Donation Policy
Effective October 15, 2026
GEMS Seva is a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. This policy explains how we receive, use, acknowledge and, when necessary, refund your gifts. It applies to every gift made through gems-seva.org, including the Donate page, the members-only Partner Support pages, events, checks and other transfers.
1. Tax deductibility
Gifts to GEMS Seva are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. law. Unless we tell you otherwise in writing, no goods or services are provided in exchange for your gift. Gifts are deductible only for U.S. tax purposes; they are not deductible in Nepal, India or any other country. Please consult your own tax adviser about your situation.
2. Your gift is made to GEMS Seva
All gifts are made to, and become the property of, GEMS Seva when received. They are not gifts to a partner organization or to any individual. GEMS Seva does not act as an agent or pass-through for any donor or foreign organization.
3. How we use gifts for work overseas
Much of our work is carried out through ministry partners outside the United States, currently in Nepal and India. Before funding a partner, GEMS Seva reviews its registration, governing documents, finances and leadership, and screens it against U.S. sanctions lists. We fund partners only through written grant agreements that limit the use of funds to stated charitable purposes and require separate accounting, receipts, regular reports, and the return of any funds not used as agreed. GEMS Seva's Board of Directors keeps full discretion and control over the selection of partners and the use of every gift.
4. Choosing a service area or program
You may tell us which service area or program you would like your gift to support, on the Donate page, in the Partner Support pages, or in a note. We treat your choice as a strong preference and follow it whenever we can. If a program is fully funded, changed, delayed or can no longer be carried out lawfully or effectively, the Board will use your gift for a closely related charitable purpose within our mission.
Gifts cannot be directed to a specific named person. Programs that support workers, students, patients or families fund the program as a whole, and the people helped are selected by GEMS Seva or its partner under objective criteria. Please do not enter the name of a person you wish to benefit when you give.
5. Partner Support pages
The Partner Support pages show members the programs of our ministry partners. Each item there is a gift to GEMS Seva, not a purchase. Nothing is shipped and no goods or services are provided in return. The amount shown is a suggested gift based on the partner's approved budget for that program, converted to U.S. dollars at an approximate exchange rate; items marked "custom amount" let you choose your own gift. Section 4 applies to every item you select.
6. Receipts
You will receive an email receipt when your gift is processed. It states the amount, the date, and that no goods or services were provided in exchange. Donors who give more than once in a year also receive a year-end giving statement by January 31. For any single gift of $250 or more, the IRS requires this written acknowledgment to claim a deduction, so please keep it. If you do not receive a receipt, let us know through our contact form.
7. Recurring gifts
If you choose a recurring gift, you authorize GEMS Seva and its payment processor to charge the amount you selected on the schedule you chose until you cancel. You can change, pause or cancel a recurring gift at any time through our contact form or from your member account. Please contact us at least 3 business days before the next scheduled date to stop that charge.
8. Refunds
Gifts are generally final, because they are used promptly for charitable work and may already have been granted to a partner. If you were charged in error (a duplicate gift, the wrong amount, or a gift you did not authorize), contact us through our contact form within 30 days of the charge. We will refund the error to your original payment method and cancel or reissue your receipt. Other requests are considered case by case. A refunded gift is not tax-deductible.
Please contact us before disputing a charge with your card issuer or bank; we can usually fix the problem faster. This policy does not limit any rights you have under federal law or your bank's rules for unauthorized debits.
9. Gifts we may decline
GEMS Seva may decline any gift, including one that carries conditions inconsistent with this policy or our mission, would give the donor control over grant decisions, comes from or would benefit a person on a U.S. sanctions list, or would create legal, financial or reputational risk.
10. Payments and privacy
Online payments are handled by our payment processors. GEMS Seva does not see or store your full card or bank account number. We never sell, rent or trade donor information. See our Privacy Policy for details.
11. State disclosures
GEMS Seva will provide a copy of its latest financial information on request. Request it through our contact form. Registration with a state agency, where required, does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by that state.
12. Contact and changes
Questions about this policy: please use our contact form. We may update this policy and will post the new effective date on this page.