
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Add to the tab for the Master Grant Agreement
I agree that as the Reliant Point Person, I am signing on behalf of the (fill in the blank) church/ministry and that they are fully aware and fully understand the implications of my role.
I agree that I am taking on the responsibility of the Reliant Point Person as outlined in the policy and standard.
I agree that I will inform the church/ministry of all of the agreed-upon policies and standards related to the church/project fund that will be created for the church/ministry and associated grant distributions.
Please write YES in agreement of the above statements. ____-
By submitting this completed Master Grant Agreement, I am agreeing that the information stated above is correct and that I understand and am in full agreement with the information outlined above.
Full Name
Current Date
Purpose:
Purpose is:
If purpose is to have designated grantees...
what will be their activities
Reliant acknowledges that a Designated Grantee receives a stipend to fulfill the purpose of the fund through conducting the ministry activities outlined on the master grant agreement, and due to these ministry activities, may not be able to devote time to other work activities sufficient to support the Designated Grantee's family, therefore Reliant recognizes that some of the funds may be used for personal expenses.
Will contract no more than ___ Designated grantees to carry out these activities