2329 - (KCD) Public Gifts/Donations

Gifts from organizations, community groups and/or outside individuals, which will benefit the District, shall be encouraged.    A gift shall be defined as money, real or personal property, and personal services provided without consideration.

Individuals or groups contemplating presenting a gift to a school or the District shall be encouraged to discuss in advance with the Building Principal or the Superintendent what gifts are appropriate and needed.

The Board reserves the right to refuse any gift that does not contribute to the achievement of the District's goals, or in which the ownership of the gift would tend to deplete the resources of the District.    In determining whether a gift will be accepted, consideration shall be given to District Policies, School District goals and objectives (with particular emphasis on the goal of providing equal educational opportunities to all students) and adherence to basic principles outlined in the regulation that accompanies this policy.

The Superintendent may accept gifts subject to the terms of this policy in the amount of $2,500 or less.  The Superintendent will advise the Board in advance of acceptance if possible, or if after acceptance, at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.  Gifts in excess of $2,500 may only be accepted by the Board.    Additionally, pursuant to RSA 198:20-b, III, gifts in the amount of $20,000 or more shall require the Board to hold a public hearing regarding any action to be taken with the gift.    For gifts of less than $20,000, the Board will post notice of the gift in the agenda of the next regularly scheduled Board meeting and will include notice in the minutes of the meeting in which the gift is discussed.    The acceptance of all gifts will be made in public session.

Any gift accepted shall become the property of the district, may not be returned without the approval of the Board, and is subject to the same controls and regulations as are other properties of the District.    The Board shall be responsible for the maintenance of any gift it accepts.

At the time of acceptance of the gift, there will be a definite understanding with regard to the use of the gift, including whether it is intended for the use of one particular school or all schools in the District.    The Board will make every effort to honor the intent of the donor in its use of the gift, but reserves the right to utilize any gift it accepts in the best interest of the educational program of the District.    In no case shall acceptance of a gift be considered to be an endorsement by the Board of a commercial product, business enterprise or institution of learning.

It is the responsibility of the Superintendent or designee to process the appropriate forms to update the District's inventory and to notify the donor of acceptance or rejection of a gift.

Active solicitation of gifts to be received by the District, including by any school, classroom, or extra/co-curricular program in the District, through online crowd funding or donor web sites (e.g, donorschoose.org, classful.com, etc.)  must be approved in accordance with Board policy 2341 (DFGA).  

Related Policies:

2341 (DFGA) Crowdfunding, 2339 (JJE) Student Fund-Raising Activities

Adopted: 11/1976

Revised:  6/1994, 9/1999, 6/2010, 12/2015, 5/2024