01 Purpose of This Policy
This policy explains the general conditions that apply to donations made through the Servite Mission Sisters website or through an authorised payment link connected to the website.
It is intended to promote clarity, transparency and responsible stewardship in the receipt and use of financial support.
02 Voluntary Donations
Public donations made through the donation page are voluntary gifts unless a payment is clearly identified as a specific fee, contribution or other required payment.
Donors should complete a transaction only when they understand the amount, currency and purpose of the payment.
03 How Donations May Be Used
Donations may be used to support the mission and approved activities of the Servite Mission Sisters, including:
- Education and learning support.
- Healthcare and welfare assistance.
- Community outreach and humanitarian care.
- Support for vulnerable individuals and families.
- Vocation promotion and formation activities.
- Pastoral and spiritual programmes.
- Mission projects and community-based initiatives.
- Administrative and operational costs reasonably connected with delivering the mission.
- Website, payment-processing and communication costs associated with receiving and administering support.
04 Donations for a Specific Purpose
Where a donation page or appeal clearly identifies a specific project or purpose, we will aim to use the donation for that stated purpose.
If the project has been fully funded, completed, changed or can no longer be carried out as originally planned, the donation may be redirected to a related need or another area of the mission where support is required.
Donors may contact us before making a large or specially restricted donation to confirm whether the proposed restriction can be accepted.
05 Online Payment Processing
Online donations may be processed through an external payment provider such as Stripe.
When a donor selects a donation button, the donor may be redirected to the secure payment platform of the relevant provider.
Payment details entered on an external platform are handled according to that provider’s terms, privacy policy and security practices.
The Servite Mission Sisters may receive information such as:
- The donor’s name.
- The donor’s email address.
- The amount and currency of the donation.
- The date and status of the transaction.
- A payment reference or transaction identifier.
06 Payment Security
We aim to use established payment providers that apply recognised security measures to online transactions.
Donors should protect their own devices, passwords, card information and email accounts when making an online payment.
Donors should not send full payment-card details by ordinary email, social media message or contact form.
07 One-Time and Recurring Donations
Donation options may include a one-time gift or a recurring contribution where recurring payments have been enabled on the payment platform.
Before authorising a recurring contribution, donors should check:
- The amount of each payment.
- The payment frequency.
- The currency.
- The starting date.
- The procedure for cancelling or managing the recurring payment.
A recurring donation may normally be managed through the payment provider or by contacting us for assistance.
08 Payment Confirmation and Receipts
The payment provider may send an electronic confirmation or receipt to the email address entered during the transaction.
Donors should enter a valid email address and retain the confirmation for their records.
If a donor does not receive a confirmation, the donor should first check the spam or junk folder and then contact us with the transaction date, amount and payment reference where available.
09 Refund Requests
Donations are generally treated as final once they have been successfully processed.
A refund request may be considered where:
- A duplicate payment was made accidentally.
- An incorrect amount was entered.
- A payment was made without the account holder’s authorisation.
- A clear technical error occurred during the transaction.
- Another exceptional circumstance reasonably justifies review.
Refund requests should be submitted promptly and should include sufficient information to identify the payment.
Where a refund is approved, it will normally be returned through the original payment method, subject to the payment provider’s procedures and processing times.
10 Payment Disputes and Chargebacks
Donors are encouraged to contact us before initiating a payment dispute or chargeback so that we can review and attempt to resolve the matter.
We may provide relevant transaction records to the payment provider when responding to a formal dispute.
11 Currency and Processing Fees
The payment page should display the currency in which the donation will be processed.
A bank, card issuer or payment provider may apply currency-conversion charges, international transaction fees or other charges. These charges are outside the control of the Servite Mission Sisters.
Payment-processing fees may be deducted by the payment provider before the remaining amount is received.
12 Tax and Charitable Status
A donation is not automatically tax-deductible in every country or jurisdiction.
Donors should obtain independent advice regarding any tax benefit, deduction or reporting obligation associated with a donation.
A payment confirmation issued by a payment provider should not be treated as confirmation of tax deductibility unless the organisation has expressly confirmed this.
13 Right to Decline or Return a Donation
The Servite Mission Sisters may decline, suspend or return a donation where accepting it could:
- Conflict with our mission, values or responsibilities.
- Create an unlawful or inappropriate obligation.
- Present a safeguarding or reputational concern.
- Involve suspected fraud or unauthorised funds.
- Include restrictions that cannot reasonably be administered.
- Place an unreasonable burden on the organisation.
14 Fraud and Suspicious Transactions
Transactions that appear fraudulent, unauthorised or suspicious may be reviewed, delayed, declined or reported to the payment provider or appropriate authority.
We may request additional information where reasonably necessary to verify a donation or resolve a payment issue.
15 Donor Privacy
Personal information associated with donations will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy .
We do not intend to sell donor information.
Donor names or details will not normally be published without permission, unless disclosure is required for an appropriate administrative or legal reason.
16 Donor Communications
A donor may receive a payment confirmation and, where consent has been provided, updates about the mission, projects or future appeals.
A donor may request to stop receiving non-essential promotional or newsletter communications.
Transactional messages relating to a specific donation may still be sent where necessary.
17 Accountability and Stewardship
The Servite Mission Sisters aim to administer donations carefully, responsibly and in a manner consistent with the mission of the Institute.
Appropriate financial and administrative records may be maintained for accountability, reporting, audit and legal purposes.
Information about mission activities may be shared through the website, newsletters, reports or other authorised communications.
18 Changes to This Policy
This Donation Policy may be updated when payment arrangements, organisational practices or legal requirements change.
The latest version will be published on this page with the date of the most recent update.
19 Contact Us
Questions about a donation, payment confirmation, refund request or this Donation Policy may be directed to the Servite Mission Sisters.