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Experience Making a Difference



About IVC

Gift Acceptance Policy

Ignatian Volunteer Corps Policies on Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts:

  1. The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) solicits and accepts gifts that are consistent with its mission and support its core programs or special projects. IVC observes Catholic canonical norms on gift acceptance and rejection.
  2. IVC’s fundraising costs should be reasonable over time. On average, over any 5-year period, IVC should realize revenue from fundraising and other development activities that is at least three times the amount spent on conducting them. If its fundraising ratio is less than 3:1, the Executive Director should demonstrate to the Board of Directors that IVC is making steady progress toward achieving this goal, or should be able to justify why a 3:1 ratio is not appropriate for the organization.
  3. IVC’s solicitations will be accurate, truthful, and candid, and its solicitation materials will follow all federal and state requirements for solicitations.
  4. IVC will honor all statements it makes in its promotional materials about the use of contributions.
  5. Donations will generally be accepted from individuals, partnerships, corporations, foundations, government agencies, or other entities, without restrictions—unless acceptance of gifts from a specific source is inconsistent with IVC’S mission and/or core values.
  6. In the course of its regular fundraising activities, IVC will accept donations of the following: money, securities, real property, and personal property.
  7. Certain types of gifts must be reviewed prior to their being accepted because they will create liabilities or impose special obligations on IVC. The types of gifts that will require review, and the review process, are as follows:
    • Gifts of real property: Land and/or buildings may only be accepted upon approval of the Board of Directors or its designated committee;
    • Gifts of personal property: Personal property such as automobiles, furniture, and business equipment may only be accepted upon approval of the Executive Director;
    • Gifts of securities: Stocks, bonds, or other securities may only be accepted upon approval of the Executive Director;
    • Restricted gifts: Gifts that may only be used for restricted purposes may only be accepted upon approval of the Executive Director;
    • Unusual gifts: Gifts that are out of the ordinary, such that they differ significantly from the amounts or types of gifts that are routinely received by the organization, may only be accepted upon approval of the Executive Director.
  8. IVC may elect to refuse gifts of cash, securities, real estate, or other items of value if there is reason to believe that such gifts are incompatible with the mission of the organization; conflict with its core values; would create a financial, administrative, or programmatic burden; or would otherwise not be advantageous to IVC. The Executive Director is directed to refer questionable gifts to the Board of Directors or to the Board’s Executive Committee for guidance on a case-by-case basis. Employees of the organization are encouraged to bring to the attention of the Executive Director any concerns they may have about the appropriateness of accepting any gift.
  9. IVC may elect to refuse gifts of any type if the potential gift poses a conflict of interest—including but not limited to real conflicts of interest, appearances of conflicts of interest, or perceived conflicts of interest.
  10. When funds are accepted with restrictions, restrictions will be honored.
  11. IVC will generally not share its mailing lists or donor data with any outside organization. Such sharing may be done, however, in exceptional cases but only with the express written approval of the Executive Director.
  12. Requests by donors to remain anonymous, have their names removed from mailing lists, or restrict appeals will be honored.
  13. Information about donors that should be private will not be made public.
  14. Donors will not be subject to excessive pressure when solicited for contributions.
  15. IVC does not pay fundraisers based on a percentage of the amount raised or other commission formula. IVC only hires fundraisers and fundraising counsel who are properly registered with the State of Maryland or other applicable regulatory authorities.
  16. IVC’s Development Director and/or the Executive Director will approve all fundraising activity conducted by any staff, clergy, volunteers, consultants, contractors, board members, and others soliciting on behalf of the organization.
  17. IVC will provide donors with appropriate tax-related documentation.
  18. IVC follows the attached Donor Bill of Rights (developed by American Association of Fund Raising Counsel, Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals).
  19. These policies will be reviewed annually by the Development Committee of the Board of Directors.

Approved by IVC’s Board of Directors on January 23, 2012.