We gratefully accept many types of gifts so you can choose an option that works for your interests and circumstances. Our gift acceptance policy outlines the types of gifts we accept and the guidelines we follow in managing them.
Gift Acceptance Policy
Types of Gifts We Accept (Download our Gift Acceptance Policy for full details.)
- Cash gifts to Achieve Twin Cities or Minneapolis Public Schools (cash, checks and credit card gifts)
- Publicly Traded Securities
- Non-Traditional Investments
- Real Estate
- Gifts-in-Kind (Tangible Personal Property)
Gift Pledges: Donors may commit to future gifts ("pledges"), which Achieve Twin Cities will generally treat as gifts of cash. A donor who commits to a future gift of $1,000 or more may sign a pledge agreement. Reminders are sent yearly.
Current Use Gifts: Outright, current use gifts are those given to Achieve Twin Cities in which the donor retains no interest. They may be either restricted or unrestricted in purpose.
Tribute and Memorial Gifts: When tribute and memorial gifts are received by Achieve Twin Cities, our staff will notify the person being honored or next of kin of the deceased individual being memorialized. Please make sure to include this information with your gift so we can appropriately acknowledge your tribute or memorial gift.
Bequests: If you make a bequest to Achieve Twin Cities, please notify our staff about your intent and provide required documents relating to probate matters, including notices of hearings, wills, documentary evidence of assets and forms of receipt for distribution as assets. Acknowledgment of a testamentary gift is generally made after distribution from the estate. In some cases, however, acknowledgment prior to receipt may be appropriate.
Gifts in Kind, Planned Gifts and Other Giving Options: We welcome gifts of securities, real estate, insurance, real property and tangible personal property. Please notify us if you are making Achieve Twin Cities a beneficiary on any of your accounts.
Endowment Gifts: Achieve Twin Cities may approve the establishment of a special purpose endowment fund upon receipt of gifts or commitments that meet an approved funding level ($25,000 minimum) and criteria established for the endowment. Because conditions can change over time, all endowment instruments contain a contingency clause.
Required Documentation: Checks and on-line electronic donations need no further indication of donor intent. All other gifts must be clearly identified as gifts by the donor. Gifts must also be accompanied by other documentation as required by applicable state and federal law.
Processing and Acknowledging Gifts: Achieve Twin Cities maintains sound internal controls, including:
- Electronically depositing checks to the organization’s bank account immediately upon receipt and then stamping the check as “electronically deposited”
- Storing processed checks in a locked file for two months and then shredding them
- Reconciling deposits to ensure they are credited to the proper account
- Where credit card payments for events are accepted, obliterating the credit card number from any copies of source documents after providing the original documents to Achieve Twin Cities
- Thank you letters are mailed or sent electronically within seven days of gift receipt
Final Approval, Acceptance and Execution by Achieve Twin Cities: Documents effectuating the acceptance of all gifts, the creation of endowment programs and the transfer of real or tangible personal property to Achieve Twin Cities must be approved by legal counsel and executed by the CEO.
Conflicts of Interest: There may be a conflict of interest if a gift is placed in a fund in which the recipient retains control of expenditures (e.g., if an Achieve Twin Cities employee or board member makes a gift in support of a project or department that the said employee or Board member administers). In such cases, these gifts should be assigned to an account over which the CEO has signature authorization that is not shared by the designated recipient.
Tax Advice: Achieve Twin Cities cannot offer tax advice to would-be donors. Donors who are concerned about tax deductibility of donations should consult with their own tax or financial advisers.
Download Our Gift Acceptance Policy
