Frequently Asked Questions

Plan on 4 to 6 weeks. We try to move quickly, but the number of applications received takes time.

Contact us. We do everything in our power to be flexible and helpful.

As it relates to Lifesong-specific grants/loans, we are only able to provide one grant/loan per family. Funding does not allow us to approve a Lifesong grant and a church fund grant, for instance.

You are welcome to send a letter from another pastor who knows your family well. Also, an elder/board member, your small group leader, or a Sunday School teacher from your church can write the letter.

Each situation is unique. Feel free to contact us with the specifics of your situation.

• If you choose to create a mySTORY Crowdfunding Page, (this is optional) it will be connected to your Lifesong account. Please note that only donations made directly through the mySTORY page will automatically appear in the mySTORY total. It also will not automatically show the matching grant amount once that is reached. This is why it is important to log into your Lifesong community page to review how much you have available.
• You have the ability to update mySTORY manually by adding in offline donations that are given by check or through your Lifesong giving link. Since they were not given through mySTORY they will not show automatically. We encourage you to primarily share the mySTORY link.
• If you use mySTORY, please share your mySTORY link with friends and family instead of your Lifesong giving link in order to help them with any confusion.
• With questions regarding your mySTORY account, please email at mystory@lifesong.org

• Go to your Lifesong community page here: https://lifesong.force.com/families/
• Your username is the primary email address you provided on your application.
• On the Home Household page, the family report shows:
  • Funds – This is the actual dollar amount of donations received and posted to your account. If you received a matching grant, the funds are matched as they are received–dollar for dollar–and are included in this figure. If you received a direct grant or loan, those funds are included in this figure.
  • Paid Expenses– This is the total amount of expenses paid out of your account.
  • Remaining Balance– This is the amount of funds currently available in your account.
• The Tabs and Profile contain:
  • The Donations tab shows donation dates and amounts, donors’ names, addresses, email addresses, and phones (if available).
  • The Expenses tab shows the date requested, date paid, total due, and total paid.
  • The Disbursements tab shows the payment date and payment amount.
  • You can export all your donors and their contact information into a spreadsheet.
    • Click the profile icon in the top right corner and select My Profile.
    • In the Export Donation History to Email box, click Next. A report will be sent to your email.
• NOTE: Reports are updated in real-time as donations and expenses are processed at Lifesong.

Usually checks received in the mail are posted daily to individual accounts. However, if there is a large volume of checks, it may take more than a day before donations show up in your account. Please note, Gridley is a small, rural community in Central Illinois, so it may take longer than you expect for the mail to arrive.

Due to payment processing procedures, ALL online donations (myStory and Lifesong.org) take 3-6 days to show up on your donation report.  (If there is a holiday, it will postpone processing by an additional day.)

Donations from Gobena coffee sales will be posted once a month to your family report, usually by the 15^thof the month for the previous month’s sales.

• Lifesong for Orphans will not provide tax-deductible receipts for auctions, raffles, and other fundraisers involving the exchange of goods and/or services. However, the proceeds from these fundraisers could be sent to Lifesong following one of the two ways noted below:
• You can have a friend or family member write one check to Lifesong for Orphans for the total funds raised at this fundraiser. HOWEVER, THEY MUST INCLUDE A NOTE that the funds are from a fundraiser and no tax-deductible receipt should be given.
• You can send a cashier’s check if your name is nowhere on the check. YOU MUST INCLUDE A NOTE that the funds are from a fundraiser and no tax-deductible receipt should be given.

NOTE:  YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DONATE MONEY TO YOUR OWN ACCOUNT!

Lifesong automatically sends receipts for individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 that come directly to Lifesong for Orphans via check or the Lifesong website donation page. Money coming through a third party (such as GoFundMe or Facebook) cannot be receipted. Receipts for donations to Lifesong under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.

Adoption Accounts:

• Your account remains open to receive donations until your child is home or the adoption is complete, according to whichever of the following conditions occurs first:
  • The adoption is “legally complete,” whether that occurs overseas or in the U.S.
  • A maximum of one year after the child is in the home if the adoption is still not complete.
• Your account will remain open even it if carries a zero balance. The “goal date” established when you created your MyStory page is just a goal to encourage timely giving. It is not a deadline. This can be updated by emailing mystory@lifesong.org.

PLEASE inform the Family Account Manager when the adoption is complete, so the file may be closed and any monies left in your account may be paid out.

Counseling Accounts:

• Your account remains open for two years. At that time, you will be contacted to see if you are ready to close your account or if you would like your fund-raising ability through Lifesong to continue.
• If you want to close your account before two years, please let me know.

• You submit your requests for funds to the Family Account Manager via email at rachel@lifesong.org. When you email receipts, please use .pdf files.
• Payment is always made based on available funds.
• Payments/reimbursements are sent daily.

There are two ways to access your funds:

• If you want the payment to go to a provider
  • Send a copy of the invoice/document showing what is owed.
  • In an email, let the Family Account Manager know you want a payment made on your behalf, provide:
    • Your name
    • Your family number
    • Who to pay including the mailing address if not on the document
    • Total amount to be paid from your account

NOTE: If you want the payment to go to an attorney, an individual (rather than a company), or an LLC (limited liability company), a W-9 needs to be on file with Lifesong before payment can be made. Please send the W9 directly to the Family Account Manager.

• For reimbursement requests
  • Complete the Expenses Reimbursement Form listed under the Additional Links on your Lifesong community page.

• Submit proof of payment (receipts or canceled checks including both the front and back of the check or bank statement documentation proving the check was processed). For airfare, you must submit the itinerary showing name/dates/flights/ticketed—usually, it shows how the payment was made which is then proof of payment. Documentation that would satisfy the IRS is what you need to submit.
• Number your receipts to match the numbered lines on the Reimbursement Form beginning with #1.

Adoption Accounts

The following is not all-inclusive:

• Reimbursable: includes reasonable and necessary expenses directly related to the adoption such as court fees, home study fees, agency fees, lawyer fees, postage, airfare for two people only (usually parents) plus the adoptive child[ren] when making in-country visits, or for U.S. flights for U.S. adoptions and travel expenses including lodging but excluding food.
• Not Reimbursable: fundraising expenses, food, convenience fees, beds, diapers, and medical expenses when the child is home

Counseling Accounts

Counseling fees. These could be counseling directly for your adopted child(ren) or potentially for yourselves or for siblings in certain circumstances. Other possible uses for the grant may include:

• To obtain approved training to better parent your adopted child, this may include conferences like Refresh, Hope for the Journey, etc.
• To purchase resources to help you learn, grow in relational based, trauma competent parenting
• EMDR, Neurofeedback and other therapies
• In-Home Intensive Care and Training

• Normally, Lifesong will send a check.

• Lifesong can also send funds by wire or ACH payments.

NOTE: When requesting wire or ACH paments, please provide bank name, address, routing, and account number.

Lifesong does not wire money overseas. You must make arrangements with your agency if that is needed. If the agency agrees to wire funds, you may submit the agency’s invoice for the overseas expenses, and Lifesong will send payment to the agency. The best way to access funds for overseas use is to submit receipts for adoption expenses you have already paid for, so a check can be sent to you. That will provide you with money to use for travel.

Lifesong’s policy is to review a family file one time for financial assistance since more families submit applications than Lifesong has funds available to help. Once a decision has been made on your adoption, no further assistance will be available.

Lifesong does not send any special year-end reports. Your online report shows donations and payments. You may want to keep the most current copy for your tax records as well as keep originals of all receipts/invoices submitted to Lifesong for reimbursement/payment, so you can match them to the account update. A final account report will be sent to you when your adoption is complete and your file is closed.

You may find it advantageous to consult with a CPA or tax attorney at the beginning of your adoption regarding your personal tax situation, how to best utilize your funds, and how the adoption tax credit applies to your individual situation.

Bill’s Tax Service, 501 W. Broadway, Centralia, IL 62801, phone (618) 532-7223 will be glad to answer your questions regarding the Adoption Tax Credit.

You may get a free quote for your adoption travel at AdoptionAirfare.com. The phone number is (800) 277-7651.

• Your account remains open for two years. At that time, you will be contacted to see if you are ready to close your account or if you would like your fund-raising ability through Lifesong to continue.
• If you want to close your account before two years, please let the Family Account Manager know.

1. If you want a payment to go to a provider:

• In an email, let the Family Account Manager know you want a payment made on your behalf, provide:
  • Your name
  • Your family number
  • Who to pay including the mailing address if not on the document
  • Total amount to be paid from your account

Note: If you want Lifesong to send payment to an attorney or an individual (rather than a company), or an LLC (limited liability company) a W-9 needs to be on file with Lifesong before payment can be made. Please request the attorney/individual to submit the W-9 to you and then forward it to the Family Account Manager along with the invoice for payment.

2. If you want to be reimbursed for expenses you have paid:

• Complete the Counseling Expenses Reimbursement Form. Which will be sent to you once you have been approved.

• Submit proof of payment (receipts or cancelled checks including both the front and back of the check or bank statement documentation proving the check was processed). Documentation that would satisfy the IRS is what you need to submit.

• Number your receipts to match the numbered lines on the Reimbursement Form beginning with #1.

• You may submit your requests for your funds to the Family Account Manager via email. When you email receipts, please use .pdf files.

3. Payment is always made based on your available funds.

4. Reimbursements/payments are sent daily.

Counseling fees. These could be counseling directly for your adopted child(ren) or potentially for yourselves or for siblings in certain circumstances. Other possible uses for the grant may include:

• To obtain approved training to better parent your adopted child, this may include conferences like Refresh, Hope for the Journey, etc.
• To purchase resources to help you learn, grow in relational based, trauma competent parenting
• EMDR, Neurofeedback and other therapies
• In-Home Intensive Care and Training

The grant may not be used for medical treatments/therapies.