Financial Aid Policy – 2015 International Conference

Financial aid may be available for persons needing assistance to attend the 2015 Urantia Association International Conference. Financial aid assistance to attend this event may include, but is not limited to, travel expenses, visa expenses, symposium fees, lodging, meals, transportation, transfer fees and taxes. Aid funds will be drawn from a restricted Financial Aid fund.

2015 Urantia Association International Conference financial aid is intended only for those persons who are focused on study of The Urantia Book, are willing to actively participate in the conference and are willing to take what they learn back to their local area or home country to pass on to their local leaders and readers of The Urantia Book. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and must be engaged in the dissemination of The Urantia Book and its teachings in their local region, or be willing and planning to do so in a near future.

Applicants should be willing to contribute their own funds, where practicably possible (for example, on a dollar-for-dollar basis). Or alternatively, applicants could fund raise in their local study group, association or society to assist them with their financial needs (such as travel). All pledged funds will need to be paid, in the form of a donation to Urantia Association International, before the event and before any airfares are purchased.

A formal Request for Financial Aid needs to be submitted, using the form sent by email or available through the website. A sub-committee of the 2015 Urantia Association International Conference shall receive and evaluate each Request for Financial Aid and recommend approval or denial to the Chair or the organizing committee of the 2015 Urantia Association International Conference. Approval for financial aid will be based on a number of factors, and will be primarily driven by the value of available donor funds.

The sub-committee shall comply with the following:

a) Maintain a record of all applications for financial aid;
b) Maintain a record of all approvals and denials for financial aid;
c) Maintain a record of all amounts distributed including name, address of the recipient, plus method and date of payment.

If approved, the Financial Aid recipient must comply with the following:

a) Send a list showing advance cash needs, such as for Canadian visa expense or travel itinerary requiring overnight stays.
b) Any personal contributions, or funds raised locally, will need to be donated directly to Urantia Association International via standard donation methods (check, money order, credit card, cash) before any Visa expenses are paid or airfares are purchased.
c) For payments made directly to the recipient, send receipts for all actual expenses to 2015 International Conference Financial Aid sub-Committee; or reimburse the 2015 International Conference Financial Aid sub-Committee for any advanced funds not supported by an expense receipt.
d) Allow travel arrangements to be made by a designated 2015 International Conference Financial Aid sub-Committee travel coordinator on behalf of the sponsored attendee. Payment for travel expenses will be made directly to the travel agency or airline upon documentation.
e) Send evidence of successful Canadian visa to Financial Aid sub-Committee before travel arrangements are made.