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Recurring and Special Gifts
Recurring Gift
A good faith intention made by a donor to contribute regularly to GCM as God enables them to for an indefinite amount of time. For example, a donor by faith, may intend to regularly contribute to GCM $35 per month. Also called “regular giving.”
Most GCM donors give regular, monthly amounts. However, other recurring gift frequencies are common, including quarterly and annual gifts.
To comply with accounting regulations, we do not refer to this as a “pledged gift” or “promised gift,” as the donor may choose to change or stop the recurring gift at any time. “Pledges” can indicate an amount that a donor has made an obligation to fulfill for a set term. GCM seeks good faith intentions, but only records gifts as they are received.
Recurring gifts may be given via EFT automatic withdrawl, credit card or check. The first two options are commonly promoted as “LifeLink” giving because they are automatic.
Special Gift
A gift by a donor to a ministry account, with no expressed intention to repeat the gift on any regular basis. Also called a “single gift.”
Common Channels to Contribute to GCM
Online Giving
GCM’s online giving donor website is branded as MyGCM (www.mygcm.org). It is a preferable method for donor giving for its secure and instant access to all our giving methods, without the need for the fundraiser to send additional paperwork. Recurring gifts may be established online via LifeLink (EFT), Credit Card, or check giving (checks must be sent in the mail separately from the online transaction). Special gifts may be given via credit card or check or electronic check.
MyGCM requires a secure account be created by the donor using an e-mail address. The e-mail address is designated the donor GCMID.
New donors should be directed to start at a href="http://www.gcmweb.org/give">www.gcmweb.org/give, which is a portal to MyGCM, but allows the donor to first search through ministry accounts before being required to establish a GCMID.
EFT
GCM provides an electronic funds transfer service (“EFT”) whereby donors may designate an amount of a contribution to be automatically transferred directly from their bank account to GCM's bank account. Donors can establish EFT online (preferred) or via a paper form and cancelled check. Recurring EFT giving with either channel is sometimes marketed as “LifeLink” giving because it automatic and dependable.
Checks
Checks must be made out to Great Commission Ministries or GCM and never to a missionary. If an employee receives a check that is made out to them, the employee must return the check and request a new one made out to GCM.
In the case that this is impossible, the missionary has 2 options. They may purchase a money order (by signing over the donor's check) and send the money order to GCM with the donor name in the “from” section of the money order, commonly known as the remitter. This gift can then be receipted appropriately to the donor.
Or, if the donor’s intent truly was a personal gift to the missionary, they should ask the donor to give a gift card instead. The missionary would then follow the guidelines for donor intent and Gift Cards laid out in 6.5 of the Employee Handbook.
This important policy stems from IRS rules about tax-deductible gifts, which must be understood by the donor to be for the organization, and not a personal gift to an individual.
Cash
Cash is not a preferable method of giving to GCM. Cash must never be sent in the mail to GCM.
If cash gifts are received by GCM fundraisers, the missionary has 2 options. They may purchase a money order and send the money order to GCM with the donor name in the “from” section of the money order, commonly known as the remitter. This gift can then be receipted appropriately to the donor.
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Or, if the donor’s intent truly was a personal gift, they should ask the donor to give a gift card instead. The missionary would then follow the guidelines for donor intent and Gift Cards laid out in 6.5 of the Employee Handbook.
Credit Card
Credit card payments may be made via MyGCM, GCM’s donor website (special or recurring) or via paper Lifelink forms. For security, online is preferred.
Recurring Credit Card gifts are sometimes marketed as “LifeLink” gifts because they are automatic and dependable.
GCM’s credit card vendors charge a per-gift fee for this service which is hidden to the donor. GCM employees may choose to sensitively communicate the additional amount (i.e. “using your Visa card costs GCM an additional 3%”) and suggest that a donor consider giving a little more because of administrative costs. “Many donors choose to do credit card giving online because it’s so convenient. It costs GCM a bit more to process these donations than an EFT gift, so many people have elected to give a few dollars more to help cover the administrative expenses and to ensure the ministry is fully funded.” While credit card gifts do incur the additional fees, recurring gifts via credit cards still show a better consistency rate than check giving.
LifeLink Program
The LifeLink program does not refer to any specific channel of giving, but refers to any automatic withdraw method, which is more dependable. This includes recurring EFT, initiated via online or paper form, and recurring credit card, initiated via online or paper form.
Lifelink gifts via EFT or credit card are currently available for withdraw on the 5th or the 20thof every month.
Collecting and Submitting Donor Information
Fundraisers should strongly encourage donors to use GCM’s online giving options, which establish a direct link between the donor and GCM’s Gift Processing department.
However, in the case that donors choose to give recurring or special gifts using checks and paper forms, fundraisers have a responsibility to accept the gifts as an agent of GCM and immediate send or transmit them to the Gift Processing department according to the most current instructions laid out in staff training and via GCM Staffnet. For record-keeping and receipting, the fundraiser is also responsible for accurately collecting donor information such as name and contact information.
Deadlines for Contributions
For a contribution to be included in the accounting records for a particular month, it must generally be received by the Gift Processing Department by 12 noon on the last business day of the month. Contributions received after 12 noon on the last business day of the month will generally be included in the next month's accounting.
For a contribution to be included in GCM's accounting records for a particular year, it must normally be dated and post-marked between January 1 and December 31 of that year. For example, a contribution received by GCM on January 3, 2012, that was dated December 29, 2011, and post marked December 31, 2011, will be recorded as a contribution for the year 2011.
Donor Receipting and Correspondence
A donor giving history is available online (MyGCM) for all donors, regardless of giving method.
GCM sends paper statements to non-LifeLink check donors each time a gift is received in order to receipt them for their contribution and to give them a convenient way to give again. GCM sends a paper receipts immediately to donors who give special gifts via check.
Donors who discover a mistake on their statement may call or e-mail GCM Donor Services for immediate attention.
After a calendar year has lapsed, donors are sent end-of-year statements that give a detailed accounting of their contributions during the previous calendar year. This statement will reflect the year in which GCM received the gift and not necessarily the year in which the donor wrote or sent the contribution. Donors who discover mistakes on their end-of-year statements may write the accounting firm indicated in the information provided with the end-of-year statement.
Fundraisers Knowledge of Giving Options and Policies
Fundraisers are responsible for knowing the information that appears on any website or paper form that asks for funds, and must ensure donors have access to the information.
Fundraisers are responsible for knowing the information that appears on any website or paper form that asks for funds, and must ensure donors have access to the information.
2010 example:
Gifts are tax deductible; GCM is exempt from federal tax under IRC 501(c)(3). GCM (member ECFA) strives to maintain the highest standards of financial integrity and accountability. Whenever consistent with its charitable purposes, GCM seeks to honor preferences expressed by ministry partners; however, GCM reserves ultimate discretion and full control of donated funds. GCM strongly supports the ministry of the local church and desires that your support of GCM not cause you to decrease the amount you currently give to your church.
Credit card companies charge additional fees; GCM recommends bank direct debit giving for lower overhead costs. The transaction date for both direct debit and credit card giving will be on or near the 5th or the 20th of the month. You may stop, start or change your LifeLink giving at any time by visiting www.mygcm.org, by calling GCM at 877-614-4600, by emailing LLP@gcmweb.org or by writing to GCM at GCM, PO Box 7101, Winter Park, FL 32793-7101. Thank you for your generosity!
Accounts and Numbers Assigned to Employees and Donors
Fund Number
Every fundraiser using the Ministry Team Development process is assigned a ministry Fund Number. This number is used to keep track of the amount of money generated for GCM through the fundraising efforts for that ministry. Missionaries are assigned a single ministry fund based on their unique ministry job description, however a fund can have multiple fundraisers (solicitors), in cases of a married couple, some project funds, or mission trips.
This number also represents an account that the Finance Department uses to reconcile payroll and expenses with the amount of funds allocated to an employed missionary as a result of their fundraising efforts for GCM. Fund numbers are typically formatted: FD####.
Raiser's Edge Number.
GCM uses an industry standard enterprise gift tracking database by Blackbaud called The Raiser’s Edge. Every donor who is contained in or added to the GCM gift-tracking system is assigned a Raiser's Edge constituent number. This number is found on donor receipts and is the quickest way to access donor and gift records. Raiser’s Edge numbers are typically formatted RE#####.
Foreign Currency
GCM prefers to receive contributions in US currency but will accept foreign currency. Contributions will be converted to US dollars and any receipt issued will be based on the value of the currency after conversion on the date of the deposit. Credit cards can only be accepted when issued by US banks.
Gifts may not be tax-deductible outside the United States.
Stock, Non-Cash, Property, Estate
For less common or non-cash giving options, see the section 6.6
