Gift Acceptance Policy
The Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, Inc. is a not-for-profit organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and is exempt as a public charity under Section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Service. Mountain Association encourages the solicitation and acceptance of gifts for purposes that will further and fulfill its mission to invest in people and places in Eastern Kentucky to build a new economy and brighter future.
This Gift Acceptance Policy establishes guidelines for the acceptance of charitable
contributions to provide clarity to donors and the organization, and to ensure that all gifts support the Mountain Association’s mission and can be administered efficiently and responsibly.
Overview
The Mountain Association welcomes charitable contributions that fall within its acceptable forms of giving to support the organization’s charitable purposes. The organization reserves the right to decline any gift that is inconsistent with its mission, values, legal requirements, or administrative capabilities.
Acceptable Forms of Gifts
To maintain efficient gift processing procedures, the Mountain Association will accept
contributions only in the following forms:
- Electronic Payments: Online donations processed through approved payment
platforms, Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT), Automated Clearing House (ACH)
payments, and wire transfers. - Checks: Personal, business, cashiers, and certified checks.
- Cash: U.S. currency delivered in person or through approved donation channels
- Charitable gifts distributed from donor-advised funds (DAFs) and private
foundations.
Unacceptable Forms of Gifts
The Mountain Association does not accept the following types of gifts:
- Real estate or interests in real property
- Securities, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or cryptocurrency
- Tangible personal property, equipment, vehicles, or inventory
- Planned gifts, trusts, charitable gift annuities, or bequests requiring ongoing
administration - Gifts which are permanently restricted or outside of current organizational strategic plans.
- Any gift that may create legal, financial, reputational, or administrative burdens for the organization
Gift Review
Mountain Association’s Chief Advancement Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in accordance with the President, will review and accept or refuse gifts in question as dictated within this policy. Any proposed contribution that raises legal, ethical, compliance, or operational concerns may be declined.
Donor Privacy and Gift Acknowledgement
The Mountain Association will hold in strict confidence all information regarding donors and prospective donors. Information regarding the donor’s identity, amount, and description of the gift, and special conditions governing the use of the gift shall not be made public without the donor’s consent. Donors will receive in a timely fashion appropriate written acknowledgment of all contributions in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements.
The Mountain Association reserves the right to amend this Gift Acceptance Policy at any time as needed to support its mission and ensure sound stewardship of charitable contributions
