Gift Acceptance Policy

Acceptance of any contribution, gift or grant is at the discretion of Starr King School for the Ministry (hereafter referred to as SKSM). SKSM will not accept any gift unless it can be used or expended consistently with the purpose and mission of SKSM.

No irrevocable gift, whether outright or life-income in character, will be accepted if under any reasonable set of circumstances the gift would jeopardize the donor’s financial security.

SKSM will refrain from providing advice about the tax or other treatment of gifts and will encourage donors to seek guidance from their own professional advisors to assist them in the process of making their gifts.

SKSM will respect the intent of the donor relating to the desire to remain anonymous. With respect to anonymous gifts, SKSM will restrict information about the donor to only those staff members with a need to know.

SKSM will accept donations of cash or publicly traded securities. Gifts of in-kind services will be accepted at the discretion of SKSM.

Certain other gifts, real property, personal property, in-kind gifts, non-liquid securities, and contributions whose sources are not transparent or whose use is restricted in some manner, must be reviewed prior to acceptance due to the special obligations raised or liabilities they may pose for SKSM.

SKSM will respect the intent of the donor relating to gifts for restricted purposes. SKSM will not accept gifts that would result in any unacceptable consequences for SKSM, including but not limited to (a) result in SKSM losing its status as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, (b) are too difficult or too expensive to administer in relation to their value, or (c) are for purposes outside SKSM’s mission. Decisions on the restrictive nature of a gift, and its acceptance or refusal, shall be made by the Finance Committee, in consultation with the President of SKSM and the Vice President for Advancement.

SKSM will not compensate, whether through commissions, finders’ fees, or other means, any third party for directing a gift or a donor to SKSM.

On April 28, 2017 the Board of Trustees of Starr King School for the Ministry adopted this Gift Acceptance Policy.