Purpose
Midland’s Open Door gratefully accepts charitable gifts that support its mission of providing shelter, meals, care, and hope to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, hunger, and crisis. This policy provides guidance for the acceptance, administration, and stewardship of charitable contributions.

General Principles

  1. All gifts must be consistent with the mission, values, and priorities of Midland’s Open Door.
  2. The organization reserves the right to decline any gift that:
  • Conflicts with its mission or values;
  • Creates undue financial, legal, administrative, or operational burdens;
  • Jeopardizes its tax-exempt status;
  • Damages its reputation; or
  • Includes unacceptable restrictions or conditions.
  1. The organization will not knowingly accept gifts derived from illegal activities.
  2. Donors are encouraged to seek independent legal, tax, and financial advice regarding their gifts.

Authority to Accept Gifts
The Executive Director may accept routine gifts, including cash, checks, electronic donations, publicly traded securities, and customary in-kind donations.

Board of Directors or Executive Committee approval is required for:

  • Real estate gifts;
  • Planned gifts with significant restrictions;
  • Closely held business interests;
  • Cryptocurrency;
  • Gifts involving ongoing liabilities or substantial maintenance obligations;
  • Significant restricted gifts that may materially affect operations.

Acceptable Gifts
The organization may accept:

  • Cash and cash equivalents;
  • Publicly traded securities;
  • In-kind donations useful to the mission and in safe, usable condition;
  • Planned gifts, including bequests, beneficiary designations, trusts, annuities, retirement assets, and life insurance designations;
  • Real estate, subject to appropriate review and approval.

Restricted Gifts
Donors may restrict gifts for purposes consistent with the organization’s mission. If a restriction becomes impractical, impossible, or inconsistent with the mission, the Board may redirect the gift to a purpose that most closely reflects the donor’s original intent and complies with applicable law.

Donor Recognition and Confidentiality
The organization may recognize donors publicly unless anonymity is requested. Donor information will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law and will not be sold or shared except as required for lawful operations or with donor permission.

Gift Acknowledgment and Valuation
The organization will provide acknowledgments and receipts in accordance with IRS requirements. Midland’s Open Door does not assign values to non-cash gifts; valuation and any required appraisals remain the responsibility of the donor.

Ethical Standards
Midland’s Open Door will comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing charitable contributions and fundraising activities and will seek to honor donor intent while exercising faithful stewardship of entrusted resources.

Naming Opportunities
Naming opportunities for facilities, programs, or major assets require Board approval. The organization reserves the right to modify or remove naming recognition if circumstances arise that could harm the organization’s mission or reputation.

Policy Review
This policy shall be reviewed periodically by the Board of Directors and amended as necessary.

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