Merciheart FAQ
General
What is Merciheart?
MerciHeart is a missions-focused platform that connects missionaries with believers around the world. We provide a transparent, accountable ecosystem where mission projects can be funded, tracked, and celebrated—from sending Bibles to building churches, drilling wells to distributing humanitarian aid.
Who is Merciheart for?
Merciheart is for missionaries, mission groups, churches, ministries, and supporters who want a transparent and meaningful way to fund and follow mission work.
Why was Merciheart created?
Merciheart was created to help bridge the gap between those who are called to go and those who are called to give.
How is MerciHeart different from other crowdfunding platforms?
Unlike general crowdfunding sites, MerciHeart is 100% missions-focused. We verify every missionary, require milestone-based reporting with photos and receipts, and build long-term partnerships—not just one-time transactions. Donors can track the Gospel's progress in real time and see exactly where their money goes.
Giving & Donations
How do I support a mission project?
You can browse projects, open a project page, read its story and funding goals, and give securely through Merciheart.
Can I make a one-time donation?
Yes. Many projects allow one-time giving.
Can I set up recurring giving?
Yes. Some projects allow recurring giving such as bi-weekly or monthly support.
Do I need to have an account on Merciheart to be able to give?
No, as a donor, you can give even without ever registering on Merciheart. Having an account on Merciheart has the extra perk of managing your donations and recurring giving.
Is my donation secure?
Yes. Payments are processed through trusted payment providers such as Stripe and Paystack.
Can I donate in different currencies?
Yes. Merciheart supports multiple currencies depending on the payment provider and region.
Will I receive a receipt?
Yes. Donation receipts and confirmation emails are sent after successful giving.
Can I support more than one project?
Absolutely. You can support multiple mission projects at the same time.
Can I donate anonymously?
Yes, you have the option to remain anonymous to the public while still receiving updates and tracking your impact. Just toggle the anonymous switch and your name will never be shared with the public. Although if you require your name to show on the receipts of giving, you will need to include your name. We still won't make your name public.
How do I know my donation is being used properly?
Every project requires milestone-based reporting with photos, receipts, and beneficiary testimonies. You'll receive real-time updates and can see exactly how your money is being spent. If something looks off, you can flag it to MerciHeart for review.
What if a project doesn't reach its goal?
If a project is structured with milestone-based funding, partial funds can still be released for completed portions. Specific refund or reallocation policies will be clearly stated on each project page.
What happens if I suspect fraud?
MerciHeart takes fraud very seriously. If you suspect fraudulent activity, you can flag the project to our admin team. We investigate all claims, and if fraud is confirmed, unused funds are refunded to donors or redirected to vetted projects.
Recurring Giving
What is recurring giving?
Recurring giving allows you to support a mission project automatically on an ongoing schedule.
What recurring schedules are available?
Depending on the project, recurring support may be available bi-weekly or monthly.
How do I manage recurring giving?
Can I cancel recurring giving?
Yes. You can cancel future scheduled giving at any time. Your scheduled giving is also cancelled automatically when the project funding goal is met or if the project is closed.
What happens after I cancel?
Future scheduled donations will stop, but donations already processed are not automatically refunded.
Will I receive reminders before a recurring charge?
Yes. Merciheart may send reminder emails before upcoming recurring charges.
Mission Projects
Who can create a project?
Missionaries, churches, ministries, mission organizations, and approved representatives may create projects.
How do I create a project?
After creating an account, you can submit a mission project with details about the mission, funding needs, goals, and updates.
What information should be included in a project?
Projects should clearly explain the mission, how funds will be used, the funding goal, timeline, and expected impact.
Can I upload updates to my project?
Yes. Project owners can share updates, photos, progress reports, and testimonies.
Can I edit my project later?
Some project information may be editable after publishing, though certain details may be restricted once donations begin.
How long does project review take?
Most projects are reviewed and approved within 24–48 hours, provided all required information is complete.
How do I receive funds?
Funds are disbursed directly to your account via:
- Bank transfer
- Stripe Connect Account
Disbursements happen when fundraising goals are met or at scheduled milestones, accompanied by receipts and spending plans.
Do I have to raise 100% of my goal before receiving funds?
Not necessarily. Withdrawals are tied to donation milestones
What kind of updates should I post?
- Photos and videos from the field
- Progress reports on activities
- Testimonies from beneficiaries
- Receipts and budget updates
- Thank-you messages to donors
Frequent, authentic updates build trust and keep donors engaged.
What happens after my project is completed?
You'll submit a final impact report that includes:
- Budget breakdown (how funds were spent)
- Number of beneficiaries reached
- Photos, videos, and testimonies
- Lessons learned
This report is shared with all donors and archived on the platform for transparency.
Funds, Fees & Stewardship
Does Merciheart charge fees?
Yes. Merciheart applies a small administrative fee of 1.5% from funds given to help support the platform, project review efforts, and operational costs.
Are payment processing fees included?
No. Payment providers such as Stripe and Paystack may charge separate processing fees.
Why are fees necessary?
Fees help keep the platform secure, sustainable, and able to continue supporting mission work responsibly.
Does Merciheart profit from donations?
Merciheart is designed to support mission work and stewardship, not maximize profits from giving.
How does Merciheart encourage accountability?
Merciheart encourages transparency through project updates, milestone-based withdrawals, and responsible fund management.
Where can I learn more about how funds are handled?
Merciheart includes a dedicated "How we handle funds" page that explains stewardship, fees, withdrawals, and transparency practices. https://merciheart.org/handling-funds
Withdrawals & Payouts
How do mission projects receive funds?
Approved projects can withdraw funds to connected payout accounts.
Are withdrawals reviewed?
Withdrawals may be reviewed to ensure they align with platform policies and project milestones.
Are all funds released immediately?
Not always. Some projects may follow milestone-based withdrawal stages.
How long do withdrawals take?
Transfers may take 1–3 business days depending on the bank and payment provider.
Will I receive a withdrawal confirmation?
Yes. Withdrawal confirmation emails are sent after successful withdrawal requests.
Can withdrawals fail?
Yes. Withdrawals may fail due to bank issues, account problems, or payment provider restrictions. Merciheart is always available to handle issues like this if they happen.
Trust, Verification & Safety
Are projects verified?
Merciheart reviews and verifies projects to help supporters give with greater confidence.
How does Merciheart help build trust?
The platform encourages clear project information, updates, transparency, and responsible stewardship practices.
What happens if a project violates platform rules?
Merciheart may review, suspend, restrict, or remove projects that violate its policies or misuse funds.
Can supporters report concerns?
Yes. Users can contact Merciheart if they believe a project is misleading or violating platform expectations.
How does MerciHeart prevent fraud?
We have multiple safeguards:
- Missionary verification (ID, pastoral reference, field validation)
- Project moderation and approval process
- Milestone-based fund disbursement with evidence upload
- Admin audits and fraud detection systems
- Transparent dispute resolution process
What if a missionary abandons a project?
If a missionary fails to complete a project or provide updates, MerciHeart's admin team investigates. Depending on the findings, funds may be refunded to donors, held until resolution, or redirected to similar verified projects with donor consent.
Accounts & Security
Do I need an account to use Merciheart?
Creating an account allows you to manage giving, projects, recurring support, and dashboard activity.
Why do I need to verify my email?
Email verification helps protect your account and improves platform security.
Can I reset my password?
Yes. Password reset links can be requested from the login page.
Can I delete my account?
Users may request account closure or manage account settings through their dashboard.
How does MerciHeart handle data privacy?
We respect your privacy and never sell your personal information. Data is used only to facilitate donations, provide updates, and improve platform services. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Refunds & Cancellations
Can I get a refund?
Refund policies depend on the project stage:
- Before funds are disbursed: Refunds may be possible
- After funds are disbursed: Refunds are only issued in cases of proven fraud or misrepresentation
- Specific refund terms are outlined in our Terms of Service
How do I request a refund?
You can contact Merciheart support with your donation details and reason for the request.
How long do refunds take?
Approved refunds may take several business days depending on the payment provider and bank.
Contact & Support
How can I contact Merciheart?
Does Merciheart send newsletters or updates?
Yes. Users may subscribe to receive updates, stories, and mission news.
Can I get help with a payment issue?
Yes. Merciheart support can help review payment-related concerns.
Where can I report a technical problem?
Technical issues can be reported through the support contact information available on the platform.