Common questions about giving

• How are NTM missionaries paid?
• What about pay for home staff and mission leaders?

• How much support is recommended for an NTM missionary?
• How are support levels determined?
• What if missionaries receive less than is recommended?
• How much of my gift will the missionary's ministry or project receive?
• What about credit card transaction fees?
• Are my gifts tax-deductible?
• When does the missionary receive my gift?

How are NTM missionaries paid?

NTM missionaries receive funds for their ministries from their sending churches, and from other churches and individuals. New Tribes Mission members are not salaried. In faith they look to the Lord for provision of their financial needs, knowing that God has instructed His people to meet the needs of those in His service.

What about pay for home staff and mission leaders?

Missionaries who serve in the USA and NTM leaders also look to the Lord for provision of their financial needs. They are not salaried either.

How much support is recommended for an NTM missionary?

The recommended support for an NTM missionary varies according to where they serve, what their ministry involves, and how large their family is. You may ask a missionary about their recommended support level, or contact our Finance Office for that information:

866-547-2460

finance-office_hq@ntm.org

New Tribes Mission, 1000 E. First St., Sanford, FL 32771

How are support levels determined?

Recommended support levels are based on the actual costs of ministering and living at a reasonable level.

Missionaries are responsible for ministry expenses, benefits and taxes, including costs that are usually an employer’s responsibility.

For instance, missionaries must pay twice as much into Social Security as the typical US employee, because they are paying both the employee and employer shares. They pay for all of their own medical and life insurance premiums, and retirement. Missionaries usually pay for their own ministry-related travel and much of the equipment needed for ministry.

An overseas missionary’s ministry expenses are typically 35 percent of their recommended support level, with 30 percent going toward benefits and taxes and 35 percent for personal expenses.

For a US-based missionary, 10 percent is typically for ministry expenses and 30 percent for taxes, with 60 percent for personal expenses.

What if missionaries receive less than is recommended?

New Tribes Mission does not require missionaries to have 100 percent of their recommended support in order to begin or continue service.

However, serving with less than the recommended support brings stress greater than the typical family faces when expenses threaten to outstrip resources. For missionaries, the added burden is deciding whether to fund the ministry God has called them to, or take care of family needs. With less support than is recommended, they may not buy items needed for ministry. Medical expenses or vehicle repairs may not be funded, or retirement planning won’t occur.

When you help a missionary reach their recommended support level, you help equip them for effective ministry.

How much of my gift will the missionary's ministry or project receive?

Each gift you give will be used in full for the expenses of the missionary’s ministry or project you designate.

What about credit card transaction fees?

The fees that credit card companies charge for online transactions -- 3.1 percent of each donation -- are charged to the ministry accounts of the missionaries who receive the gifts. You will still receive a tax-deductible receipt for the full amount of the gift.

Transaction fees for gifts to projects are paid for by New Tribes Mission.

Are my gifts tax-deductible?

All gifts to New Tribes Mission for support of missionaries and projects are tax-deductible. As required by the IRS, gifts should be given with the understanding that they are under the full discretion and control of New Tribes Mission.

You may also make personal gifts – for birthdays or Christmas, for instance. If you designate a gift as personal, you will receive a non-tax-deductible receipt.

When does the missionary receive my gift?

As soon as your gift is received by New Tribes Mission, it is credited to the missionary’s account. At the end of each calendar month, the funds are distributed to each missionary.