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General Standards

Provide guidance on requesting and distributing grants for expense payments from church/project funds. 

Scope

This standard applies to all grants used in connection with church and project funds.

Policy Supporting This Standard

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Standard Statement

The Reliant Board of Directors desires to issue financial ministry grants to other organizations to further Reliant’s exempt purposes and for use with programs not conducted directly by Reliant. Reliant leadership will review and determine whether to approve grant requests in a matter compliant with applicable laws and regulations and according to the requirements outlined below.

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Reliant could send stipends to NGO or Point Person....

Grants can be made periodically- one-time/recurring.... for expenses or stipends

Expenses consistent with reimb rules....

The The Reliant Point Person must clearly communicate to the Designated Grantee that Reliant cannot hire the Designated Grantee or have the appearance that the Designated Grantee is being paid for hours worked, even as a contractor. Reliant acknowledges that a Designated Grantee receives a stipend to fulfill the purpose of the fund through conducting the ministry activities outlined on the stipend 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, so Reliant recognizes that some of the funds may be used for personal expenses.

Foreign nationals may receive a stipend from a church/project fund as a Designated Grantee under the conditions outlined and signed by the foreign national on the stipend agreement. The stipend agreement states that the foreign national:

• Conducts ministry work alongside an existing Reliant partnership.
• Specifies ministry activities expected to occur as a result of receiving stipend disbursements.
• Be identified and vouched for by a Reliant worker or church/ministry partner.
• Be vetted using the OFAC Watchlist Verification.
• Assume responsibility for applicable payment of taxes and compliance with other local employment taxes and regulations.
• Able to receive monies through the officially registered-in-country church or ministry or a Reliant employee/associate. 
• Agree to inform Reliant if they come to the U.S. for any extended amount of time as Reliant cannot send them payment if they are on U.S. soil.

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It must be communicated to both the Designated Grantee and their donors to confirm their understanding that the church/project funds are not supporting an individual. They are supporting a pre-approved ministry purpose by a Reliant-approved church/project and ministry partner. 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.

Foreign nationals may receive a stipend from a church/project fund as a Designated Grantee under the conditions outlined and signed by the foreign national on the stipend agreement. The stipend agreement states that the foreign national:

• Conducts ministry work alongside an existing Reliant partnership.
• Specifies ministry activities expected to occur as a result of receiving stipend disbursements.
• Be identified and vouched for by a Reliant worker or church/ministry partner.
• Be vetted using the OFAC Watchlist Verification.
• Assume responsibility for applicable payment of taxes and compliance with other local employment taxes and regulations.
• Able to receive monies through the officially registered-in-country church or ministry or a Reliant employee/associate. 
• Agree to inform Reliant if they come to the U.S. for any extended amount of time as Reliant cannot send them payment if they are on U.S. soil.

Once the stipend agreement has been signed, and the Designated Grantee has been approved, then grant stipend disbursement requests can be officially submitted. 

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• Grants distributed must be used consistent with the agreed-upon purpose of the fund. If the purpose of the church/project fund changes, an addendum to change the purpose outlined in this Master Grant Agreement is required. 
• Reliant will refuse any grants that are requested if it determines that the grant is not in line with the approved purpose of the associated church/project fund. 
• Reliant grants cannot be used for any purpose other than those approved by Reliant.
• Reliant will require periodic accounting of the usage of the grant funds.
• Reliant retains the right to withdraw approval of a current grant or to receive a refund of any unexpended grant funds.
• Reliant grants cannot be used to cause any private inurement or improper private benefit to occur.
• Reliant will not act as a conduit of funds for any recipient. Gifts received by Reliant that will be used for grants will be accepted in accordance with Reliant’s gift acceptance policies and for Board approved purposes.
• Grant funds received by the Reliant Point Person may only be disbursed to other organizations or individuals in a manner consistent with Reliant's Grant-Making Standard with the understanding that the church/ministry and/or Designated Grantee fully complies with the grant purposes and the requirements of Reliant's policies and procedures as well as local and country laws. 
• Reliant Point Person requesting a grant must attest they agree with the Reliant Grant-Making Standard before grant funds can be distributed.
• These guidelines shall be presented to all organizations seeking funding from Reliant, and shall be publicized whenever appropriate to Reliant donors.
• All contributions are the sole property of Reliant; Reliant maintains full control of the donated funds and ultimate discretion as to their use for Reliant’s ministry purposes. 
• Reliant will take reasonable steps of due diligence to ensure that it Reliant will take reasonable steps of due diligence to ensure that it is not otherwise assisting known or suspected terrorists through its foreign grant-making process.
• Reliant Point Person and associated church/ministry must communicate with clarity with all Designated Grantees that the Designated Grantee(s) will be responsible for applicable payment of taxes, withholding for employment taxes, compliance with local law, etc. A clear acknowledgment of these expectations for local compliance will also be noted in the Stipend Agreement that will be required to be signed by all Designated Granteesetc. A clear acknowledgment of these expectations for local compliance will also be noted in the Stipend Agreement that will be required to be signed by all Designated Grantees.
• All contributions are the sole property of Reliant; Reliant maintains full control of the donated funds and ultimate discretion as to their use for Reliant’s ministry purposes. Reliant’s desire is to honor the donor preference of the contribution but Reliant has complete discretion and control over the use of the donated funds as part of our 501(c)3 status.
• 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.

Stipend Agreement

Word the stipend agreement in such a way that Reliant is giving the funds to foreign national so that he can be carrying out ministry activities x,y,z and that Reliant acknowledges b/c of the time it is taking that he may not be able to devote himself to other work activities sufficient to support himself and his family so Reliant recognizes that some of the funds may be used for personal expenses and some used for direct ministry expenses

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Would still be inclined to use a stipend agreement but have in that agreement that some of the oversight exercised by reliant will be done by the reliant point person to check in- are there receipts for things they have purchased with the money that helps further the purpose (not just for paying for what a paycheck would pay for)? Stipend agreement with the foreign national would say they are responsible for all the individual tax requirements, national health, etc. being done. If enough foreign nationals consider creating an entity in that country.

OFAC, etc.

If amounts or names changes to Designated Grantees, an addendum to this request is required. 

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