Donation terms

Public giving is closed. This page exists so that the terms can be read and challenged before anyone is asked for money, rather than afterwards.

When giving opens

Giving will open only when all of the following are complete: legal incorporation; charity registration or an equivalent status with donation permissions in the relevant jurisdiction; an approved payment provider; approved receipting and refund handling; approved tax treatment including Gift Aid where applicable; and approved restricted-fund rules.

We will not take a payment before then, and no page on this site should offer one.

What these terms will cover

What a gift is

A donation is a gift. It is not a purchase, an investment, a loan or a subscription. It confers no ownership, no return, no interest and no claim on VOG's assets.

No benefit in exchange

Giving confers no spiritual benefit, no priority access to programmes, no influence over doctrine, teaching or governance, and no place in any programme. Support under the Shepherds Honour Initiative is never conditional on a person's giving.

Unrestricted by default

Gifts are unrestricted unless a restricted option is offered. Restricted options appear only where finance has confirmed the restriction can be honoured, tracked and reported. Where a restricted purpose cannot be fulfilled, we will contact the donor.

Currency and fees

The currency you are charged in will be stated before you confirm. Any processing fee will be disclosed, not hidden inside the amount.

Receipts

A receipt is issued for every gift. Tax documentation is issued only where the entity and jurisdiction permit it.

Recurring gifts

Can be changed or cancelled at any time, through a route that takes no more effort than setting one up did.

Refunds

Where a gift was made in error, duplicated, or made by someone who did not have authority to make it, contact us and we will refund it.

Card data

Payment card details are handled by the payment provider and never reach VOG systems.

Gifts we may decline

We may decline a gift where accepting it would create a conflict of interest, an unacceptable reputational risk, an obligation we cannot honour, or where the source cannot be established.

Donor data

Donation records are held under our privacy notice. Individual donation amounts are never included in web analytics. We do not publish donor names without specific written permission, and we do not sell or share donor information.

Large and institutional gifts

Significant and institutional gifts go through a conversation, not a checkout — including discussion of purpose, reporting, any conditions, and whether accepting the gift is appropriate.

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