I. Purpose

The purpose of this Gift Acceptance Policy is to establish clear standards governing the acceptance of gifts to Lost Tree Foundation (“the Foundation”). The Foundation is a public charity committed to advancing collective philanthropy among the residents of Lost Tree Village. The Foundation welcomes the generosity of donors who share in our mission to strengthen the community through collaborative, collective philanthropy.

This policy safeguards the Foundation’s integrity while affirming our commitment to stewardship, transparency, and partnership with donors. All gifts are evaluated through a mission‑alignment lens to ensure they enhance community well‑being and advance shared impact. All gifts shall support community‑focused grantmaking efforts and shall not create undue financial, legal, operational, or reputational risk to the Foundation.

II. Scope

This policy applies to all contributions offered to the Foundation by individuals, donor groups, donor advised funds, businesses, or other philanthropic entities. It also governs planned gifts, beneficiary designations, and anonymous gifts, ensuring consistent standards across all forms of giving.

III. General Standards for Acceptance

The Foundation will accept only those gifts that:

• Support and advance the Foundation’s charitable mission.
• Contribute to shared, community‑based grantmaking.
• Do not create private benefit or personal influence for any donor.
• Do not impose excessive administrative, financial, or legal obligations.
• Are consistent with the Foundation’s values, public trust, and operational capacity.

The Foundation reserves the right to decline any gift that does not conform to these standards or that presents ethical, social, or reputational concerns inconsistent with community values or the Foundation’s mission.

IV. Acceptable Gifts

The Foundation may accept the following:

• Cash contributions, including checks, wires, electronic transfers, and credit card transactions.
• Marketable securities that can be readily liquidated.¹
• Grants from foundations, corporations, and donor advised funds.
• Beneficiary gifts from vehicles such as trusts, life insurance policies, IRAs, and similar arrangements.
• Restricted gifts that support collective philanthropic efforts and are approved in writing. ²

The Foundation prioritizes and encourages gifts to the Annual Fund, as they provide maximum flexibility to address evolving community needs. When donors wish to express philanthropic preferences, the Foundation welcomes dialogue to ensure that any restrictions align with the Foundation’s community‑focused grantmaking.

Examples of acceptable restrictions include contributions to Board‑approved community funding pools or initiatives.

V. Prohibited Gifts

The Foundation will not accept:

• Gifts that bring financial or legal risk, including annuities or complex trust structures.
• Real estate or personal property requiring storage, appraisal, or special handling.³
• Cryptocurrency.
• Gifts intended to secure personal influence, control, or recognition.
• Gifts that impose administrative burdens or restrictions inconsistent with the Foundation’s mission.
• Gifts directed to a specific organization rather than the Foundation.

The Foundation may also decline any gift that poses ethical, social, or reputational concerns. When appropriate, staff may recommend other organizations better suited to accept the gift.

VI. Review and Approval

Staff may accept ordinary gifts that fall within acceptable categories. Any other forms of charitable contributions should be reviewed by the Executive Committee.

The following require additional review:

• All gifts require review by the Executive Director.
• Gifts valued at more than $250,000 require review by the Executive Committee or a committee designated by it.
• Gifts involving legal, financial, or reputational complexity may require consultation with legal counsel or financial advisors.
• Anonymous gifts undergo the same due‑diligence review as all other gifts.

The Executive Committee retains final authority to accept or decline any gift.

VII. Donor Intent

Donor intent must be documented in clear written form, which may include signed correspondence, gift agreements, digital communications, or fund‑specific directives. In cases where donor intent is ambiguous or conflicts with the Foundation’s mission, the Executive Director will work with the donor or their representative to obtain clarification. If clarification cannot be reached, the Foundation reserves the right to decline or redirect the gift in accordance with this policy.

VIII. Donor Rights and Responsibilities

The Foundation is committed to transparent communication with donors about how their gifts support community benefit.

The Foundation upholds the following donor rights:

• The right to clear, timely, and accurate information.
• The right to confidentiality and privacy except where disclosure is required by law.
• The right to understand how gifts will be used to support collective community impact.
• The right to receive proper acknowledgment and documentation for tax purposes.

Donors are responsible for securing independent legal or financial advice for complex gifts and for obtaining qualified appraisals for non‑cash contributions when required by law.

IX. Anonymous Gifts

The Foundation accepts anonymous gifts that meet all due‑diligence, compliance, and mission‑alignment requirements. When processing anonymous gifts, the Foundation will implement procedures to maintain confidentiality, including restricting identifying information to only those staff members who require it for compliance and reporting. Anonymous gifts may require additional review by the Executive Director to ensure they meet all legal, ethical, and mission‑alignment standards.

X. Conflicts of Interest

The Foundation is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in all gift‑related activities. Gifts from members of the Board of Trustees, officers, or staff – or from entities or individuals with whom they have a close personal or financial relationship – must be disclosed to the Executive Director and reviewed for potential conflicts of interest. Acceptance of such gifts must not result in preferential treatment, undue influence, or the appearance of impropriety. When appropriate, the Executive Committee may require the affected individual to recuse themselves from discussions or decisions related to the gift.

XI. Recordkeeping and Transparency

The Foundation will ensure proper recording, acknowledgment, and reporting of all gifts in compliance with applicable laws and best practices.

Written gift acknowledgments will be provided within a reasonable timeframe. Donors are responsible for valuing non‑cash contributions for tax purposes; the Foundation will acknowledge receipt of such gifts without assigning a monetary value for the donor.

XII. Review of Policy

This policy shall be reviewed biennially or as otherwise required by the Executive Committee or Board of Trustees.