INTRODUCTION

The Center for Societal Aspiration (CSACO) is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. The purpose of the CSACO Development Policies is to establish the code of conduct for development/fundraising activities. All individuals or entities involved in development/fundraising activities, whether they are board members, staff, vendor/3rd party, and/or volunteers, have a responsibility to donors, to the organization, and to the mission that is being supported, to adhere to the department code of conduct.

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The mission of the organization is “to provide comprehensive health-based care to foster growth in the essential elements of the livelihood of individuals and their societies while nourishing a healthy, conscientious, and equitable relationship between a society and all of its people.”  

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The vision of the organization is “until everyone is able to access their human potential and live their purpose. Until every society is designed for the prosperity of all people.”

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The philosophy of care of the organization “Our care will always be based in cultivating prosperous individuals and societies, while prioritizing agency, privacy, and equity. Our care embodies a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary model, evidence and data-based practices, and a stakeholder approach.”

 

ORGANIZATION AND COORDINATION

The Chief Executive Officer and the Development Department are responsible for the organization, implementation and management of campaigns for obtaining gift support from donors including individuals, members, board members, volunteers and staff, corporations and foundations for the annual fund, restricted funds, capital purposes, special events and planned gifts to support the CSACO. The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Development Officer are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Development Policies. Any amendments to the Development Policies will be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Development Officer for final acceptance.

  

POLICY 1. DONATION ACCEPTACE

The CSACO accepts donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, religious organizations, government agencies and other entities that shall be used to further CSACO’s mission, strategic plan and program objectives. The CSACO encourages donors to make undesignated and unrestricted donations whenever possible to allow CSACO to direct donations to the areas and programs of greatest need. The CSACO does not condone, by accepting a donation, the product, service or philosophy of the donor. Commitments will be publicly recognized and/or commemorated consistent with the donor’s wishes and the guidelines approved by the Development Policies. Requests by donors for anonymity will be honored. Permission to publicly recognize a donor and their gift will be assumed unless otherwise requested.

All CSACO staff and those involved in gift acceptance on behalf of the CSACO, is to inform, guide or otherwise assist the donor in fulfilling their philanthropic wishes, but never to pressure or unduly influence such a decision. All prospective donors are advised to consult their own attorney and/or tax advisor regarding all aspects of their proposed gifts, whether as an outright gift or by bequest, trust agreement, contract or by other means. The CSACO’s staff and board will not act as an advisor to the donor regarding the drafting of wills, trust agreements or other estate planning issues because of the potential conflict of interest.

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TYPES OF GIFTS

1. Unrestricted (Annual Fund) Gifts

• Unrestricted gifts to the CSACO are to be used or made available for current operations and are included as part of the CSACO's overall budget that is approved by the Finance Department and then the Board of Directors. The Annual Fund Campaign is the fundraising effort responsible for securing unrestricted gift income. Only funds received during the fiscal year, January 1 – December 31, will be reported in the Annual Report for the applicable year. Annual Fund dollars are generally spent in the year in which they are raised. Annual Fund goals are approved by the Board of Directors.

   2. Restricted Gifts

• Restricted gifts are accepted if they are consistent with the CSACO's mission, goals, and programs. Restricted gifts are placed in restricted accounts and used only for the designated purpose of the gift. Due to their restriction, these gifts are not counted toward the Annual Fund goal. All restricted donations are to be used for the purposes for which they are given. Upon acceptance of a restricted donation, there will be no change in the use of that gift or any portion thereof without the donor’s consent. If necessary due to program or organizational changes, alternative uses will be discussed where possible with the donor or the donor’s legal designate(s). If the donor declines to give consent, the gift or portion thereof must be returned. If the original purpose of the donation is no longer relevant or if the donor is deceased/legally incompetent, and CSACO is unable to contact a legal designate, the donation will be used in a manner that is as consistent as possible with the donor’s original intent. Our guidelines for restricted gifts are as follows:

                        

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    3. Capital Gifts

• The CSACO will periodically conduct capital campaigns to meet emerging needs for new construction, renovation, and major equipment. The Chief Executive Officer establishes the goals for each campaign.

    4. Special Events

• The CSACO will periodically conduct special fundraising events to benefit established programs at the CSACO. These events require prior approval by the Chief Executive Officer.

    5. Corporate Matching Gifts

• Through corporate matching gift programs, a donor's employer may double, and in some cases triple, a donor's personal gift. Matching gifts from employers will be combined with a donor's personal gift for purposes of recognition, gift club membership and named gift opportunities, unless it is against the stated policy of the employer. Employers will also be recognized for their matching contributions.

    6. Sponsorships

• Sponsorship is defined as a mutually beneficial business arrangement between CSACO and a funder or provider of resources that results in the exchange of benefit and value related to visibility, exposure or increased market reach.

• Sponsorships include initiatives that further a funder’s corporate social responsibility and marketing objectives while advancing CSACO’s development and marketing objectives. A sponsorship can include cash contributions, in-kind donations and donations of service. In such cases, the contribution made by the funder no longer qualifies as a charitable donation and is deemed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a commercial arrangement, and therefore does not warrant a tax acknowledgement letter.

    7. Deferred Gifts

• The CSACO accepts donations in the form of “deferred gifts” such as bequests, life insurance, retirement plans and other gift vehicles that may be categorized as a gift in the future. No verbal pledges will be recognized as having been made. Either a signed pledge or letter of intent must be in the possession of the CSACO before a pledge is recorded. The normal pledge payment period for gifts to a campaign will be three to five years. Permanent donor recognition will be based upon the full payment of pledge commitments within the allotted pledge period. Gift arrangements, such as multi-year pledges, must be approved by the Board of Directors. The CSACO strongly recommends all donors seek advice from professional advisors.

    8. Charitable Trusts

• The CSACO will accept gifts of a beneficial interest in charitable trusts upon the approval of the Development Department. The Development Department may seek the advice of legal counsel before entering into an agreement with a donor or accepting a gift of this nature. The CSACO will not act as trustee of a charitable trust. Deferred gifts will be counted at the present value of the CSACO's interest.

    9. Bequests

• The CSACO will accept testamentary bequests. Upon notification of a bequest intention, the donor will be identified as a member of The Heritage Circle.

• A contingent bequest plans for the situation in which the beneficiary of a bequest dies before the donor or disclaims the property. In anticipation of such an occurrence, the donor names the CSACO as the alternate or contingent beneficiary. This will ensure that the property will pass to the CSACO rather than to unintended beneficiaries.

• A restricted bequest is for a specific purpose and should be made in the broadest terms possible consistent with the donor’s interests to guard against the possibility of the purpose of the gift becoming obsolete.

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POLICY 2. DECLINING OR RETURNING DONATIONS

 

DECLINGING DONATIONS

CSACO reserves the right to decline a donation if, but not limited to:

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The decision to accept or decline a gift rests with the Chief Executive Officer unless it might expose CSACO to liability, is precedent setting or involves sensitive matters, in which case the final decision rests with the Board of Directors.

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RETURNING DONATIONS

In certain circumstances, it may be necessary for CSACO to return a previously accepted donation, if for example but not limited to:

 

 

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If a donation or prospective donation might conflict with the CSACO’s development policies, mission, vision, or philosophy of care, then the donation or donor will be referred to Chief Executive Officer for further evaluation. Following this further evaluation, if there are still concerns then the matter will be brought to the attention of the Board of Directors for a final decision.

 

POLICY 3. DONATION ADMINISTRATION

The following procedures relate to the types of gifts typically received by the CSACO. It is understood that special gifts or circumstances may require a case-by-case review and may not be covered by this policy. CSACO encourages gifts in addition to cash or in lieu of cash. When tax consequences are a factor, donors will be advised to contact their own legal and/or tax counselors.

1. Cash

• Unrestricted gifts in the form of cash and checks shall be accepted by the CSACO regardless of amount unless, as with any gift, there is a question as to whether the donor has sufficient title to the assets or is mentally competent to legally transfer the funds. Checks can be made payable to “Center for Societal Aspiration” or “CSACO”. In no event shall a check be made payable to an employee, agent or volunteer who represents the CSACO.

    2. Securities

• The Finance Department processes all gifts of securities given to the CSACO for any purpose and the Development Office records and acknowledges all gifts of securities. CSACO has a relationship with a local brokerage firm that handles the transfer of securities to CSACO.

• Gifts of securities are made to the CSACO via electronic transfer. A gift of securities is considered complete on the date it is received in the CSACO's account. If actual shares are delivered to the CSACO, the gift is considered complete on the post-marked date of the mailing or the date of delivery.

• The CSACO values securities by averaging the high and low sales price of the security on the date of a gift in accordance with applicable U.S. federal income tax law. This averaging can cause the value of a gift to be slightly different from the actual sales price.

• Upon written request by the donor of securities and the approval of the Development Department, the CSACO may agree to hold the stocks as transferred for a designated period of time. In this case, the CSACO willingly assumes all risks concerning potential benefit or loss due to changing stock values as the stock is retained rather than sold.

    3. In-Kind Goods

• Gifts in-kind are accepted if they are consistent with the mission of the CSACO.

    4. In-Kind Services

• Gifts of service are contributions of actual, billable service directly related to the business or profession of the provider. Gifts of services will be recognized at the level of actual expenses invoiced but not to be paid. In-Kind Services are not considered tax deductible by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and therefore does not warrant a tax acknowledgement letter.

    5. Gifts of Tangible Personal Property

• Gifts of tangible personal property should be reviewed with special care to ensure that they will not involve any financial or contingent liability. As stipulated in current federal or state tax law, the CSACO will issue a receipt for the item donated, but it is the responsibility of the donor to place a value on the gift. In order for property gifts to be recognized, complete transfer of ownership must have occurred. The donor is required to complete IRS Form 8283 in order to claim income tax deductions.

    6. Life insurance

• Gifts of life insurance will be accepted upon approval of the Development Department. The CSACO must be named both beneficiary and irrevocable owner of a paid-up insurance policy before it can be recorded as a gift. The CSACO will recognize a donor for the cash surrender value of the policy.

   7. Real Property

• The CSACO welcomes gifts of real property as a means of providing for the current and future support of the CSACO. The CSACO wishes to allow maximum flexibility for itself and donors in the acceptance of gifts of real property, but also recognizes that certain unique issues associated with real property require the establishment of clear guidelines for acceptance of such gifts. As such, gifts of real property will customarily be handled through the Development Department.

• Gifts of real property may be accepted after a thorough review by the Development Department of the following relevant facts:

 

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• Other factors that may be relevant to the particular property of the CSACO:

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    8. Life Estate

• Gifts of property with retained life interests for up to two people may be accepted in accordance with the terms above for Real Property. A charitable contribution deduction for a gift of a life estate is available only for a gift of a personal residence or interest in a farm. It is the responsibility of the donor to pay all property taxes, insurance, and maintenance on the gifted property.

• Appraisal Requirements:

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POLICY 4. DONATION ACKNOWLEGEMENT AND RECEIPTS

It is the responsibility of the CSACO to officially record, receipt, and acknowledge all gifts to the CSACO. All gifts should be processed by the CSACO before being deposited to any CSACO account. Gift and pledge receipts will be dated, recorded, and mailed to the donor. The Development Office and the Finance Office will regularly reconcile accounts. Donor anonymity will be respected whenever desired. The Chief Development Officer or the Chief Executive Officer personally acknowledges all annual fund and capital campaign gifts, and depending on the level of gift, volunteers also assist with thanking the donor. Special event contributions are acknowledged by the CSACO. The CSACO will comply with current U.S. tax laws regarding tax deductibility. Receipts will be provided for all donors and any benefits provided to the donor that exceed the IRS' "insubstantial benefit" definition will be clearly stated. When other tax consequences are a factor, donors will be advised to contact their own legal and/or tax counselors.

1. Memorial and tribute gifts are acknowledged via a special acknowledgement to the donor and an acknowledgement to the next of kin or the tribute honoree, if requested.

2. Gifts of real or personal property are acknowledged by a letter that describes the property.

3. Standardized communication formats are used wherever possible, with appropriate personalization depending on signatory.

4. When necessary, individualized or unique communication will be sent.

5. Each acknowledgement includes:

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​POLICY 5. DONATION SOLICITATION

All donations solicited on behalf of CSACO shall be used to further its mission and follow the development  policies, in keeping with Internal Revenue Service guidelines and any other applicable guidelines.

CSACO’s fundraising and solicitation activities will comply with federal, state and local laws.

CSACO shall attempt to avoid accepting a gift from a prospective donor which would knowingly place a hardship on the donor or place the donor’s future well-being into jeopardy.

As part of CSACO’s commitment to ethical fundraising practices, all fundraising activities conducted by or on behalf of the organization must:

 

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POLICY 6. DONOR PRIVACY

CSACO places a high priority on protecting the privacy of donors, supporters and others with whom it interacts. It values the trust of its donors and supporters and recognizes that maintaining this trust requires that it be accountable and transparent in how it treats shared information. This privacy policy was created in order to demonstrate CSACO’s firm commitment to the privacy of our donors. The personal information of CSACO’s donors and supporters is always held in confidence and any use or disclosure of this information is subject to consent. CSACO does not sell or share donor lists. CSACO obtains explicit written permission from donors before publicly acknowledging them i.e. in the annual report, on the website, etc. Donors are entitled to request a copy of the information CSACO has on record about their giving.

 

POLICY 7. DONOR BILL OF RIGHTS

1. All donors and prospective donors have the right to know CSACO’s mission and the way in which CSACO uses its resources. All fundraising solicitations by or on behalf of CSACO will disclose the organization’s name and the purpose for which the funds are requested. Printed solicitations (however transmitted) will also include CSACO’s address or other contact information.

2. Donors and prospective donors are entitled to the following, promptly upon request:

 

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​​    3. Donors and prospective donors are entitled to know, upon request, whether an individual soliciting funds on behalf of              CSACO is a volunteer, an employee, or a consultant/freelance fundraiser working on behalf of CSACO.

    4. Donors will be encouraged in writing to seek independent advice if CSACO has any reason to believe that a proposed            gift might significantly affect the donor’s financial position, taxable income, or relationship with other family members. It          will remain the donor’s responsibility to consider such matters prior to making a gift.

   5. Donors’ requests to remain anonymous will be respected as far as is legally, practically, and ethically possible.

   6. Donors’ must receive appropriate tax acknowledgement to the extent allowed by law.

   7. The privacy of donors will be respected. Any donor records that are maintained by CSACO will be kept confidential to              the greatest extent possible. Donors have the right to see their own donor record, and to challenge its accuracy.

   8. Donors and prospective donors will be treated with respect. Every effort will be made to honor their requests to:

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    9. Donors have the right to have their donations allocated to a specific area and CSACO will meet these requests, where            possible and appropriate in order to fulfill our mission.

 10. CSACO will respond promptly to a complaint by a donor or prospective donor about any matter that is addressed in its          policies. A designated member of development will attempt to satisfy the complainant’s concerns.

 

POLICY 8. THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS/VENDORS

All third-party fundraisers or consultants that provide development services to CSACO are subject to abide by CSACO’s development policies and guidelines.

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All third-party fundraisers or consultants that provide development services to CSACO will be compensated by a salary, retainer, or fee, and will not be paid finders’ fees, commissions, or other payments based on either the number of gifts received, or the value of funds raised.

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COMPLIANCE WITH IRS LAWS

1. Form 8283 and Qualified Appraisals

• Donors must file IRS Form 8283 with their income tax returns if the amount of their income tax deduction for all noncash gifts is more than $500. A qualified appraisal generally is required if a claimed deduction for an item or group of similar items is valued at more than $5,000. The donor will pay for all such appraisals. The CSACO will require a qualified appraisal for all gifts of real property.

    2. Form 8282

• The CSACO will file IRS Form 8282 if any charitable deduction property (which is defined as property valued at $5,000 or more per item or group of similar items and does not include publicly traded securities) is sold, exchanged or disposed of by the CSACO within three years after the donor contributed such property. The Secretary/Treasurer will sign all IRS Forms requiring execution by the CSACO.

 

AMENDMENTS

Development policies will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure CSACO is staying current with best practices in nonprofit development. Any amendments or alterations to development policies shall be reviewed with the Board of Directors and senior staff for a final decision. These policies shall also be reviewed upon the enactment or promulgation of legislation or regulatory rules affecting fundraising and gift acceptance by the CSACO, to assure continued compliance by the CSACO with relevant legislation and rules.