FAQs - Donations
What do you want from me?
For all the Brethren / Companions from within the Province to support the Festival, by making a financial commitment by bankers order direct to the RMBI and to get involved with the Festival’s events and activities through your Lodge, Chapter and at District level.
How can I give to the Festival?
The best method of making a donation is by completing a regular payment promise for the term of the Festival, and a Gift Aid declaration which, if you are a UK taxpayer, will currently enhance your donation by at least 28%. These donations will receive an attractive rate of interest through the Relief Chest Scheme which will be credited in the name of the donor and of the Lodge or Chapter which the donor has nominated. Personal donations can also be Gift Aided, assuming the donor is a UK tax payer. Assistance to obtain and complete forms for all donation methods can be obtained from your Lodge/Chapter Festival Representative.
On the "envelope/donor verification schedule", it clearly states that my cheques which represents the sum of the cash that was in the envelopes should be made payable to "The Grand Charity". Everywhere else, the information says cheques should be made payable to "EL 2015 Festival." Can you confirm that the correct instruction is the one for EL 2015 Festival please?
ALL CHEQUES irrespective of what is on the documentation from the Grand Charity are payable to EL 2015 Festival
Can Lodges and Chapters make payments via Regular Payments and by Gift Aid?
Only individuals can 'pledge' money to the Festival via a regular payment promise or any other form of Gift Aid. Lodges, Chapters or other organisations [ladies committees etc] can only make payments referred to as a 'Miscellaneous Payment' which is a one off payment as and when they wish to make a donation. Your Festival Representative holds the relevant forms.
The advice for Lodge and Chapter Festival Representativesregarding the self duplicating remittance slip indicates that the Grand Lodge ref. no. should be indicated in the first column. Is this the same number as the Provincial number?
No. The Grand Lodge number can be found via the Lodge Secretary on the Annual return from United Grand Lodge. The Provincial reference number is entirely different.
Where do we get Grand Lodge Reference Numbers from?
These reference numbers should be obtainable from their Lodge Secretary and/or Chapter Scribe E which is shown on the Annual Returns from United Grand Lodge and/or Supreme Grand Chapter. Individuals are not to request this information from the Provincial Office under any circumstances. The members of the Provincial Office are not employed by the Festival Office and under the Data Protection Act they cannot give this information.
If a new member does not have a Grand Lodge Ref Number how do we complete the Rem slip?
Simply record in the margin Recent Initiate.
I am a member of more than one Lodge / Chapter in the Province, how will my contributions be recognised?
When making a donation a donor may nominate only one Lodge / Chapter per donation; he decides to which Lodge / Chapter that individual contribution is to be credited. However, the sum of all his contributions to all his nominated Lodges / Chapters will count towards his personal contribution total.
Do Regular Payment Promises have to be for a specified period?
The length of time for a Regular Payment Promise is purely the choice of the donor and if he/she wished to change their mind after comitting themself they can do that.
Why cannot Standing Orders be used and not DDs [many do not agree with DDs and are loath to enter into one]?
The Grand Charity, who adminstrate all our payments, have confirmed that they are no longer geared up for Standing Orders as administratively it takes too long for them to process. They prefer Direct Debits as do the major High Street Banks
Relief Chests - Can a Lodge with a Grand Charity Relief Chest transfer funds from their Chest to the Relief Chest being used by the Festival?
Yes - they just have to inform both the Festival Office at Bridge Street and the Freemasons' Grand Charity of their wishes.
Is there a difference between money donated to the RMBI Festival and that used to purchase merchandise and jewels?
The money received for merchandise and jewels pays for the cost of these items with a small profit margin. This excess money pays for running the Festival - printing, postage, training costs etc. At the end of the Festival any money left over will be donated to the Festival. Money donated to the Festival cannot and will not be used for any other purpose other than that for which it was intended.
I want to make a donation to the Festival and wish to pay with a charity voucher. Is this possible and if so how do I do it?
Yes it is possible. Your voucher will need to be made payable directly to the "Freemasons' Grand Charity" as they are a registered charity and our EL 2015 Festival account is not.
Their Registered Charity No is 281942 and of course it will be credited to our Relief Chest for the Festival which is no E0119.