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Government incentives to give to WorldVenture
Tax Deduction Information
Generally, a charitable gift is considered to be a voluntary gift of cash or other property (such as real property, stocks and bonds, mutual funds) to, or for the use of, a qualified organization. Under Internal Revenue Code Section 170, a taxpayer is allowed an income tax deduction for such gifts made in the course of the taxable year.
Basic IRS regulations regarding charitable deductions include the following:
- Under current IRS regulations, only donors who itemize may take a charitable deduction.
- For gifts of cash, the donor may take a charitable income tax deduction up to
50 percent of adjusted gross income and excess deductions may be carried
over for up to five years.
- For gifts of other property (not cash), donors may claim a charitable income
tax deduction equal to fair market value up to 30 percent of adjusted gross
income and excess deductions may be carried over for up to five years.
- Gifts of real estate and certain non-marketable securities over $5,000 must be
appraised to determine fair market value for tax deduction purposes.
- Generally, gifts of tangible personal property (autos, artwork, etc.) over $5,000
must be appraised to determine fair market value.
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Understanding the backbone of WorldVenture
Supporting Missionaries
At our heart, our organization exists to send, support, and care for missionaries. We have full services to help with finances, communications, oversight, family care, etc. All of these services are funded by a percentage of the direct giving to the missionary. To see the work accomplished, it requires the faithful commitment of men, women, and communities believing in the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ. Donations can be made with the buttons below:
Make a Donation or a Commitment
Find out how every dollar is used
How We Use Your Money
How missionaries use your money
A missionary support package looks very similar to a small business start-up. The comparison might be strange, but it's a fact that the needs bear a striking resemblance. A missionary requires more than just food and shelter in the country they are going to minister, they also need materials and transportation and maybe a location to do ministry within. In other words, they need the basic necessities, but they also need enough ministry funds to do what they came to do. You can learn more of this break down in our "What is the cost" section.
Financial Breakdown
Assessment Rates for Different Kinds of Contributions
Missionary Support: 16% Assessment
Contributions toward missionary and appointee support are assessed at 16 percent. Missionary support funds include essentials such as salary, housing and utilities, medical insurance, retirement, life insurance, children’s education, international transportation, vehicle savings and contingencies.
Missionary Ministry Funds: 15% Assessment
Contributions toward missionary ministry funds are assessed at 15 percent. The ministry account is used for various things such as equipment, shipping and duty expenses, initial travel costs, language study and other work-related funds.
Other Contributions: 0% Assessment
WorldVenture takes no assessment on several types of donor contributions:
- Missionary project funds
- Appointee ministry funds
- Personal gifts to missionaries
- Estate gifts
- Support for USA-based employees
- Ministry funds for USA-based employees
During 2010, these types of contributions were 13.3 percent of the total contributions given to WorldVenture.
Overall Assessment
Based on the most recent audited financials for the fiscal year ending 2010, the average overall assessment rate of all contributions when combined together is 12.3 percent.
Where the Fees Go
For every dollar contributed to WorldVenture, approximately 92 cents goes directly to the missionary program, and only 8 cents goes toward administrative overhead or fund-raising. These percentages are verified and published by the Evangelical Counsel of Financial Accountability (ECFA.org).
WorldVenture distributes about 9.5% more of its income to the ministry as compared to other similar organizations.
This high dollar to program percentage in relationship to the assessments discussed on the previous page means that although some donations are processed as high as 16%, much of the assessed money is spent on services and programs that have direct benefit to our missionaries.
The bottom line is that missionaries are getting 92 cents of direct benefit from every dollar, even though 16% might be assessed in the donation processing.
Overall, more than 92 cents of every dollar given to WorldVenture goes to the missionary program.
We put 92.4% of our income toward the missionary program, compared to the 82.9% average of other similar organizations.*
When we compared ourselves to 25 similar organizations we found that we gave more to our ministry work than 23 of them.
How much more? Almost 10%.*
* Based on a random sample of 25 out of 44 similarly sized organizations with similar purposes. Numbers obtained from the ECFA were based on most recent available financial data.
** The ECFA defines program expenses as: “goods or services distributed to beneficiaries, customers, or members that fulfill the purposes or mission for which the organization exists.”
Our Stewardship Standards
Listed among WorldVenture's core values is our resolve "to act with the highest standards of excellence and integrity and embrace our accountability to God, to each other, and to our ministry partners". This commitment extends to how WorldVenture conducts business and how the member raises funds. As a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), WorldVenture adheres to the following Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship, as well as the ECFA Donor's Bill of Rights.
- We believe that the Bible is God’s Word, that it was written by men divinely and uniquely inspired, that it is absolutely trustworthy and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
- We believe in God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
- We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in His life, making atonement for the sin of the world by His death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, His high priestly intercession for His people, and His personal, visible return to the world according to His promise.
- We believe that all men by nature and by choice are sinners, but that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, KJV). We believe, therefore, that those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior will rejoice forever in God’s presence and those who refuse to accept Christ as Lord and Savior will be forever separated from God.
- We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from God to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ.
- We believe in the church—a living spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a visible church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, buried with Him in baptism and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that to these visible churches were committed for observance “till He comes” the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and that God has laid upon these churches the task of persuading a lost world to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and to enthrone Him as Lord and Master. We believe that human betterment and social improvement are essential products of the gospel.
- We believe that every human being is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith.
- We believe that each church is independent and autonomous, and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that, therefore, Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from the dictation or patronage of the other.
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Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
Standard #1- Doctrinal Statement
Every member member shall subscribe to a written statement of faith clearly affirming its commitment to the evangelical Christian faith and shall conduct its financial and other operations in a manner which reflects those generally accepted Biblical truths and practices.
Standard #2- Board of Directors and Financial Oversight
Every member shall be governed by a responsible board of not less than five individuals, a majority of whom shall be independent, which shall meet at least semiannually to establish policy and review its accomplishments. The board or a committee consisting of a majority of independent members shall review the annual financial statements and maintain direct communication between the board and the independent certified public accountants.
Standard #3- Financial Statements
Each member is required to submit complete and accurate financial statements as defined by ECFA policies.
Standard #4- Use of Resources
Every member shall exercise the management and financial controls necessary to provide reasonable assurance that all resources are used (nationally and internationally) in conformity with applicable federal and state laws and regulations to accomplish the exempt purposes for which they are intended.
Standard #5- Financial Disclosure
Every member shall provide a copy of its current financial statements upon written request and provide other disclosures as the law may require. The financial statements required to comply with Standard 3 must be disclosed under this Standard. A member must provide a report, upon written request, including financial information on any specific project for which it is soliciting gifts.
Standard #6- Conflict of Interest
Every member member shall avoid conflicts of interest. Transactions with related parties may be undertaken only if all of the following are observed:
- A material transaction is fully disclosed in the audited financial statements of the member;
- The related party is excluded from the discussion and approval of such transaction;
- A competitive big or comparable valuation exists; and
- the member's board has acted upon and demonstrated that the transaction is in the best interest of the member.
Standard #7- Fund Raising
Every member member shall comply with each of the ECFA Standards for Fund Raising:
- 7.1 Truthfulness in Communication
All representations of fact, description of the financial condition of the member, or narrative about events must be current, complete, and accurate. References to past activities or events must be appropriately dated. There must be no material omissions or exaggerations of fact or use of misleading photographs or any other communication which would tend to create a false impression or misunderstanding. - 7.2 Communications and Donor Expectations
Fund raising appeals must not create unrealistic donor expectations of what a donor's gift will actually accomplish within the limits of the member's ministry. - 7.3 Communication and Donor Intent
All statements made by the member in its fundraising appeals about the use of the gift must be honored by the member. The donor's intent is related to both what was communicated in the appeal and to any donor instructions accompanying the gift. The member should be aware that communications made in fundraising appeals may create a legally binding restriction. - 7.4 Projects Unrelated to a Ministry's Primary Purpose
A member raising or receiving funds for programs that are not part of its present or prospective ministry, but are proper in accordance with its exempt purpose, must either treat them as restricted funds and channel them through an member that can carry out the donor's intent or return the funds to the donor. - 7.5 Incentives and Premiums
Members making fundraising appeals which, in exchange of a contribution, offer premiums or incentives (the value of which is not insubstantial, but which is significant in relation to the amount of the donation) must advise the donor of the fair market value of the premium or incentive and that the value is not deductible for tax purposes. - 7.6 Financial Advice
The representative of the member, when dealing with persons regarding commitments on major estate assets, must seek to guide and advise donors so that have adequately considered the broad interests of the family and the various ministries they are currently supporting before they make final decisions. Donors should be encouraged to use the services of their attorneys, accountants, or other professional advisors. - 7.7 Percentage Compensation for Fund Raisers
Compensation of outside fundraising consultants or an member's own employees based directly or indirectly on a percentage of charitable contributions raised is not allowed. - 7.8 Tax Deductible Gifts for a Named Recipient's Personal Benefit
Tax deductible gifts may not be used to pass money or benefits to any named individual for personal use. - 7.9 Conflict of Interest on Royalties
An officer, director, or other principal of the member must not receive royalties for any product that the member used for fundraising or promotional purposes. - 7.10 Acknowledgment of Gifts in Kind
Property or gifts-in-kind received by an member should be acknowledged describing the property or gift accurately without a statement of the gift's market value. It is the responsibility of the donor to determine the fair market value of the property for tax purposes. The member may be required to provide additional information for gifts or motor vehicles, boats, and airplanes. - 7.11 Acting in the Interest of the Donor
An member must make every effort to avoid accepting a gift from or entering into a contract with a prospective donor which would knowingly place a hardship on the donor, or place the donor's future well-being in jeopardy.
Donor's Bill of Rights Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
Make sure your charity's standards and guidelines assure you of a "bill of rights" as a donor. You have the right to:
- Know how the funds of an member are being spent.
- Know what the programs you support are accomplishing.
- Know that the member is in compliance with federal, state, and municipal laws.
- Restrict or designate your gifts to a particular project.
- A response to your inquiries about finances and programs.
- Visit offices and program sites of an member to talk personally with the staff.
- Not be high-pressured into giving to any member.
- Know that the member is well managed.
- Know that there is a responsible governing board and who those board members are.
- Know that all appeals for funds are truthful and accurate. For more information about the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability:
What does God say about giving?
Principles of Giving
As our creator, God has given us certain laws of love—gracious, caring guidelines to live by. When we follow those principles, we find deeper joy and greater fulfillment. Some of those guidelines relate to the money he has entrusted to our care, financial resources he urges us to generously share with others. What are these guidelines of giving? Click the button below to read more.
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God is the owner of all.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1).
It all starts with an understanding of who owns what. Houses and land, bank accounts and investment portfolios, family and friends, the earth and everything in it—everything belongs to God, 100 percent. There is nothing that does not belong to him. Even we ourselves are no longer our own according to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: ”You are not your own; you were bought with a price.” If we don’t own our lives, how can we possibly own property? This principle may be the second most important truth in Scripture, as it helps explain the significance of what we do. The most important principle is that God loved us so much that he sent his son, so that we might live with him and enjoy him forever. Without recognition of God’s ownership of us, we cannot live as Christ would have us live. While we may affirm this principle, it is difficult to live it in a secular, affluent western society where we are often judged by what we own.
The priority of all giving is dependency.
”If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith” (1 Timothy 5:8).
This verse reveals one of the strongest admonitions in Scripture—that of caring for our families in order to validate our faith. The principle is ”care” in every sense of the word, including the use of our financial resources. However, it does not mean parents must ”prosper” their children. In fact, when children leave the home, they typically establish their own households and take up their own responsibilities. In time, one of those responsibilities may become the care of aging parents who may need financial help. Likewise, the church is dependent on us and, amazing as it seems, God has chosen us—his children—to use the money he has entrusted to our care to establish and nurture the church, the family of faith. In several passages Paul teaches that we are to give ourselves to God first and then to his church, faithfully giving to its work in the world.
The motivation for all our giving must be love.
”Of all the commandments, which is the most important? The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these”(Mark 12:28-31).
The point is clear: love for God and love for neighbor. While the priority for giving is dependency, the motive-the attitude for giving—is love. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:3 declares, ”If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” It appears that the motive for giving is all-important. As the writer of Proverbs teaches, ”All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord” (Proverbs 16:2). Giving without love is not biblical giving.
People are always more important than dollars.
”I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9).
According to ”The Parable of the Shrewd Manager,” many benefits of our giving (to family, charity, etc.) will come to us in heaven. While the worldly manager in the parable used his master’s money to gain friends on earth, we are to use God’s money to influence people for heaven. Picture the welcome we may receive in heaven as we are greeted by those who were changed forever because of our generosity, assisted by our use of the money God entrusted to us. Christ died for people, not things. To put relationships in jeopardy for financial purposes is dangerous. Instead, we use the money given to us to build relationships that outlast time.
God expects us to be faithful.
”So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God [the gospel]. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
If God is the owner of all, if he wants us to care for those dependent on us, if he wants us to be motivated by love, if he want us to value people above dollars, then how should we regard ourselves and our financial responsibility? These verses give us the pattern: We are servants of the God who owns everything, and he has entrusted us with a vital purpose in life—we are to further the gospel. Our job is to remain faithful in this responsibility. What does that mean when it comes to our money? Every financial decision is first a spiritual decision. We are to make all of our financial decisions in light of their eternal impact on souls—our own soul and the souls of others.
Your protection is our priority
Privacy and Security
WorldVenture respects your privacy and goes to great lengths to provide a safe and secure online experience. Our website is VeriSign approved, and online gift transactions are VeriSign secure.
We will not share or sell any of the information you provide us, including your email address, to any third parties outside of our organization.
We are committed to respecting the privacy of our donors. We have developed this privacy policy to ensure our donors that donor information will not be shared with any third party. WorldVenture uses your information to understand your needs and provide you with better service. Specifically, we use your information to help you complete a transaction, communicate back to you, and update you on ministry happenings. Credit card numbers are used only for donation or payment processing and are not retained for other purposes. We use the comment you offer to provide you with information requested, and we take seriously each recommendation as to how we might improve communication. WorldVenture will not sell, rent, or lease your personal information to other organizations. We assure you that the identity of all our donors will be kept confidential. Use of donor information will be limited to the internal purposes of WorldVenture and only to further the ministry activities and purposes of WorldVenture. It is our desire to not send unwanted mail (including emails) to our donors. If you have comments or questions about our donor privacy policy, please send us an e-mail at Info@WorldVenture.com or call us at 720-283-2000.
Our Privacy Policy