Question About Mission Financing

[Bernard Gui]

A scenario....

A missionary's parents make full regular payments for his/her mission support.

A family member, friend, or anonymous donor also contributes occasionally.

Are the parents notified of the other donations?
How are those donations handled?

 

 

Edited September 16, 2019 by Bernard Gui

[smac97]

14 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

A scenario....

A missionary's parents make full regular payments for his/her mission support.

A family member, friend, or anonymous donor also contributes occasionally.

Are the parents notified of the other donations?

I think the parents usually have access to the balance owed for their missionary's service.  I am less sure that parents have access to the identity of other donors to a missionary's account.

14 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

How are those donations handled?

A donor can contribute to the general missionary fund, or to a ward's missionary fund, or to a specific missionary's account (administered at the ward level).

Thanks,

-Smac

[Bernard Gui]

10 minutes ago, smac97 said:

I think the parents usually have access to the balance owed for their missionary's service.  I am less sure that parents have access to the identity of other donors to a missionary's account.

A donor can contribute to the general missionary fund, or to a ward's missionary fund, or to a specific missionary's account (administered at the ward level).

Thanks,

-Smac

Yes, I know that from my days as ward clerk. Is there a mechanism that notifies the family of those donations to a specific indifidual?

Edited September 16, 2019 by Bernard Gui

[Tacenda]

You could go check out the clerk forum, maybe even join and ask or use the search function. https://tech.churchofjesuschrist.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=42

[ksfisher]

3 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

Yes, I know that from my days as ward clerk. Is there a mechanism that notifies the family of those donations to a specific indifidual?

No, there is not. 

What we do is near the end of the mission (a  few months) the parents will usually get with a clerk or a member of the bishopric and determine how much "extra" there is in that missionaries account.  The parents will then adjust there last few donations based on this.

[ksfisher]

Just now, Tacenda said:

You could go check out the clerk forum, maybe even join and ask or use the search function. https://tech.churchofjesuschrist.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=42

+1

[smac97]

4 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

Yes, I know that from my days as ward clerk. Is there a mechanism that notifies the family of those donations to a specific indifidual?

I don't think so.  IIRC, the monthly obligation is deducted from the Ward's missionary-specific account.  If it goes negative, the clerk notifies the bishop, and the bishop can notify the family.  Assuming that the family doesn't have direct access to the account balance, they can nevertheless ask the bishop or clerk for an update on the balance at any given time.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Thinking]

33 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

A scenario....

A missionary's parents make full regular payments for his/her mission support.

A family member, friend, or anonymous donor also contributes occasionally.

Are the parents notified of the other donations?
How are those donations handled?

Are you asking this question so that the parents would know that with the other contribution, they don't have to make full payments?

[Bernard Gui]

12 minutes ago, smac97 said:

I don't think so.  IIRC, the monthly obligation is deducted from the Ward's missionary-specific account.  If it goes negative, the clerk notifies the bishop, and the bishop can notify the family.  Assuming that the family doesn't have direct access to the account balance, they can nevertheless ask the bishop or clerk for an update on the balance at any given time.

Thanks,

-Smac

Is there a way I can pm you?

[Bernard Gui]

13 minutes ago, Thinking said:

Are you asking this question so that the parents would know that with the other contribution, they don't have to make full payments?

Partially, yes.

Edited September 16, 2019 by Bernard Gui

[Bernard Gui]

16 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

You could go check out the clerk forum, maybe even join and ask or use the search function. https://tech.churchofjesuschrist.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=42

Thanks. That has been done.

[Amulek]

29 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

A scenario....

A missionary's parents make full regular payments for his/her mission support.

A family member, friend, or anonymous donor also contributes occasionally.

Are the parents notified of the other donations?
How are those donations handled?

To my knowledge, there is no automatic notification which takes place when someone else makes a contribution to one of the accounts in the Ward Missionary Fund. 

I haven't had a missionary go out yet, so I'm not sure what you have visible to you in terms of a balance when you access your LDS account online, but you can have any of the finance clerks check for you at any time. It's trivially easy to look up.

As for how to handle donations from family/friends/others, the absolute best way is to have them turn in the donations directly to the ward where the missionary's records / account reside. Use the Ward Missionary category and then specify who the donation is for.

If they donate to the General Missionary Fund, those funds won't go to any specific account. It needs to be donated to a specific Ward Missionary Fund account. However, Ward Missionary Funds can only be transferred to units within the same stake, so if your friends/family reside outside your stake there won't be a way for their home unit to transfer those funds (at least not without getting into big trouble on their next audit). So, best if they just send the donations to the correct ward in the first place. 

 

[Bernard Gui]

3 minutes ago, Amulek said:

To my knowledge, there is no automatic notification which takes place when someone else makes a contribution to one of the accounts in the Ward Missionary Fund. 

I haven't had a missionary go out yet, so I'm not sure what you have visible to you in terms of a balance when you access your LDS account online, but you can have any of the finance clerks check for you at any time. It's trivially easy to look up.

As for how to handle donations from family/friends/others, the absolute best way is to have them turn in the donations directly to the ward where the missionary's records / account reside. Use the Ward Missionary category and then specify who the donation is for.

If they donate to the General Missionary Fund, those funds won't go to any specific account. It needs to be donated to a specific Ward Missionary Fund account. However, Ward Missionary Funds can only be transferred to units within the same stake, so if your friends/family reside outside your stake there won't be a way for their home unit to transfer those funds (at least not without getting into big trouble on their next audit). So, best if they just send the donations to the correct ward in the first place. 

 

Thank you. Do you accept PMs?

[smac97]

Yes.  I just PMd ou.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Amulek]

1 hour ago, Bernard Gui said:

Thank you. Do you accept PMs?

Sure. I'll try to send one to you first and see if it will work that way. 

 

[VAUFLDS]

1 hour ago, ksfisher said:

No, there is not. 

What we do is near the end of the mission (a  few months) the parents will usually get with a clerk or a member of the bishopric and determine how much "extra" there is in that missionaries account.  The parents will then adjust there last few donations based on this.

KSF is correct. I've spent quite of few of my recent years as a ward clerk/stake clerk. The parents don't know about other contributions and I have made it a habit to let the parents know that they can reduce their contribution near the end.

[Ahab]

1 hour ago, smac97 said:

I don't think so.  IIRC, the monthly obligation is deducted from the Ward's missionary-specific account.  If it goes negative, the clerk notifies the bishop, and the bishop can notify the family.  Assuming that the family doesn't have direct access to the account balance, they can nevertheless ask the bishop or clerk for an update on the balance at any given time.

Thanks,

-Smac

Is the family of the missionary actually obligated to pay for the cost of their child's mission... lodging, food, transportation costs, etc... or, if the family didn't or couldn't pay for it, would the cost eventually be paid for through the ward missionary fund?

I think I would feel more motivated to donate to the ward missionary fund if I thought/knew the family was actually obligated to pay the cost, if the ward missionary fund didn't cover it. 

If the ward missionary fund covers it then the family isn't obligated to pay the cost, right?

[Rain]

2 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

A scenario....

A missionary's parents make full regular payments for his/her mission support.

A family member, friend, or anonymous donor also contributes occasionally.

Are the parents notified of the other donations?
How are those donations handled?

 

 

I asked on Sunday how we were supposed to pay on my son's account, who is leaving this week.

During the process they looked him up and told me his account was already in the negative because they took payment last week. Someone had donated already though so we were -395 instead of -400. 

So this prompted me to ask how I could see the balance and when the payments were taken.  The clerk said I couldn't see them - I would need to ask. The payment was taken the 6th, so the first Friday, at least for that one.

It would be REALLY nice to be able to check it each month especially for some families who are tight on money and/or are getting quite a bit if help. 

One of my ward friends overpaid for her son coming home this month because she had enough people helping that 2 months were taken care of. My understanding from her was that the overpayment isn't returned, just passed on.  Many people don't worry about this, but for some who are tight with money it could make a big difference if they knew the amounts donated for them monthly or at least once a quarter.

[Tacenda]

I'm sure everyone knows this, but just in case. Never pay up front the missionary dues. They aren't refundable no matter the reason. 

Edited September 16, 2019 by Tacenda

[smac97]

11 minutes ago, Ahab said:

Quote

I don't think so.  IIRC, the monthly obligation is deducted from the Ward's missionary-specific account.  If it goes negative, the clerk notifies the bishop, and the bishop can notify the family.  Assuming that the family doesn't have direct access to the account balance, they can nevertheless ask the bishop or clerk for an update on the balance at any given time.

Thanks,

-Smac

Is the family of the missionary actually obligated to pay for the cost of their child's mission... lodging, food, transportation costs, etc... or, if the family didn't or couldn't pay for it, would the cost eventually be paid for through the ward missionary fund?

The missionary and his family have the primary obligation, but ward mission funds step in where needed/appropriate.

11 minutes ago, Ahab said:

I think I would feel more motivated to donate to the ward missionary fund if I thought/knew the family was actually obligated to pay the cost, if the ward missionary fund didn't cover it. If the ward missionary fund covers it then the family isn't obligated to pay the cost, right?

Well, I'm not sure what "obligation" means in this context.  A missionary is not going to be sent home for insufficient funds, and a family is not going to be punished for being unable (or even unwilling) to pay for missionary costs.  It's more a question of personal integrity and capacity.  I don't think coercion comes into play (not in my experience, anyway).

For me, I see no impediment at all to contributing to the ward missionary fund.  It is akin to paying Fast Offerings.  Both contributions stay at the ward level, and help at the ward level.  This is left to the reasonably-exercised discretion of the bishop.  Ward missionary funds are sacred, and cannot be allocated to any other purpose.  Fast offerings are likewise sacred, but bishops have a bit more leeway in their distribution (rents, car repairs, clothing, etc.).

When I was in our ward's bishopric, our bishop authorized payments from the ward mission fund to cover negative balances.  The bishop would first discuss the matter with the family, and then authorize assistance as appropriate.  Sometimes the arrears are inadvertent.  Sometimes they are only temporary.  Sometimes the family is just struggling to keep up.  Such matters are handled with tact and decorum, and on a case-by-case basis.

Thanks,

-Smac

[smac97]

1 minute ago, Tacenda said:

I'm sure everyone knows this, but just in case. Never pay up front the missionary dues. They aren't refundable not matter the reason. 

In case the missionary returns home early?

[Tacenda]

1 minute ago, smac97 said:

In case the missionary returns home early?

Yes, left that out, thanks.

[Amulek]

32 minutes ago, Rain said:

So this prompted me to ask how I could see the balance and when the payments were taken.  The clerk said I couldn't see them - I would need to ask. [...]

It would be REALLY nice to be able to check it each month especially for some families who are tight on money and/or are getting quite a bit if help. 

I think it would be nice if there were a way for people to check this on their own. In lieu of that, however, simply ask one of the clerks - there are usually multiple finance clerks in most wards, so it should be easy to obtain.

If it's something one wants done on a regular basis, they can probably accommodate that as well.

Looking up a single missionary balance is way easier than trying to keep up with multiple spreadsheets that invariably get created for tracking donations for trek/girls camp/primary day camp/high adventure/etc. 

 

Quote

One of my ward friends overpaid for her son coming home this month because she had enough people helping that 2 months were taken care of. My understanding from her was that the overpayment isn't returned, just passed on.  Many people don't worry about this, but for some who are tight with money it could make a big difference if they knew the amounts donated for them monthly or at least once a quarter.

If money is tight, talk to your bishop about the situation, and he can direct the ward clerk to handle this reporting discretely. And at regular intervals - whatever works best for the family. 

You are correct about overpayments though. Money that is donated to the ward missionary fund is not refunded, so it's prudent to pay no more than one or two months in advance at a time.

In our ward, if somebody tries to pay for their entire mission up front, we won't process the donation until one of the clerks or a member of the bishopric has had a chance to talk to the family and make sure they understand that the money won't be refunded if the missionary ends up coming home early for whatever reason (e.g., worthiness, injury, or simply coming home a month or two sooner for school). 

 

 

Edited September 16, 2019 by Amulek

[LoudmouthMormon]

2 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

A family member, friend, or anonymous donor also contributes occasionally.

Are the parents notified of the other donations?

Finance clerk here.  I deal with this all the time.  A parent or bishop asks me for the current status of their missionary account. 

- If donations are made online, there's no real way to donate to a missionary's fund anonymously.  Your name shows up on the detailed report. 
- If you want to be anonymous, do cash and put "anonymous" on the deposit slip, indicating which missionary fund should receive the donation.
- I'm uncertain about donations done by check, I want to say your name shows up, but I'm not sure. 

Sometimes the bishop or parent asks for the summary report that just gives a total.  Sometimes they ask for a detailed report, which shows all transactions in and out of the individual missionary account, with a total.  

I do not notify the parents, or give them regular updates, or anything like that.  They come to me.

[LoudmouthMormon]

37 minutes ago, Rain said:

So this prompted me to ask how I could see the balance and when the payments were taken.  The clerk said I couldn't see them - I would need to ask.

I don't get that at all.  You went up to the clerk and asked.  That isn't asking?  Thinking maybe dude needs a little more training.  You are the parent/legal guardian, right?  And there are no legal issues or separations or divorces or anything like that, right?

Quote

One of my ward friends overpaid for her son coming home this month because she had enough people helping that 2 months were taken care of. My understanding from her was that the overpayment isn't returned, just passed on.  Many people don't worry about this, but for some who are tight with money it could make a big difference if they knew the amounts donated for them monthly or at least once a quarter.

That's my understanding as well, and yes, whether someone is tight with money or not, the parents/legal guardians should have access to this information, so they can manage their donations/contributions appropriately.

So dude told you to ask.  Go tell your bishop what the clerk said, and say "I am asking you to tell your clerk to give me this detailed report whenever I ask for it.  Is that a problem?"

 

The Lord's house is a house of order, and we bend over backwards to keep the finances correct and appropriate.  But training and experience from volunteer clerks can be an issue.

Edited September 16, 2019 by LoudmouthMormon