General Board of Global Ministries: Gift Acceptance Policy
The teachings of Jesus and all of the Holy Scriptures promote stewardship as fundamental to our Christian faith. Our Judeo-Christian heritage leads to an understanding of stewardship as the responsible gratitude and relationship of trust for all of God’s many blessings. A faithful response to this mandate includes a commitment to the highest ideals of stewardship by all parties to charitable giving, including the donor as well as the recipient ministry. In order to ensure that such ideals are pursued for all gifts to be received, Global Ministries commits itself to the responsible administration of all prospective gifts. Global Ministries understands this commitment to include careful examination of the actual condition, use and benefits of the gift taking into consideration all legal, ethical and practical aspects. Global Ministries understands these considerations to be necessary steps toward the fulfillment of its own stewardship commitments, as well as those of the prospective donor. It is from this foundational understanding of stewardship, that the Global Ministries adopts the following policy.
I. General Principles
Global Ministries seeks to support the mission of the United Methodist religious denomination by developing financial resources and receiving and holding financial assets. This Gift Acceptance Policy is designed to facilitate the acceptance of gifts and the fulfillment of Disciplinary directives.
The following principles guide the acceptance and administration of gifts to Global Ministries:
- to work to make all gifts possible, within the strictures of law and tax regulations;
- to make resources available over time for the mission of The United Methodist Church, while upholding the purposes of Global Ministries;
- to honor the intent of the donor;
- to protect the assets entrusted to Global Ministries;
- to accept only property free of liens and encumbrances; and
- To accept gifts that Global Ministries can effectively administer.
II. Acceptance
- Within the guidelines set forth below, Global Ministries is authorized to accept gifts from individuals, estates, organizations and churches;
- On behalf of The United Methodist Church, Global Ministries, General Agencies and as set forth in the Book of Discipline;
- To establish or expand permanent funds and endowments;
- To be received and paid out by Global Ministries to qualified United Methodist charitable organizations or other proper charities;
- As directed by this Gift Acceptance Policy.
- These gifts may take the form of:
- Cash and checks, including distributions from third-party administered estates;
- Marketable and closely-held or thinly traded securities;
- Real estate and interests in real estate;
- Tangible personal property;
- Other forms of property.
Any charitable beneficiary organization must, at all times while the gift is administered, be qualified as tax-exempt, and must have a mission that is consistent with The United Methodist Church Social Principles. The purpose of the gift must be consistent with the theological beliefs of The United Methodist Church.
III. Gifts and Acceptance
Global Ministries is authorized to accept gifts for the benefit of subject to this policy and related procedures. Gifts of monies, stocks, bonds and other marketable securities are to be received by Global Ministries. If any concerns, conditions or restrictions exist that may raise a question about the advisability of acceptance, the Property Review Committee (PRC), or subcommittee thereof, shall be authorized to review and act. This set of procedures, and any other procedures as shall be adopted from time to time, shall be used to govern the acceptance of gifts. When an exception to such procedures is requested, acceptance will be evaluated by the PRC. The PRC is directed in most instances, absent donor direction or other good reason, to convert donations into cash and to allow Global Ministries to invest the proceeds or otherwise as it deems appropriate.
IV. Records and Reporting
Accounting records will conform to the requirements of generally accepted accounting principles, as recommended by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and Global Ministries’ external auditors. Supporting documents will be filed with the Internal Revenue Service and other regulatory bodies as required or appropriate for each gift accepted.
V. Notifying Risk Management
As set forth above PRC will notify Global Ministries Risk Management Unit as early as possible prior to acceptance of the gift, so it may be added to insurance coverage.
VI. Commitment to Donor Directions
It is the intention and commitment to comply with the legal intent and directions of donors. In the event that Global Ministries is unable to comply with such wishes and directions, then Global Ministries will seek to determine alternate uses which will comply as reasonably as possible, with the original wishes and directions of donors where precise compliance is impossible because:
- compliance has become illegal;
- the beneficiary is unwilling or unable to use the funds as directed; or
- the beneficiary has ceased to exist, to qualify as tax exempt, or to provide the designated service.
VII. Donor Relations & Ethics
Global Ministries’ representatives will urge prospective donors to have the terms of proposed gifts reviewed by legal and financial advisers to give added assurance that the donor’s interests are protected and that Global Ministries can effectively administer the gift or bequest in accordance with the donor’s wishes.
It shall be the presumption that a donor, or their authorized representatives permit public announcement of a gift. If a donor indicates a desire for anonymity or confidentiality, such requests should be made in writing and Global Ministries will hold all gift and investment information in confidence. Global Ministries will make its complete files available on request, as required by law, and to its own auditors. Global Ministries is not obligated to inform the donor of such requests. All other requests for information will be honored only if the donor, or their authorized representatives approve, in writing, the release of information, or if a court has issued an order to Global Ministries to that effect.
VIII. Fees and Services
It is the intent of Global Ministries to fulfill its Disciplinary directives without addition of acceptance fees or costs. However, in the case of real or personal property requiring non-standard administration, fees and costs may be imposed according to a schedule adopted by the Property Review Committee (PRC), with exceptions to be approved by PRC.
Gift Acceptance Policy adapted from:
- General Council Financial & Administration
- United Methodist Church Foundation
