Santa Clarita Christian Fellowship
18541 Soledad Canyon Rd.
Canyon Country, Ca 91351
(External Policy must be signed by all applicants)
Guidelines for the Benevolence Fund
as approved by the Senior Pastor and the Board of Directors
Santa Clarita Christian Fellowship, incorporated in the State of , California and located at 18541 Soledad Canyon Rd., Canyon Country, CA. 91351, (hereafter referred to as the “Church”) has established a discretionary fund to be used to assist church members and members of the community who are in dire financial need (the “Benevolence Fund”). We affirm that our charge is to provide a holistic ministry, which from time to time may involve using church funds to help a person or persons in need. In an attempt to remove any subjectivism from the process of determining “valid” need, the Board of Directors has prepared the following guidelines.
A. Benevolence Fund Purpose
The Benevolence Fund is to enable the church to provide financial assistance and/or aid to individuals who are in need, on an urgent basis, as determined by the Church in its unrestricted discretion based upon information available at the time the assistance is provided. Assistance and/or aid from the Benevolence Fund may not be available in (or applicable to) all urgent cases. In making each determination, the Church shall use the criteria referenced below along with other criteria (which may be wholly subjective in nature) and review the information provided by the person in need (e.g. documentation, letters, other sources of income or assistance, diligence in pursuing other resources, copies of invoices and/or the lack of any of the foregoing) in making a decision. In addition, the Church must have a strong belief that any gift from the Church will be used for proper purposes and will not contribute to any negative or irresponsible behavior. The decision of the Church is completely discretionary and assistance or aid may be granted or denied within the unrestricted discretion of the Church, without limitation.
Assistance from the Benevolence Fund is intended to be a one-time gift. In unusual circumstances, the Benevolence Team may decide to help someone in dire need more than once.
Any disbursement from the Benevolence Fund to an individual is a gift. Under no circumstance is a gift from the Benevolence Fund to be considered or treated as a loan. No gift is required to be repaid, either in part or in full, in money, labor or other consideration.
If the recipient desires to return the gift and/or make any donation to the Church at a later time, this individual should be encouraged to give directly to the general fund of the Church.
Those requesting assistance must also be willing to receive financial, family, spiritual and/or emotional counseling as is deemed necessary by the Church.
Those requesting help must be willing to give the benevolence Team permission to
follow up on any of the information provided. The Team will be sensitive to confidential issues.
In lieu of providing a gift from the Benevolence Fund, the Church may consider providing non-monetary assistance and/or direction to the person in need.
The Benevolence Fund is intended as a source of last resort, to be used when the family or individual requesting assistance has exhausted savings, investments, etc. and all other resources for financial assistance; and diligently pursued employment, loans, assistance from agencies, etc. as well as the help of family and friends. The gift is intended to provide temporary help during a time of crisis.
The stated purpose of the Benevolence Fund is to meet peoples’ basic needs. For purposes of the Benevolence Fund, these needs include:
1. Lodging (including utilities)
2. Food
3. Clothing
4. Necessary medical treatment (which may include prescription medications).
In the case of medical emergencies, the potential recipient must provide documentation from a licensed, medical professional which satisfies the requirements of the Church.
Needs that may not be met by the Benevolence Fund include, but are not limited to:
1. School expenses, business investments or anything that brings financial profit to the individual or family
2. Paying off credit cards
3. Needs of individuals who are wanted by the law or for paying fines as a result of breaking the law
4. Housing for unmarried couples
5. Legal fees
6. Penalties relating to late payments or irresponsible actions;
7. School fees or tuition
8. Bail; and/or fines
9. Other matters which the Church may consider outside of the guidelines set forth above.
B. Eligibility
In order of priority, recipients of funds disbursed from the Benevolence Fund at the direction of the Benevolence Team are:
1. Church members – Those in good standing, regularly meeting and involved with the church body
2. Members of the community
C. Application Process
The actual application can be picked up from the Church Office during normal service hours or downloaded from the church’s website (www.mysccf.com/ben-app).
An applicant may apply for benevolence no more than three (3) times in one calendar year.
Once an application has been submitted, the Benevolence Team will review and seek to make a decision upon that application as soon as possible.
In some cases, the applicant may be asked to come in for an interview and/or to provide additional documentation prior to a final decision. In addition, an applicant may have to provide documentation that the applicant has complied with all of the terms and conditions of the Benevolence Fund (which may change from time-to-time at the discretion of the Church). In ALL cases, the applicant will be required to submit proof of need (e.g., eviction notice, turn off notice, etc.).
Once the Benevolence Team has made a decision, the applicant will be notified of the decision by email, text message or letter.
Phone calls alone will not be used to approve or disapprove the request, as the
church requires written proof of its decision and notification to the applicant.
D. Actual Payee If Approved
Should the application be approved, the Church will prepare a Church check payable to the appropriate third party or agency to which the applicant directly owes funds. The applicant should be aware that the Church is much less likely to approve any request in which the payee is not such a third party (e.g., utility company, landlord, or government agency).
In ALL cases, the Church reserves the right to award an amount less than the amount requested.
E. Hold Harmless/Liability Release Clause
By signing below and/or by seeking assistance from the Benevolence Fund, each applicant (individually and on behalf of their family members and any others who may benefit from any gift) do hereby waive, release, indemnify, discharge and agree to hold the Church (along with its members, officers, Board, Pastors, Ministers, employees, volunteers, administrators, etc.) harmless from any obligation, occurrence, cost, loss, injury, liability and/or any other claim(s) (including any such claim which arises under contract, tort or other common or statutory law), without limitation, whether such claim is based upon or relates to any loss, injury, sickness, death, opportunity, damage to property or other loss or claim whatsoever and/or whenever (including, without limitation, during such time as the Church may be reviewing an applicant’s request).
********** SIGNATURES **********
I have read and understand the aforementioned Church guidelines and policies.
My signature constitutes my agreement to abide by them.
Signature________________________________________________________________
Print Name ______________________________________________Date____________
Address_________________________________________________________________
City, State and Zip Code ___________________________________________________
Telephone # _________________________E-mail address ________________________
CHURCH Representative___________________________________________________