Nonprofit Gift Acceptance Policy and Unusual Gift Review
Not every gift is appropriate to accept. Some non-cash gifts create costs that exceed their value; others carry reputational risks or problematic restrictions. This checklist supports gift acceptance committee decisions and ensures gift acceptance policies are current.
- Industry: Nonprofit
- Frequency: Per Unusual Gift Review; Policy Review Annually
- Estimated Time: 1-2 hours per unusual gift; 2 hours for annual policy review
- Role: Development Director / Gift Acceptance Committee
- Total Items: 27
Gift Acceptance Policy Review
Review gift acceptance policy currency.
- Written gift acceptance policy adopted by board?
- Policy reviewed and updated within last 3 years?
- Policy lists gift types that will not be accepted?
- Gift acceptance committee or authority structure defined in policy?
- Process for reviewing unusual gifts defined in policy?
Real Estate Gift Assessment
Assess real estate gift suitability.
- Phase I environmental assessment completed for any real estate gift?
- Qualified appraisal of real estate obtained within 60 days before gift?
- Carrying costs (taxes, insurance, maintenance) assessed against expected proceeds?
- Title search confirming clear title (no liens, encumbrances)?
- Marketability and expected time to liquidation assessed?
Securities and Investment Gift Assessment
Assess securities gifts.
- Publicly traded securities to be sold promptly per policy?
- Restricted stock or closely held securities reviewed for marketability?
- Limited partnership interests reviewed for UBTI and administrative burden?
- Any donor instruction to retain securities reviewed for investment policy alignment?
Planned Gift Assessment
Assess planned gifts.
- Bequest designations reviewed for restrictions and conditions?
- Charitable gift annuity state registration requirements met?
- Charitable remainder trust terms reviewed for IRS compliance?
- Any trustee obligations from planned gift understood before acceptance?
Donor Restrictions Assessment
Assess donor restrictions.
- All donor-imposed restrictions achievable within current programs?
- All restrictions documented in written gift agreement signed by both parties?
- Any restrictions reviewed for potential future burden or impossibility?
- Any naming conditions reviewed for organizational acceptability?
Reputational Risk Assessment
Assess reputational risk.
- Source of gift funds reviewed for reputational or legal concerns?
- Donor background reviewed for associations inconsistent with organizational values?
- Any donor expectations of programmatic influence identified and assessed?
- IRS Form 8282 filing obligation understood if donated property sold within 3 years?
- Gift acceptance committee decision documented in meeting minutes?
Related Nonprofit Checklists
- Nonprofit Donor Database Hygiene and Data Quality Audit
- Nonprofit Major Donor Stewardship Program Audit
- Nonprofit Pledge Tracking and Fulfillment Management
- Nonprofit Annual Fund Performance Analysis
- Nonprofit Online Fundraising Platform and Compliance Audit
- Nonprofit Volunteer Training and Certification Compliance
- Nonprofit Facility ADA Accessibility and Inclusion Compliance
- Nonprofit Volunteer Scheduling and Deployment Operations
Related Donor Relations Checklists
- Nonprofit Donor Database Hygiene and Data Quality Audit - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Major Donor Stewardship Program Audit - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Pledge Tracking and Fulfillment Management - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Annual Fund Performance Analysis - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Major Gift Cultivation and Solicitation Strategy - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Donor Acknowledgment and Gift Substantiation Audit - FREE Download
Why Use This Nonprofit Gift Acceptance Policy and Unusual Gift Review?
This nonprofit gift acceptance policy and unusual gift review helps nonprofit teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for development director / gift acceptance committee professionals, this checklist covers 27 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: per unusual gift review; policy review annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Nonprofit Gift Acceptance Policy and Unusual Gift Review cover?
This checklist covers 27 inspection items across 6 sections: Gift Acceptance Policy Review, Real Estate Gift Assessment, Securities and Investment Gift Assessment, Planned Gift Assessment, Donor Restrictions Assessment, Reputational Risk Assessment. It is designed for nonprofit operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed per unusual gift review; policy review annually. Each completion takes approximately 1-2 hours per unusual gift; 2 hours for annual policy review.
Who should use this Nonprofit Gift Acceptance Policy and Unusual Gift Review?
This checklist is designed for Development Director / Gift Acceptance Committee professionals in the nonprofit industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.