Financial Principles

Wycliffe Bible Translators is a faith work, dependent upon God and faithful giving by Christians. The amount of a member's monthly salary is not guaranteed, but is based on funds available from contributions received by Wycliffe for their ministry. Each person is expected to look to God for all material needs, including basic living expenses, while serving with Wycliffe. God supplies these needs through gifts from churches and individual Christians creating a bond which results in blessing to both missionary and donor.

WBT qualifies as a non profit organization, therefore contributions to its work and ministry are tax deductible. Contributors may express interest in a specific project or the work of a missionary. Contributions received during the month are sent to missionaries during the first part of the following month. Ten percent of all contributions to Wycliffe are used for home and field administration expenses.

Missionaries' financial needs are determined, not according to the importance or complexity of the missionary's work, but rather by need. The special needs of individual Wycliffe missionaries may be divided into three categories: basic living costs, ministry needs, and supplementary living expense.

Contributions not designated for a missionary or project go into an emergency fund. These funds are used when the missionaries' income from designated gifts falls substantially below what is needed for essentials. The emergency fund is distributed monthly to missionaries in need, but only covers living essentials.

As a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, Wycliffe is committed to financial integrity. Its financial statements are audited each year by a recognized, independent audit firm and an annual financial statement is available on request. The names of donors and amounts given are kept confidential. Mailing lists are never made available to others. Since contributors are respected as partners in the work, they will never be pressured to give.

Wycliffe's financial system has a number of strengths. The financial partners know exactly how their gifts are being used. There is a vital link between the person giving and the Wycliffe missionary. This personalized giving leads to personalized prayer. Everyone who participates in a faith mission receives a blessing.

Have you heard about the man who wanted to carry the most valuable thing in the world to heaven? So, he kept after God to let him take something with him. Finally, God said, "Okay, you can take it with you." So he thought hard and finally decided what to carry. At the pearly gates St. Peter stopped him and asked him what he was carrying. "Oh, it's all right! I arranged it with God and He said it was okay." So St. Peter said, "Let's see what's in it." Taking the box he looked inside. "Why did you bring a piece of pavement with you!"

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