TIN# 26-0659245
As a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization Trinity Christian High School (“TCHS”) relies on charitable contributions to fulfill its mission. TCHS, in soliciting or accepting gifts, shall clearly represent the organization’s policies and mission, which might pertain to this exchange and honor all statements about the use of the contribution. TCHS shall always disclose to potential donors important and relevant information. Every gift will be promptly acknowledged, and donors will be informed of how the gift will be recognized.
Specific requests about acknowledgment will be honored consistent with TCHS’s practices and policies. TCHS reserves the right to refuse a gift if it is determined to be in conflict with the School’s mission. This policy pertains to sponsored and/or collaborating projects of TCHS as well. Donors will be advised:
1. Your contribution may be designated for a specific program or it may be left undesignated, available for meeting the High School’s highest priorities. If you wish your gift to be restricted, you must indicate your preference in a cover letter. Designated gifts must be approved for acceptance by the Head of School.
2. The TCHS School Board may remove any restrictions on gifts when it is in the school’s best interest to do so.
3. TCHS will not, in most cases, assume any indebtedness in connection with a gift. Exceptions must be approved on a case -by-case basis by the School Board.
4. Contributions must support and enhance the mission and purpose of TCHS. Contributions, which subject the organization to burdensome or unusual restrictions, will not be accepted.
5. Associated expenses with the conveyance of a gift made to TCHS are to be borne by the donor.
6. TCHS will assume that donors rely on their own personal advisors for tax, legal, financial and other advice concerning their gifts.
Gifts of Cash:
TCHS will accept gifts of cash to support the mission of the organization. Your contribution may be designated for a specific program or it may be left undesignated, available for meeting the school’s highest priorities. If you wish your gift to be restricted, you must indicate your preference in a cover letter. Designated gifts must be approved for acceptance by the Head of School.
Gifts of Equipment/Furniture:
TCHS will accept gifts of new or used equipment/furniture that are determined to be of use to the School. The Head of School shall make that determination.
Gifts of Airline Tickets or Air Miles:
TCHS will accept gift s of tickets or air miles for travel to be used by staff or board members to attend conferences/meetings as approved by the Head of School.
Gifts of Securities:
TCHS will accept gifts of publicly traded securities, including stocks, mutual funds, municipal and corporate bonds, and treasury bills and notes. TCHS maintains an account at Merrill Lynch for such gifts and suggests that the donor arrange for electronic transfer of the securities to the account. Such gifts will be reviewed by the Audit/Finance Committee and such securities shall be sold immediately upon receipt.
Gifts of Real Estate:
Real estate gifts can include personal residences, rental properties, office buildings, land, and other structures. As real estate can be highly illiquid, costly to maintain, and have pre-existing conditions attached to it, any gifts of real estate will be carefully scrutinized and the decision to accept or decline the gift will be made by the School Board.
The property shall be physically inspected by a representative of TCHS along with a property management consultant. The inspection is to identify any environmental, financial, legal, marketing or public relations risks, hazards or liabilities. If deemed necessary by the consultant, an environmental survey may be recommended before a gift can be accepted. The cost of the survey shall be born by the donor. Upon review of the survey, the consultant shall recommend acceptance or declination of the gift.
Unless otherwise negotiated, gifts of property will be converted into cash at the earliest opportunity keeping in mind current market conditions and the use of property in the accomplishments of the mission of TCHS.
Gift will not be accepted that may expose TCHS to material or personal liabilities as owners of the property.
If property is encumbered by indebtedness, the donor will be requested to provide for the payment of carrying costs until the property is liquidated.
Gifts of Personal Property:
Potential contributions include art, antiques, jewelry, automobiles, etc. TCHS staff or professional advisors, when appropriate, will review the marketability, accurateness of appraisal and capabilities of TCHS to safeguard these assets until liquidation. Serious valuation problems exist in a number of proposed gifts of personal property, especially with art or other “collectibles.” Efforts must be made to obtain a bona fide appraisal or documentation of fair market value before the gift can be accepted.
Gifts of Life Insurance:
A gift of life insurance is a simple way to make a significant gift to TCHS and ensure the ongoing vital work of TCHS. “Whole” or “universal” life insurance often has cash value and can be donated to a charitable organization.
The donor would receive a tax deduction for the replacement cost of the paid-up policy at the time of donation, not for the face value of the life insurance.
If the policy requires continuing premium payments, the donor can continue paying those premiums and get a tax deduction for each payment if it is done in the following manner: gift the policy to TCHS, who then becomes the owner of the policy. The donor then makes annual donations in the amount o f the annual premium costs to TCHS, who then pays the policy. The donor then receives a tax deduction for every contribution for the premium payment.
Donors can also purchase a new policy, naming TCHS as the beneficiary. The premiums and tax benefits would work exactly as listed in the above paragraph.
When planning a gift of life insurance, it is important to consult your own personal tax and legal advisors.
TCHS fully subscribes to the philosophy of philanthropy as developed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits.
“Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
- To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
- To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
- To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
- To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
- To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
- To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
- To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
- To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
- To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
- To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
