Financial FAQs
5 most frequently asked questions about finances
Q. How are CMF International missionaries funded for missionary service?
A. CMF missionaries work to develop relationships with supporting partners, both individuals and churches. The prayers, concern, and encouragement of churches and individuals, along with financial gifts, help to make missionary service possible. However, over the years CMF has also developed other avenues for funding our work, such as foundations, estates, corporate matching, etc. We thank God for His blessings on us as we strive to be faithful stewards of all funds that are received.
Q. If I send $100 for my missionary’s support, will my missionary receive that full 100%?
A. Yes. Your missionary will receive the ministry benefit of $100 from your gift. No. Your missionary will not receive $100 in cash, because missionary support is disbursed to meet your missionary’s needs. Some of the money goes to the field for work funds; some is deposited as salary into his or her personal bank account; other portions go into medical insurance, retirement funds, furlough travel reserves, prayer newsletters, receipting and accounting funds, recruiting, reporting, etc. CMF is a team ministry. Your missionary chooses to be a part of a team so that certain responsibilities can be handled by other team members, freeing him or her to give full energy to the work he or she has been called to do.
Q. When missionaries have spent their lives on the mission field and don’t own property, what does CMF do to help in retirement?
A. CMF plans and budgets so each missionary will have a retirement plan to which deposits are made on a quarterly basis.
Q. When a missionary has a major illness, who pays the expenses?
A. Each month a budgeted amount is paid into an insurance plan, so that our missionaries are covered by major health insurance. We also developed a fund to help our retired missionaries with their medical needs.
Q. Why does CMF ask contributors to make checks out to CMF International rather than to the individual missionary?
A. CMF International is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a charitable organization, allowing gifts to CMF for missionary support to be tax deductible. Contributions must be made out to CMF to allow for accurate tax documentation. As part of the team, the CMF office in Indianapolis receives and receipts funds, and provides financial management and reporting that conforms to the current accounting and government standards. Designation forms are provided to help us see that your gift goes to the missions partner you are supporting.
