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At times, missionaries will submit a reimbursement form that has atypical expenses on it - such as expenses related to a project. In general, if the expenses are related to a missionary's role within a project (i.e. a travel expense to a conference on behalf of the ministry), the reimbursement program can process these requests to be paid out of the project fund. There might also be expenses though that were paid for personally by a missionary but were actually for something that belongs to or done on behalf of a ministry project (i.e. printing of booklets for a church-wide conference or resources for mission teams). These expenses are out of the ordinary for what is specified in the personal reimbursement guidelines. We are steering these types of project-related expenses to the grant program rather than the reimbursement program.fund. We suggest that you review the Reimbursements Field Manual to determine if the expense is eligible for reimbursement.  However, if an expense is for an item that the project will retain ownership of beyond its initial use, we request that those expenses go through the grant program.   

If you have any questions on which program you should submit your project expenses to, please contact us at projectfundraising@reliant.org.

General Guidelines

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for Expenses

Reimbursements Program Expenses: 

• Lodging for STM groupIf a missionary has expenses that need to be personally reimbursed but are actually for project related expenses, a Special Grant Request form should be submitted. However, there are instances where submitting a reimbursement form to be paid out of a project fund would be acceptable. Project reimbursable expenses generally include:Lodging for a missions team
• Travel for a project staff member or missionary Reliant missionary or affiliated project fundraiser (mileage, airfare, etc.)
• A group mealIt is preferred that the Special Grant Request be completed or co-signed by someone other than the missionary who will ultimately receive the funds, even if that missionary is an approved signer on the project fund. However, this is a guideline for best practices and not a strict policy. Dave Meldrum-Green and Tom Mauriello will still do a thorough review and approval of all requests to avoid any impropriety in using the grant program.
• T-shirts or uniform token gifts purchased for a group of participants
• Rent used for individual ministry
• Other expenses covered in the Reimbursements Field Manual

Grants Program Expenses

• Rent for a building used by the church or ministry managing the fund
• Furniture for furnishing project housing
• Equipment to be used annually by the project
• Scholarships, conference fees, or travel expenses for foreign workers
• Translation and printing of materials
• General project expenses that are not covered in the Reimbursements Field Manual

General Guidelines for Processing

• In general, when funds are paid out of the grant program, the money is sent to a ministry project's bank account, not a personal account. The missionary would then coordinate getting the funds from the ministry project. 
  • We understand that for international missionaries, it can be a hardship for funds to be wired in the ministry's specified denomination and then have to pay another exchange fee to receive the funds back in US$, should that be the currency that is ultimately needed. Reliant is willing to make an exception in these cases and get the funds directly to the missionary as long as there is sufficient documentation (and bank account information) regarding the need for funds to be sent to a personal bank account.
• It is preferred that the Special Grant Request be completed or co-signed by someone other than the missionary who will ultimately receive the funds, even if that missionary is an approved signer on the project fund. However, this is a guideline for best practices and not a strict policy. 
  • Dave Meldrum-Green and Tom Mauriello will still do a thorough review and approval of all requests to avoid any impropriety in using the grant program.

Appeals to these guidelines will be reviewed on a case by case basis at the discretion of Reliant management.