GIFT ACCEPTANCE POLICY
PURPOSE
This policy serves as a guideline to members of the The Fuller Center For Housing staff involved with accepting gifts to The Fuller Center For Housing, to outside advisors who assist in the gift planning process, and to prospective donors who wish to make gifts to The Fuller Center For Housing. This policy is intended only as a guide and allows for some flexibility on a case-by-case basis.
CASH
- All gifts by check shall be accepted by The Fuller Center For Housing regardless of amount.
- Checks shall be made payable to The Fuller Center For Housing or to a particular programor project at The Fuller Center For Housing. In no event shall a check be
made payable to an individual who represents The Fuller Center For Housing.
PUBLICLY TRADED SECURITIES
- Readily marketable securities, such as those traded on a stock exchange, can be accepted by The Fuller Center For Housing.
- Gifts of securities may be made by electronic transfer to The Fuller Center For Housing or may be made by stock certificate, in which case the stock certificate should be either duly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power and in each circumstance accompanied by an appropriate signature guarantee.
- It is the policy of The Fuller Center For Housing that all readily marketable securities be sold immediately upon receipt.
- For The Fuller Center For Housing’s internal gift crediting and accounting purposes, the value of the securities is the average of the high and low on the effective date of the completed transfer to The Fuller Center For Housing.
- For The Fuller Center For Housing gift acknowledgement purposes, it is the advice of counsel that The Fuller Center For Housing acknowledge the number of shares received and the date received. No stated dollar value will be included in the acknowledgement letter.
CLOSELY HELD SECURITIES
- Non-publicly traded securities including membership interests in limited liability companies or partnership interests may be accepted after consultation with the corporate treasurer and/or counsel.
- Prior to acceptance, The Fuller Center For Housing shall explore methods of liquidation for the securities through redemption or sale. A representative of The
Fuller Center For Housing shall try to contact the closely held corporation to determine:
- An estimate of fair market value
- Any restrictions on transfer
- For The Fuller Center For Housing’s gift acknowledgement purposes, it is the advice
of counsel that The Fuller Center For Housing state the number of shares received and the date received. No stated dollar value will be included on the
acknowledgement letter.
REAL ESTATE
- Gifts of real estate must be reviewed by the board or a committee of the board of The Fuller Center For Housing before acceptance.
- The donor is responsible for obtaining an M.A.I appraisal of the property satisfactory to The Fuller Center For Housing. The cost of the appraisal should be borne by the donor. The appraisal must be addressed to The Fuller Center For Housing.
- Prior to presentation to the board or a committee of the board, a member of the staff must conduct a visual inspection of the property. If the property is located in a geographically isolated area, a local real estate broker can substitute for a member of the staff in conducting the visual inspection.
- Prior to presentation to the board or a committee of the board, the donor must provide, at least, the following documents:
Real estate tax bill
Current Plat of Survey
Current owner’s title policy or title commitment
Substantiation of zoning status
- Prior to presentation to the Finance committee, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment addressed to The Fuller Center For Housing must be presented reflecting the current environmental condition of the real estate.
- Depending on the value and desirability of the gift, the donor’s connection with The Fuller Center For Housing, and the donor’s past gift record, the donor may be asked to pay for all or a portion of the following:
Costs of environmental remediation
Maintenance costs
Real estate taxes
Insurance
Title insurance premiums
Survey costs
Real estate broker’s commission and other costs of sale
Appraisal costs
In the event the board of directors agrees to accept the real estate, for The Fuller Center For Housing’s internal gift crediting and accounting purposes, the value of the gift will be the appraised value of the real estate.
LIFE INSURANCE
- The Fuller Center For Housing will accept life insurance policies as gifts only when The Fuller Center For Housing is named as the owner and beneficiary of 100% of the policy.
- If the policy is a paid-up policy, the value of the gift for The Fuller Center For Housing’s gift crediting and accounting purposes is the policy’s replacement cost.
- If the policy is partially paid up, the value of the gift for The Fuller Center For Housing’s gift crediting and accounting purposes is the policy’s cash surrender value. (Note: For IRS purposes, the donor’s charitable income tax deduction is equal to the interpolated terminal reserve)
PLANNED GIFTS
The Fuller Center For Housing may offer, from time to time, the following planned gift options:
- Charitable gift annuities
- Deferred gift annuities
- Bequests
Charitable Gift Annuities
- Administrative fees shall be paid from the income earned on the charitable gift
annuity.
- There shall be no more than 2 income beneficiaries on a charitable gift annuity.
- The minimum gift accepted to establish a charitable gift annuity is $10,000.
- The Fuller Center For Housing has established a restricted gift annuity fund for
the investment of gift annuity amounts. The Fuller Center For Housing invests
the entire gift in order to ensure adequate reserves to cover estimated future
liabilities related to the annuity agreement and as required by the various state
insurance/securities laws.
- No income beneficiary for a charitable gift annuity shall be younger than 65 years old.
Deferred Gift Annuities
- Administrative fees shall be paid from the income earned on the charitable gift annuity.
- There shall be no more than 2 beneficiaries on a deferred gift annuity.
- The minimum gift accepted to establish a deferred gift annuity is $10,000.
- No income beneficiary for a deferred gift annuity shall be younger than 35 years
old.
- The Fuller Center For Housing follows the American Council on Gift Annuities
suggested rates.
Bequests
- Assets transferred through bequests that have immediate value to The Fuller Center For Housing or can be readily liquidated shall be encouraged by the development staff. Gifts that appear to require more cost than benefit shall be discouraged or rejected.
- Donor restrictions and designations on the use of bequests will be followed under
all reasonable circumstances. Ultimately, decisions on use are made by the
Board of Directors of The Fuller Center For Housing.
Additionally, Charitable Remainder Trusts will be considered on a case by case basis.
ENDOWMENT FUNDS
- The Fuller Center For Housing may, from time to time, consider accepting gifts
and bequests restricted to endowment.
- The minimum endowment gift accepted is $25,000.
- Donors shall receive, upon request, an annual report detailing the investment
performance and use of the fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES
The Fuller Center For Housing shall not act as an executor for a donor’s estate nor shall it act as a trustee for any trust other than, in an appropriate circumstance such as a charitable remainder trust when The Fuller Center For Housing is the sole remainder beneficiary.
This is the current Gift Acceptance Policy of The Fuller Center For Housing as of this __
day of ______, 20____.
______
Secretary