Policy

Donation Policy

Information about giving to Alive Church and how your donations are used.

Last updated: March 11, 2026

Thank You for Your Generosity

Alive Church is grateful for every gift we receive. Your generosity enables us to continue our mission of sharing the love of Jesus and serving our community.

Charitable Status

Alive Church is a registered charity. All donations are used in accordance with our charitable purposes:

  • The advancement of the Christian faith
  • The relief of poverty and hardship
  • Community outreach and support
  • Education and discipleship

Ways to Give

Online Giving

You can make a one-time or recurring donation through our secure online giving platform. We accept major credit and debit cards.

Bank Transfer

For bank transfer details, please contact our office at office@alive.me.uk.

Cash and Cheques

Cash and cheque donations can be made during our services or sent to our office. Cheques should be made payable to "Alive Church".

Standing Order

Regular giving by standing order helps us plan effectively. Contact our office for standing order forms.

Gift Aid

If you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you through Gift Aid. For every £1 you give, we can claim an extra 25p from HMRC.

To enable Gift Aid:

  • Complete a Gift Aid declaration (available online or from our office)
  • You must pay UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax equal to or greater than the amount claimed
  • One declaration covers all your donations to us

Designated Giving

You may designate your gift for a specific purpose (such as missions, building fund, or benevolence). We will honour your designation where possible.

Please note:

  • If a designated fund reaches its goal, excess funds may be redirected to similar purposes
  • If a project is cancelled, designated funds will be used for the church's general purposes unless you request otherwise
  • The church leadership reserves the right to redirect funds if a designated project becomes impractical

How Your Donations Are Used

Your gifts support:

  • Ministry and Outreach: Services, events, community programmes, and missions
  • Staff and Leadership: Supporting those who serve full-time
  • Facilities: Maintaining and improving our building and equipment
  • Benevolence: Helping those in need in our community
  • Children and Youth: Programmes for the next generation

Financial Accountability

We are committed to financial integrity and transparency:

  • Our accounts are independently examined annually
  • Financial reports are submitted to the Charity Commission
  • We follow best practices for financial management
  • Summary financial information is available to members upon request

Refund Policy

We understand that sometimes donations are made in error. Our refund policy is as follows:

Eligible for Refund

  • Duplicate transactions (charged twice for the same donation)
  • Incorrect amount entered (e.g., £500 instead of £50)
  • Unauthorised transactions (must be reported within 14 days)
  • Technical errors that resulted in unintended charges

Refund Process

  1. Contact us within 30 days of the donation
  2. Provide details of the transaction (date, amount, payment method)
  3. Explain the reason for the refund request
  4. We will process eligible refunds within 14 working days

Non-Refundable

  • Donations where the funds have already been used for their designated purpose
  • Requests made more than 90 days after the donation
  • "Change of mind" without extenuating circumstances

Gift Aid Implications

If a donation is refunded, any Gift Aid claimed on that donation will be returned to HMRC.

Recurring Donations

You can set up recurring donations through our online platform. You may:

  • Cancel at any time through your account or by contacting us
  • Modify the amount or frequency
  • Pause giving temporarily

Changes to recurring donations will take effect from the next scheduled payment date.

Donation Receipts

We provide:

  • Immediate email receipt for online donations
  • Annual giving statement for tax purposes (upon request)
  • Gift Aid confirmation where applicable

Data Protection

Your donation information is handled securely in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Payment processing is handled by secure, PCI-compliant payment providers.

Contact Us

For questions about donations, refunds, or Gift Aid:

  • Email: office@alive.me.uk
  • Address: Alive House, Nelson Street, Norwich NR2 4DR