Staff Sponsorship Program

Staff Sponsorship Fund Allocation

Each local Ghana Medical Foundation staff member has a monthly sponsorship goal based on their role, responsibilities, personal goals, and family support needs. Sponsors may give monthly for a one-year commitment to support a specific staff member and their work with GMF.

To keep the program transparent and sustainable, sponsorship funds are allocated once per month and divided as follows:

90% Staff Compensation & Family Support
Most of each sponsorship directly compensates the staff member for their work with GMF. These funds support their personal goals, family responsibilities, school expenses, living expenses, transportation, and other applicable needs.

Funds are used only for purposes approved by the Local Director, who helps confirm that support is being used for appropriate personal, family, school, and applicable needs.

10% Administration Fees
This portion helps cover payment processing, transfer fees, and financial tracking that ensures transparency.

Monthly Review
At the end of each month, GMF reviews sponsorship funds received, applies the 90/10 allocation, and distributes approved support. If a staff member receives more than their monthly goal, the additional funds are applied to future compensation.

GMF is committed to supporting local staff with dignity, transparency, and accountability.

Staff sponsorships are intended to provide consistent, reliable support for local GMF staff members. Sponsors are encouraged to give monthly for at least one year so GMF can plan responsibly and provide dependable compensation and family support.

Sponsors may choose to support a specific staff member and follow their work with the Ghana Medical Foundation. As part of the sponsorship program, sponsors may choose to receive monthly updates about the staff member’s work, progress, and involvement with GMF.

Sponsors may also have the opportunity to meet the staff member they support through a video call, when appropriate and available. This helps create a personal connection while allowing sponsors to better understand the staff member’s role, goals, and impact in Ghana.

All sponsorship funds are still managed by GMF and distributed through the program’s approval process. Sponsorship does not create direct employment, personal control, or a private financial relationship between the sponsor and the staff member. This structure protects both the sponsor and the staff member while keeping the program transparent and accountable.

Through monthly giving, sponsors help support local leaders, strengthen their families, and make GMF’s work in Ghana more consistent and sustainable.

The Ghana Medical Foundation is committed to managing staff sponsorship funds with transparency, consistency, and accountability. Because these funds are intended to directly support local staff members and their families, GMF uses a monthly review process to help ensure sponsorship support is used responsibly and in alignment with the purpose of the program.

Local Director Approval
Funds used for staff compensation and family support must be approved by the Local Director. The Local Director helps ensure that sponsorship funds are used for appropriate needs such as family support, school expenses, living expenses, transportation, personal development, and other applicable needs that support the staff member’s stability and continued work with GMF.  

These monthly decisions are reviewed by a member of GMF's Board to help maintain accountability and oversight.

Monthly Review Process
Staff sponsorship funds are reviewed and allocated once per month. During this process, GMF reviews the amount received for each staff member, applies the 90% compensation and 10% administration allocation, and confirms approved uses before funds are distributed.

Use of Funds
The 90% compensation portion is intended to support the sponsored staff member’s personal goals, family responsibilities, and ability to continue serving effectively in their GMF role. These funds are not distributed without oversight. Support is reviewed to ensure it aligns with the staff member’s approved needs and sponsorship purpose.

Financial Tracking
GMF tracks sponsorship donations, monthly allocations, administrative fees, and distributions to staff members. This helps ensure that funds are documented clearly and that leadership can review how sponsorship support is being used over time.

Internal Accountability
GMF leadership maintains oversight of the staff sponsorship program and may review sponsorship goals, approved support needs, and allocation practices as needed. If questions arise about the use of funds, GMF may pause, adjust, or redirect support to ensure the program remains responsible and aligned with its mission.

Sponsor Transparency
Sponsors are supporting both a local staff member and the work that staff member helps carry out through GMF. While sponsorship funds are managed by GMF and not given under the direct control of sponsors, GMF is committed to keeping the program clear, documented, and accountable.

This oversight process helps protect donors, staff members, and the mission of the Ghana Medical Foundation by ensuring that sponsorship funds are used carefully and with purpose.

What happens if the staff member I sponsor leaves GMF?
If a sponsored staff member moves on from the Ghana Medical Foundation, the sponsor is no longer expected to continue giving for that staff member. GMF may invite the sponsor to support another staff member or a related program need, but continued giving is optional.

Is my sponsorship a one-year commitment?
Staff sponsorships are intended to be monthly commitments for one year. This helps GMF provide consistent support, plan responsibly, and avoid starting support that cannot be sustained. If circumstances change, sponsors may contact GMF to adjust or end their sponsorship.

Am I directly employing the staff member I sponsor?
No. Sponsorship does not create an employment relationship between the sponsor and the staff member. All sponsorship funds are donated to and managed by GMF. GMF is responsible for approving, allocating, and distributing funds according to program guidelines.

Can I choose exactly how the staff member uses the funds?
No. Sponsors may support a specific staff member, but funds are managed through GMF’s approval process. The Local Director makes monthly decisions about approved support needs, and those decisions are reviewed by the GMF Board.

What does the 90% compensation portion support?
The 90% portion supports staff compensation and family support. This may include personal goals, school expenses, living expenses, transportation, family responsibilities, and other applicable needs approved through GMF’s oversight process.

What does the 10% administration fee cover?
The 10% administration fee helps cover the basic costs of managing the sponsorship program, including payment processing, transfer fees, financial tracking, donor communication, reporting, recordkeeping, and basic operations.

What happens if the monthly sponsorship goal is not fully met?
If a staff member’s monthly sponsorship goal is not fully met, GMF will distribute available support based on approved priorities and available funds. GMF will not promise support beyond what has been received and approved.

What happens if more than the monthly goal is donated?
If donations exceed a staff member’s monthly goal, GMF may apply the additional funds toward future compensation, approved family support, or related needs connected to that staff member’s continued work with GMF.

Can I communicate directly with the staff member I sponsor?
GMF may help facilitate appropriate communication when it is helpful and respectful. However, communication should go through GMF guidelines to protect the staff member’s privacy, avoid pressure, and keep the sponsorship relationship healthy.

Is my donation refundable if circumstances change?
Donations are generally not refundable once processed. If a sponsorship situation changes, GMF may apply remaining funds toward approved staff support, future support, or related mission-aligned needs.

How does GMF protect transparency in this program?
GMF reviews sponsorship funds monthly, documents allocations, tracks administrative fees, and maintains oversight through the Local Director and Board review process. The goal is to support local staff with dignity while managing donor funds responsibly.

Is my staff sponsorship tax deductible?
Yes, staff sponsorship donations are made to the Ghana Medical Foundation, not directly to an individual staff member. Because sponsorship funds are donated to GMF and managed through GMF’s oversight process, they may qualify as charitable contributions.

GMF provides donation records or receipts for sponsorship contributions. Donors should keep these records for tax purposes and consult a tax professional for guidance based on their individual situation.