Contribution Acceptance/Refund Policy

Whereas, For His Kingdom Ministries actively solicits contributions to further the mission of the organization, and, Whereas, there is the potential for controversy if certain contributions are accepted, For His Kingdom Ministries has adopted the following Contribution Acceptance/Refund Policy:

For His Kingdom Ministries solicits and accepts contributions for purposes that will help the organization further and fulfill its mission. For His Kingdom Ministries urges all prospective donors to seek the assistance of personal legal and financial advisors in matters relating to their contributions, including the resulting tax and estate planning consequences.  The following policies and guidelines govern acceptance of contributions made to For His Kingdom Ministries for the benefit of any of its operations, programs or services.

For His Kingdom Ministries reserves the right to seek the advice of legal counsel in matters relating to acceptance/refund of contributions when appropriate.

Here-in-after the term For His Kingdom Ministries will be referred to as FHKM.

Acceptance of Contributions

When considering whether to solicit and/or accept contributions, FHKM will consider the following factors:

  • Values: whether the acceptance of the contribution compromises any of the core values of FHKM.
  • Compatibility: whether there is compatibility between the intent of the donor and FHKM’s use of the contribution.
  • Public Relationships: whether acceptance of the contribution will damage the reputation of FHKM.
  • Consistency: is acceptance of the contribution consistent with prior practice
  • Form of Contribution: is the contribution offered in a form that FHKM can use without incurring substantial expense or difficulty.
  • Effect on Future Giving: will the contribution encourage or discourage future gifts.

All decisions to solicit and/or accept potentially controversial contributions will be made by the Board of Directors in consultation with the President/Lead Pastor. The primary consideration will be the impact/liability of the contribution on the organization.

Contributions Generally Accepted Without Review

  • Cash: is acceptable in any form, including by check, money order, credit card, or on-line. Donors wishing to make a contribution by credit card must provide the card type (e.g., Visa, MasterCard, American Express), card number, expiration date, and name of the card holder as it appears on the credit card.
  • Marketable Securities:  Marketable securities may be transferred electronically to an account maintained at one or more brokerage firms or delivered physically with the transferor’s endorsement or signed stock power (with appropriate signature guarantees) attached. All marketable securities will be sold promptly upon receipt unless otherwise directed by FHKM Board of Directors and the President/Lead Pastor. In some cases marketable securities may be restricted, for example, by applicable securities laws or the terms of the proposed contribution; in such instances the decision whether to accept the restricted securities shall be made by the Board of Directors in consultation with the President/Lead Pastor.

Contributions Accepted Subject to Prior Review

Certain forms of contributions may be subject to review prior to acceptance. These contributions will be considered by the Board of Directors and the President/Lead Pastor. Examples of contributions subject to prior review include, but are not limited to:

  • Tangible Personal Property: This contribution will be considered under the following considerations but not limited to:
  1. Does the property further the organization’s mission?
  2. Is the property marketable?
  3. Are there any unacceptable restrictions imposed on the property?
  4. Are there any carrying costs for the property for which FHKM may be responsible?
  5. Is the title/provenance of the property clear?
  • Life Insurance: this contribution will only be considered where FHKM is named as both beneficiary and irrevocable owner of the insurance policy. The donor must agree to pay, before due, any future premium payments owing on the policy.

Restrictions on Contributions

FHKM will not accept contributions that:

  • Would result in FHKM violating its corporate charter.
  • Would result in FHKM losing its status as an IRS 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit.
  • Are too difficult or too expensive to administer in relation to their value.
  • Would result in any unacceptable consequences for FHKM.
  • Are for purposes outside FHKM’s mission.

Decisions on the restrictive nature of a contribution, and its acceptance or refusal of, shall be made by the Board of Directors and the President/Lead Pastor.

Return/Refund

When considering whether to return/refund any contributions, FHKM will consider the following factors:

  • Necessity: why the need of a return/refund.
  • Reason: was the contribution made illegally, without knowledge/consent, mistakenly.
  • Legality: are there any legal ramifications toward the donor or FHKM if the return/refund is made.

Return/Refund of any contribution will be done so after consultation of the Board of Directors and the President/Lead Pastor of FHKM and its legal counsel.  Upon legal consideration, a refund may be made.  No irrevocable contribution, whether outright or life-income in character, will be accepted if under any reasonable set of circumstances the contribution would jeopardize the donor’s financial security.

All contributions whose sources are not transparent or whose use is restricted in some manner, must be reviewed prior to acceptance due to the special obligations raised or liabilities they may be posed for FHKM.

FHKM will respect the intent of the donor relating to contributions for restricted purposes and those relating to the desire to remain anonymous. With respect to anonymous contributions, FHKM will restrict information about the donor to only those FHKM members with a need to know.

FHKM will not compensate, whether through commissions, finders’ fees, or other means, any third party for directing a contribution or a donor to FHKM.

Review by Legal Counsel is recommended for:

  1. Contributions of securities that are subject to restrictions or buy-sell agreements.
  2. Documents naming FHKM as trustee or requiring FHKM to act in any fiduciary capacity.
  3. Contributions requiring FHKM to assume financial or other obligations.
  4. Transactions with potential conflicts of interest.
  5. Contributions of property which may be subject to environmental or other regulatory restrictions.
  6. Bequests and Beneficiary Designations under Revocable Trusts, Life Insurance Policies, Commercial Annuities and Retirement Plans.
  7. Charitable Remainder Trusts.
  8. Charitable Lead Trusts.