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General Standards

Broadly, Church and project funds ("Funds") are utilized to finance ministry projects and activities. Monies from funds are disbursed through the grantmaking process in accordance with the Funds and Grant-Making Policy for Churches and Projects. Most importantly, grants must be used in a manner consistent with the designated purpose of the church or project fund Fund from which it draws monies. These guidelines apply to each of the roles described below, and they may be shared with ministry partners.The guidelines below describe the roles, responsibilities, processes, forms, and requirements for processing grants. 

Roles:

Fund Custodian has ultimate responsibility for the management of the fund and compliance with policy and standards, including the requirements outlined in this standard and the Grant-Making and the Church and Project Fund Standard.  The Fund Custodian acts as the primary point of contact for matters related to the fund. In some cases, the Fund Custodian may receive and distribute monies on behalf of the church/ministry. The Fund Custodian signs a Master Grant Agreement on behalf of the church/ministry and acts as a representative for all parties associated with the church/ministry. The fund custodian should normally be a Reliant employee or associate. In rare exceptions, a The Fund Custodian should be a Reliant employee or associate. In rare exceptions, a vetted individual who is not a Reliant employee or associate may act as a Fund Custodian with appropriate approval. The Fund Custodian agrees to receive training/tutorials on forms, processes, and procedures for grant requests. 

Authorized Signer(s)Authorized Signer(s) is authorized by the church/ministry to approve transfers, reimbursements, grants, and other payments from the church/project fund Fund as outlined on the original church/project fund request form. Fund Custodians are typically also Authorized Signers. In many cases, the church/ministry designates one or more Authorized Signers in addition to the Fund Custodian.

Designated Grantee is a foreign national receiving monies distributed from the church/project fund in the form of a stipend for ministry purposes relevant to the purpose of the church/project fund. Designated Grantees may also be Affiliate Fundraisers.

Key Responsibilities:

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 also oversees the receipt and distribution of monies on behalf of the church/ministry, including stipends for any Designated Grantees. 

Fund Custodian communicates 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. 

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(i.e., a citizen or resident of a country outside of the U.S. where the ministry activities associated with a given Fund are taking place) who is not an employee or associate of Reliant but functions in a capacity to support or coordinate with the ministry activities of a given church or ministry project, to benefit from spiritual formation and/or training associated with the project, and to receive a stipend from the Fund associated with the project.  

Key Responsibilities:

The Fund Custodian, as noted above, is ultimately responsible for Fund management, compliance, and communications.  The Fund Custodian must complete a Reliant tutorial on grants and expense submissions, which explains responsibilities and expectations in more detail. Certain of these responsibilities related to Grant-making are highlighted below, due to their significance:

• Sign a Master Grant Agreement on behalf of the church/ministry
• Act as the primary point of contact for questions or other communications related to the Fund and grants
• Oversee the receipt and distribution of monies on behalf of the church/ministry, including stipends for any Designated Grantees. 
• Ensure all people associated with management, distribution, or receipt of monies from Funds understand the nature, requirements, and limitations of the grants
• Ensure that grants are distributed and used for purposes consistent with the purpose of the Fund from which they draw monies
• Maintain records and documentation of the use of monies from grants
• Provide Reliant semi-annual reporting on the use of grants (See below for more detail on reporting)
• Assist Reliant in taking reasonable steps of due diligence to ensure that

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• no grant monies are assisting known or suspected terrorists
• In relation to Designated Grantees:
  • Ensure Designated Grantees understand their role and the terms of the Stipend Agreement
  • Secure signed Stipend Agreements from all Designated Grantees

Authorized Signer(s) is/are responsible for understanding grants before requesting and approving them and making sure grant requests are consistent with the purpose of the Fund from which they draw monies.

Designated Grantees' qualifications and responsibilities are covered in detail in the section below.

Designated Grantee:

Qualifications

A foreign national who is not a Reliant employee or associate may be considered to become a Designated Grantee if the foreign national:

• Is known and vetted by an existing Reliant partnership.
• Functions in a capacity to support or coordinate with the ministry activities of a church or ministry project
• Is in accord with Reliant's statement of faith and Code of Ethics
• 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)

Other Requirements

Fund Custodian and/or associated church/ministry must communicate with clarity with all Designated Grantees regarding the functions and activities of the Designated Grantee and 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.

Reliant does not employ Designated Grantees nor engage them as associates or contractors. Instead, a Designated Grantee functions in a capacity to support the ministry activities of a given church or ministry project, to benefit from spiritual formation and/or training associated with the project, and to receive a stipend from the Fund associated with the project.  Reliant recognizes that these activities of the Designated Grantee are time-consuming such that the Designated Grantee may not be able to devote time to other work activities sufficient to support the Designated Grantee's personal and family expenses. Therefore Reliant recognizes that some of the stipend monies may be used for personal expenses.   

Grant

Qualifications for Designated Grantee:

A foreign national may be considered to become a Designated Grantee if the foreign national:

• 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.

• Grants cannot be used for any purpose other than those approved by Reliant.
• Grants distributed must be used consistent with the agreed-upon purpose of the fund as outlined in the Master Grant Agreement. 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. 
• If the purpose of the church/project fund changes, an addendum to change the purpose outlined in this Master Grant Agreement is required. 

Grant Stewardship Responsibility and Usage Requirements:

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 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 be managed in accordance with Reliant's Funds and Grant-Making StandardPolicy for Churches and Projects.
• 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 Policyfund is established.
• Reliant grants cannot be used to cause any improper private benefit to occur. 
• 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.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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Reliant Church/Ministry Partners receiving grants may be domestic or foreign. Reliant prefers to disburse grants to typically disburses grant monies to a registered in-country organization (NGO). Reliant expects the Fund Custodian to do due diligence to find a registered in-country organization that could become a Reliant Partner, as this is the preferred method of disbursement, but . Reliant may in some occasions disburse grants directly to the Fund Custodian when an NGO is not an option. 

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Timeframe of Disbursement: One-time expense grants are normally disbursed upon approval and submission with no intentional delay. Recurring expense grants are disbursed monthly on the 10th of the month or the Friday before the 10th, if the 10th falls on a weekend or U.S. bank holiday.

Stipend Requests:

Stipend Grant Request Form: used to request a monthly recurring stipend disbursement to a Designated Grantee and grant reports. The requestor will note stipend amounts and details about Designated Grantees, and follow the reporting guidelines outlined below including receipt submissions. 

Amounts for stipends are determined by the church/ministry partnership. 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. If the amounts or names change for the Designated Grantees outlined on the Stipend Request Form, an addendum to the stipend request is required. Addendums require approval by both the Authorized Signer and Reliant. Timeframe of Disbursement: Recurring stipend grants are disbursed monthly on the 10th of the month or the Friday before the 10th, if the 10th falls on a weekend or bank holiday.

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.

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