Boys & Girls Club of Snohomish County (BGCSC) is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and stewardship in the acceptance of charitable gifts. This Gift Acceptance Policy outlines the principles, procedures, and restrictions governing the acceptance of gifts, ensuring alignment with our mission and compliance with applicable laws and ethical standards.

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to staff, board members, volunteers, and donors regarding the types of gifts BGCSC can accept, the review and approval process for certain gifts, and the responsibilities associated with stewardship and donor relationships.

Gift Acceptance Policy

Donations and other forms of support will generally be accepted from individuals, partnerships, corporations, foundations, government agencies, or other entities.

Alignment with Mission: All gifts must support the mission, vision, and values of BGCSC and should not compromise the organization’s integrity or reputation. BGCSC will solicit and accept gifts that are consistent with its mission and that support its core programs, special projects, and long-term investments.

Legal and Ethical Compliance: Gifts will be accepted in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, and in accordance with the highest ethical standards.

Right to Decline Gifts: BGCSC reserves the right to decline any gift that is inconsistent with its mission, could result in adverse consequences, or would place undue burden on the organization.

The Finance Committee of the Board will review gifts when necessary or in accordance with this policy and will seek advice from legal counsel in relation to gift acceptance when appropriate.

Types of Gifts

Cash and Cash Equivalents: Accepted in any form, including checks, credit cards, and electronic transfers.

Publicly Traded Securities: Accepted and typically liquidated upon receipt.

Real Estate: Accepted subject to review and approval by the Finance Committee. Environmental assessments and title searches may be required.

Personal Property (Tangible and Intangible): Such as artwork, vehicles, equipment, or intellectual property, accepted only if they can be used by or readily converted to cash for the benefit of BGCSC. Extraordinary tangible personal property will need to be reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee.

Planned Gifts: Including bequests, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, life insurance policies, and retirement plan beneficiary designations, subject to appropriate review.

In-Kind Gifts: Non-cash gifts of goods or services that support the organization’s mission.

Naming Rights and Endowments

BGCSC will accept gifts to create for naming rights and named endowments for specific purposes. BGCSC reserves the right to remove the name if the individual or entity is found to have engaged in unethical behavior or broken the law, and this is deemed to negatively impact the organization.

Building Naming Rights: Buildings owned and operated by BGCSC may enter into a contract with a donor to name a specific clubhouse. The Board will review and approve naming of a building after recommendation from the Finance Committee in partnership with the Chief Executive Officer, Vice President of Resource Development, and Unit Director.

Room or Space Naming Rights: A specific room or space within a clubhouse may be named for or by an individual. Finance Committee will review and approve naming of a room or space based on the recommendation from the Vice President of Resource Development in partnership with the Unit Director.

Named Endowments: Named endowments can be established with a minimum gift of $10,000 with a commitment to get to $50,000 within 5 years.

• Named endowments can support a specific, restricted purpose that aligns with the organization’s mission, such as funding a specific program or scholarship. If the restriction is outside a current program, the purpose will be reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee.
• The name of the fund can be associated with the endowment in development publications and other appropriate places, unless the donor requests otherwise.
• If the endowment is not fully funded within the five year term, the balance of the fund will be invested in the general operating endowment fund of BGCSC.

Gift Acknowledgement

All gifts to BGCSC will be acknowledged in a timely manner and in accordance with IRS regulations and Washington State law.

• Donors are responsible for substantiating the value of their gifts for tax purposes.
• BGCSC will provide appropriate letters of acknowledgment.
• Appraisals for non-cash gifts are the responsibility of the donor.

This policy will be reviewed periodically by the board of directors and updated as needed to ensure compliance with legal requirements and best practices.