GOD Intl's Donation Policy
Introduction
Global Outreach Developments Int’l (Organization) is dependent upon the generosity of public and private donations in order to pursue our mission. We are exceedingly grateful to those who share our passion and sacrificially partner alongside us. As such, the Organization desires to adhere to the highest ethical standards, committing to honor donor intent as well as honor the public interest entrusted to us as a 501(c)(3).
Subsequently, in order to protect the trust placed upon us by the public as a tax exempt organization, we must strictly adhere to a policy that does not allow for refunds of donations, except under very special circumstances as outlined below.
There is no federal law that requires nonprofits to return donations. Individual states have enacted various laws that could come into play, but these generally are vague. They usually assume that a gift is no longer the property of a donor once a charity accepts it. And because nonprofits are expected to act in the public interest, state regulators may rule that returning a donation harms the public good.
Automated Recurring Donation Cancellation
Ongoing support is important to enabling projects to continue their work, so we encourage donors to continue contributing to projects over time. However, if the donor must cancel their recurring ACH donation and are unable to do so manually, they must notify the Organization immediately by submitting a written request to resources@godintl.org. We will be able to refund the donation of the previous month only if the recurring donation is made in error.
Overpayment or Error Refund Policy
Where an error has been made by our organization or a banking facility which results in an overpayment being made, our organization may, in consultation with the donor, refund by either a credit of the overpayment to the donor, or alternatively by check for the full amount of the overpayment. Checks will be sent within 30 days to the donor’s on file address. Donors are responsible to report any change of address to the administration office (resources@godintl.org).
Failure to Fulfill Donor Intent
When making a donation, if the donor requests in writing how they specifically wish their donation to be utilized (i.e. medical supplies, scholarships, building project, etc), the Organization will make every effort to honor their request and utilize their donation in a fashion consistent with their wishes. A refund may be considered if the Organization fails to honor the written intent of the donor. This does not apply to a participant or donor who withdraws from a mission trip or whose mission trip is postponed or canceled for any reason.
Failure to fulfill the donor’s intentions occurs if there has been a use of the funds in total disregard of donor intent on record with no plan to remedy or there is no implementation plan for the use of those funds within the calendar year. A refund will not be provided if it was an erroneous communication or vague communication by the donor with respect to intent.
Requesting Donation Refund
If any donor wishes to receive a refund of their donation for any reason, they must submit a written request to resources@godintl.org within 30 days of the donation. The donor request will be reviewed according to this policy. The donor may be required to present his or her appeal to the board of directors, which will be decided by the resources department. The board will then vote on whether to refund the donation and any other necessary steps.
The Organization will only consider refunding a donation if such a request is made within thirty (30) days of the original donation during the calendar year in which the donation was made - unless otherwise agreed upon in writing - provided the donor has not claimed a tax deduction from their donation. In addition, a donation refund can only be made available if the intention for the donation has not been fulfilled at the time of the request. Proof of tax return or signature indicating donation has not been included on tax return will be required for any donation request to be fulfilled.
Holiday Campaign Donations
In the event that a specific cause within our nonprofit holiday campaign is not fully funded, the organization reserves the right to allocate any remaining funds to support the overall operations of the program. This provision ensures that, should a particular cause face challenges in meeting its funding goal, the organization can redirect resources to ensure the continued success and implementation of the program as a whole. This flexibility allows us to maximize the positive impact of donor contributions and adapt to changing circumstances, ultimately advancing our mission to make a meaningful difference in the community and the world.
In the event that a specific cause within our nonprofit holiday campaign exceeds its targeted funding goal, the organization reserves the discretion to allocate surplus funds to support the overall operations of the program and organization as a whole. This provision allows the organization to maximize the impact of donor contributions by redirecting excess resources to areas where additional support is needed. By doing so, we ensure that every donation continues to contribute meaningfully to our mission, fostering adaptability and responsiveness to the evolving needs of the community.
Donation Utilization
This section of the policy outlines the guidelines for releasing restricted donations to unrestricted operations after a period of one year if they remain unutilized for their designated purpose. The purpose of this policy is to ensure the efficient use of funds and to maximize the impact of donations received by Global Outreach Developments Int’l.
"Restricted Donations": Contributions received with explicit instructions or limitations on their use, such as for a specific project, program, or purpose.
"Unrestricted Operations": General funds that can be used at the discretion of the organization to support its overall mission and objectives.
Global Outreach Developments Int’l is committed to honoring the intent of donors who contribute restricted donations and utilizing funds in accordance with their specified purposes. The review process will include an assessment of the progress made toward the intended purpose, communication with donors (if necessary), and an evaluation of the ongoing viability of the specific project or program.
Release of Restricted Funds
After the one-year review period, if a restricted donation remains unutilized for its designated purpose and it is determined that the original purpose is no longer feasible or relevant, the organization may release the funds to unrestricted operations. The decision to release restricted funds will be based on a comprehensive evaluation that takes into consideration the organization's current priorities, strategic goals, and the best interests of fulfilling its mission.
The organization will maintain accurate and detailed records of all restricted donations, their designated purposes, and the decision-making process related to the release of funds to unrestricted operations.
This policy may be reviewed and amended periodically by the Board of Directors to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness.
By implementing this Donation Policy, Global Outreach Developments Int’l seeks to optimize the use of resources to advance its mission and better serve the community.