Donations and Giving Programs
The Donations and Giving Programs domain tests the request process end to end: who qualifies, what the organization must submit, what it receives, and what you may and may not promise on behalf of the giving program.
Eligibility
- Most programs give only to registered nonprofits with a valid EIN, plus schools and approved civic groups.
- Common exclusions are individuals and families, for-profit businesses, political campaigns, and anything that would imply an endorsement of a product or cause.
- Requests must arrive in writing through the official form, on the organization's letterhead, with event date, purpose, and a contact who can be reached.
Timing and frequency
- Standard lead time is four to six weeks before the event. Late requests are declined, not expedited.
- One award per organization per calendar year is typical, tracked by EIN rather than by the person who submits.
Form of the gift
- Tickets or vouchers, merchandise, or in-kind support are the norm. Cash grants are rare and usually handled by a separate community foundation.
- Vouchers carry an expiration date and normally cannot be resold, upgraded, or exchanged for cash.
- The receiving organization should get an acknowledgment letter stating fair market value so it can receipt its own donors correctly. Only the amount paid above the value of goods received is deductible to a donor.
Worked example
A parent-teacher group asks for four tickets for a silent auction three weeks before the event. Reasoning: a school-affiliated group would normally qualify, so eligibility is not the issue. The request is inside the four-week window, so it falls outside policy. The correct response explains the deadline, invites a properly timed request for next year, and does not promise an exception that only the program manager could approve.
Traps that cost marks
- Promising cash because the requester asks for it.
- Accepting a phone request without the written form, letterhead, or EIN.
- Telling a donor the full ticket value is tax-deductible.
- Approving an individual's medical or memorial fundraiser under a program limited to organizations.