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Fund Custodian is desired to be a Reliant employee/associate assigned to be the fund custodian, responsible for the management of the fund and compliance with policy and standards, and acts as the main contact for the church/project fund, and is required for all church/project funds. The Fund Custodian agrees to complete a Reliant tutorial on grants and expense submissions and agrees to send a grant report for monies received. The Fund Custodian oversees the receipt and distribution of monies on behalf of the church/ministry, including stipends for any Designated Grantees. The Fund Custodian agrees to communicate with Reliant about any problems or post-disbursement changes and agrees to comply with Reliant's grant reporting and monitoring requirements.
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.
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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, but rather a pre-approved ministry purpose by a Reliant-approved church/project and ministry partner. 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 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.
Fund Custodian 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 which will be required to be signed by all Designated Grantees. Reliant is not responsible for any income, employment, pension, healthcare or other taxes due in the Designated Grantee's home country related to the stipends or any other disbursements to the church/ministry partner.
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, including annually checking applicable governmental lists provided and maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department.
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- Conducts ministry work alongside an existing Reliant partnership.
- Specifies ministry activities expected to occur as a result of receiving stipend disbursements.
- Is identified and vouched for by a Reliant worker or church/ministry partner, regarding alignment with Reliant's statement of faith and representation of Reliant and church/ministry partner.
- Is vetted using the OFAC Watchlist Verification.
- Assumes responsibility for applicable payment of taxes and compliance with all local employment taxes and regulations.
- Is able to receive monies through the officially registered-in-country church or ministry or Fund Custodian.
- Agrees to follow receipt guidelines for each stipend disbursement received coordinated by the Fund Custodian.
- Agrees to inform Reliant if they come to the U.S. for any extended amount of time as Reliant cannot send them a stipend if they are on U.S. soil.
- Agrees to sign a Stipend Agreement (outlined below)
Purpose:
Once the project/church fund has been created, Reliant is in agreement to pay out any amount of ministry expenses incurred that are in line with the approved church/project fund purpose and generally adhere to the expense guidelines outlined in the Reimbursement and Expense Recovery Bonus Standard for fundamental consistency.
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Partners are expected to utilize sound judgment and prudent financial management regarding ministry-related expenses. This means ensuring that Reliant's financial resources are used appropriately; support support the ministry; comply with Reliant policies, applicable laws, regulations, and donor restrictions; and consider the ministry's reputation in the sense that we strive for propriety in both fact and appearance. Our stewardship responsibility also means utilizing Reliant's non-profit status for ministry purposes alone and not for personal benefit.
- Grants must comply with Reliant's Grant-Making Standard.
- Grants Reliant grants must be consistent with the purpose of the fund from which the grant is distributed. Grants cannot be used as conduits to channel monies for purposes other than those for which the fund is established.
- Funding received by Reliant that will be used for grants will be accepted in accordance with Reliant's Gift Acceptance Policy.
- Reliant grants cannot be used to cause any improper private benefit to occur.
- Grant funds received by the Fund Custodian 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.
- Recipients of Reliant grants are responsible for compliance with relevant laws and regulations, including relevant tax requirements, pertinent to grants.
- No portion of grant funds may be used for overtly political or legislative purposes (e.No portion of grant funds may be used for overtly political or legislative purposes (e.g., propaganda, lobbying, or other attempts to influence legislation or intervene in a political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office).
- Reliant will undertake reasonable due diligence to ensure that grants are not directed to known or suspected terrorists.
- Reliant will collaborate with the church/ministry partner to ensure the grant disbursement occurs within a reasonable time frame based on the needs of the project.
- Reliant will not physically transport hard currency for grant distribution. Reliant will use a financial institution for all financial transactions associated with grant-making from church/project funds.
- A grant direct deposit agreement form must be submitted for US bank accounts along with the project fund request form.
- A wire agreement form must be submitted for foreign bank accounts along with the project fund request form.
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Stipend Agreement: A stipend agreement is a document required to be signed by any Designated Grantee receiving a stipend disbursement to acknowledge Reliant's requirements of a Designated Grantee. Once the stipend agreement has been signed, and the Designated Grantee has been approved, then grant stipend disbursement requests can be officially submitted. Stipend agreements must be signed and submitted along with the Stipend Grant Request form. Once the stipend agreement has been signed, and the Designated Grantee has been approved, then grant stipend disbursement requests can be officially submitted. Stipend agreements must be signed and submitted along with the Stipend Grant Request form.
Grant stipend disbursement amount does not increase based on donations received to the church/project fund. Therefore, if the fund does not have enough to cover the stipend amount for the Designated Grantee for one month, Reliant will not automatically disburse an additional stipend amount the following month to make up the difference. The distributed amount can only be increased by submitting a new grant request.
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Sample Stipend Agreement A Designated Grantee is a foreign national receiving monies distributed from the church/project fund in the form of a stipend in order to carry out the ministry activities of Reliant and the church/ministry partnered with Reliant. I understand the definition of and agree to become a Designated Grantee. I understand that I am qualified to be a Designated Grantee because I fulfill the following qualifications:
I understand (and Reliant acknowledges) that I am receiving a stipend to fulfill the purpose of the church/project fund through supporting the overall ministry activities of the church/ministry partner as outlined in the Master Grant Agreement, as well as conducting my individual ministry activities (as outlined below) to further those overall ministry activities and to purchase any anticipated ministry expenses (as outlined below) in congruence with those overall church/project ministry activities. List ministry activities: ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ List anticipated ministry expenses: ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ I understand that the stipend is not supporting me as an individual, but rather the pre-approved ministry purpose by a Reliant-approved church/project and ministry partner. I understand that I am not being paid for hours worked, even as a contractor. Reliant also acknowledges that due to these ministry activities, I, as the Designated Grantee, may not be able to devote time to other work activities sufficient to support my family, therefore Reliant recognizes that some of the funds may be used for personal expenses. I understand and clearly acknowledge that I am responsible for applicable payment of taxes, withholding for employment taxes, and other compliance with local laws and regulations for monies received. I acknowledge that 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, including annually checking applicable governmental lists provided and maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department. I agree to inform Reliant if I travel to the U.S. for any extended amount of time, and I understand I cannot receive stipend monies from Reliant if I am on U.S. soil. I agree to verify receipt of all stipend monies by signing verification statements as coordinated by my Fund Custodian. I understand that my Fund Custodian is ____________________________________________. By submitting this completed Stipend 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. Please sign your name in agreement of the above statements on this Stipend Agreement. _________________________________ Full Name: Current Date: Phone: Email: |
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- One-time grants require approval for each submission.
- Recurring grant requests will normally be approved for a maximum of five years from the date of the first grant approvaldisbursement. If the requested approved amount or individuals receiving funds for recurring grants change at any point after approval, a new approval will be needed. After the five-year approval expires, a new grant request must be submitted.
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