The Gratitude Giving Program
Every trip you take blesses the ministry you serve.
Most travel agencies take your booking and send you a confirmation email. At MinistryVacations.org, we do something a little different. When you book a trip through us and complete your travel, we donate a portion of our earnings directly to your church, your missions agency, a non-profit organization or the specific missionary of your choosing — as a token of appreciation for trusting us with your trip.
We really believe that one of the main themes throughout the Bible is "blessed to be blessing to all the nations". We know that your vacation will bless you with some much needed rest, but we want it to bless others as well!
If Hilton, Hyatt, Sandals, Carnival, Viking and other hotels, cruises, and travel providers are going to be paying out commissions regardless, let's put that money to good Great Commission use!
How It Works
Step 1 — Book Your Trip
Contact Grant and describe the trip you're dreaming about. Whether it's a sabbatical journey, a Holy Land tour, a family cruise, or an anniversary getaway, we handle every detail from start to finish.
Step 2 — Travel and Rest
Go. Unplug. Let yourself actually rest. That's the whole point. We've already handled everything so you don't have to think about logistics while you're supposed to be on vacation.
Step 3 — Designate Your Recipient
When you book, simply let us know where you'd like your Gratitude Gift to go. Your home church. A missionary you support. A Christian non-profit doing work you believe in. Any registered church or 501(c)(3) organization qualifies.
Step 4 — We Give on Your Behalf
After your travel is completed and our commission is received from the supplier — typically 30 to 60 days after your return — we issue a check or direct gift to your designated organization or missionary. You'll receive a confirmation so you know it happened.
That's it. Your trip. Your rest. Their blessing...
Why We Do This
Grant Haynes, the founder of MinistryVacations.org, has spent nearly thirty years as a support-based missionary. He knows what it means to depend on the generosity of others to stay on the field. He knows what it costs — financially, emotionally, and spiritually — to sustain a life of ministry.
He started MinistryVacations.org because he wanted to serve the people who serve everyone else. The Gratitude Giving Program is the most tangible expression of that conviction. When someone in ministry books a trip through MinistryVacations.org, Grant doesn't just want that person to come home rested and refueled. He wants their church or organization to feel it too.
Travel and generosity are not opposites. At MinistryVacations.org, they go together every single time.
"Your vacation should bless more than just you"
How Much Is the Gratitude Gift?
The gift amount is tied to the value of your booking. Here's how it works:
Bookings under $2,000 — we send a $25 gift to your designated organization.
Bookings between $2,000 and $4,999 — we send a $50 to $75 gift.
Bookings between $5,000 and $9,999 — we send a $100 to $150 gift.
Bookings between $10,000 and $19,999 — we send a $200 to $300 gift.
Bookings of $20,000 and above — we send a $400 gift or more.
These are our standard gift amounts. On group bookings — church staff retreats, Holy Land tour groups, mission team travel — we're happy to discuss a customized giving arrangement that reflects the size and significance of the booking.
Who Can Receive a Gratitude Gift?
Any of the following organizations qualify as a Gratitude Gift recipient:
- Your home church or one of your choosing
- A missionary or missionary family you personally support
- A Christian non-profit or para-church ministry organization
- A registered 501(c)(3) serving in the name of Christ
- Global Frontier Missions or another organization that mainly works with the unreached
- A local outreach, food ministry, or community organization with non-profit status
If you're not sure whether your organization qualifies, just ask. We'll do our best to make it work.
A Note From Grant
I grew up watching people give sacrificially to keep missionaries on the field — including my own family. I know what a gift means when it arrives unexpectedly, when the budget is tight, and when you weren't sure how you were going to make it through the month. The Gratitude Giving Program is my small way of keeping that spirit alive. Every trip we book is an opportunity to do something that matters beyond the travel itself. I hope it blesses your ministry in ways you didn't see coming.
— Grant Haynes, Founder, MinistryVacations.org
Ready to Book a Trip That Gives Back?
You book your trip, you rest well, and we take care of the gift. It is that simple. If you have questions about the Gratitude Giving Program or want to talk through your next trip before you commit to anything, Grant is always happy to have that conversation.