This policy serves as a guideline for the National Association of Women Artists, Inc.’s (NAWA’s) staff, members of the Executive Board of Directors (the “Board”), volunteers, committee co-chairs, NAWA’s Membership, NAWA’s Chapters, and outside advisors’ who assist in the solicitation process, and prospective donors who wish to make gifts to NAWA of unrestricted, restricted and endowment funds. NAWA actively solicits gifts and grants to further its mission. As gifts can encourage others to give or do the opposite, this gift acceptance policy is intended only as a guide and allows for flexibility on a case-by-case basis.

INFORMATION FOR GIFT GIVER

  • Your contribution may be designated for a specific program or it may be left undesignated, available for meeting NAWA’s highest priorities. If you wish your gift to be restricted, be sure to indicate your preference in a cover letter.
  • NAWA will not, in most cases, assume any indebtedness in connection with a gift. Exceptions to the contrary must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Board of Directors.
  • Contributions must support and enhance the mission and purpose of NAWA. Contributions which subject the organization to burdensome or unusual restrictions will not be accepted.
  • Associated expenses with the conveyance of a gift made to NAWA are to be borne by the donor.
  • NAWA will assume that donors rely on their own personal advisors for tax, legal, financial and other advice concerning their gifts.

GUIDELINES

  • The President of NAWA, the Executive Director, and any Board member, volunteer, staff or member of NAWA or outside contractors approved by the Executive Board so designated, have authority to solicit and/or accept gifts on behalf of NAWA, with gifts of substantial value subject to approval by the Gift Review Committee.
  • The President may establish a Gift Review Committee responsible for recommending whether or not NAWA should accept proposed gifts. The Committee shall consist of no less than three members from the Nominating/Governance Committee and/or the Board of Directors plus the President and Executive Director as non-voting members. The President shall have the authority to appoint other employees or members of NAWA, on an ad hoc basis, who have special expertise that may be needed in order to make a decision on a specific gift.
  • The Gift Review Committee may consider each gift according to its intended use, restrictions, liabilities and financial impact on NAWA now and in the future. Only gifts, bequests, devises, endowments, trusts and similar funds that are designated for the use of NAWA consistent with its stated goals and mission will be considered for acceptance.
  • The Executive Director or gift solicitor will refer to the Gift Review Committee, before acceptance, gifts that are given with unusual restrictions or designations, or have the potential of jeopardizing the tax-exempt status, or violate NAWA’s policies, local, state or federal laws.

TYPES OF GIFTS
– CASH

  • NAWA, regardless of amount, shall accept all gifts by cash, credit card, check or PayPal.
  • Checks shall be made payable to the National Association of Women Artists, Inc., unless otherwise specified. In no event shall a check by made payable to an individual who represents NAWA.
  • Contributions may be designated for a specific program or it may be left undesignated, available for meeting the Agency’s highest priorities. If a gift is restricted, it has to be indicated on check or in a cover letter.

-TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY

  • Gifts of tangible personal property (jewelry, artwork, collections and equipment) will be accepted by NAWA. However, If donors leave such items to NAWA, such property will be used or sold for the benefit of the NAWA, without promise of being held by NAWA.
  • Depending upon the anticipated value of the gift, NAWA may have a qualified outside appraiser value the gift before accepting same.
  • NAWA adheres to all IRS requirements for disposing gifts of tangible personal property and filing appropriate forms.

– PLANNED GIFTS AND MEMORIALS

  • The staff NAWA’s membership, Board members, officers and the chapters shall encourage assets transferred through bequests that have immediate value to NAWA or that can be liquidated. Gifts that appear to require more cost than benefit shall be discouraged or rejected.
  • NAWA may accept and administer bequests and memorials designated for a specific purpose.

-GIFTS OF SECURITIES

  • NAWA will accept gifts of publicly traded securities, included stocks, mutual funds, municipal and corporate bonds, and treasury bills and notes. The staff of NAWA and/or advisors will verify the ownership of the security, handle the transfer of ownership, and establish a value for deferred gift calculation purposes, as well as handle the sale, liquidation and/or investment processes related to securities. Such gifts will be reviewed by the Finance Committee and such securities may be sold immediately upon receipt.

– GIFTS OF REAL ESTATE

  • Real estate gifts can include personal residences, office buildings, land and other structures. As real estate can be highly illiquid, costly to maintain, and have pre-existing conditions attached to it, any gifts of real estate will be carefully scrutinized and the decision to accept or decline the gift will be made by the Board of Directors.
  • The property shall be physically inspected by a representative of NAWA, along with a property management consultant. The inspection is to identify any environmental, financial, legal, marketing or public relations risks, hazards or liabilities. If deemed necessary by the consultant, an environmental survey may be recommended before a gift can be accepted. The cost of the survey shall be born by the donor. Upon review of the survey, the consultant shall recommend acceptance or declination of the gift.
  • Unless otherwise negotiated, gifts of property will be converted into cash at the earliest opportunity keeping in mind current market conditions and the use of property in the accomplishments of the mission of NAWA.
  • If property is encumbered by indebtedness, the donor will be requested to provide for the payment of carrying costs until the property is liquidated.

– ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

  • NAWA and its staff, Board members, officers, members and chapters shall not act as as an Executor or personal representative for a donor’s estate.
  • NAWA may act as a co-trustee of a charitable trust when the trust names NAWA as a beneficiary of 50% or more the trust.
  • NAWA will pay for the drafting of legal documents for a charitable remainder trust of which NAWA is named as a beneficiary of 50% or more of the trust. The donor’s own counsel must review the documents at the donor’s cost.
  • Terms and conditions must be agreed upon before an endowment is established; therefore, the donor must contact NAWA’s Executive Director for appropriate required documentation.
  • In accordance with NAWA’s Investment Policy (refer to Investment account-Bernstein), a suggested minimum contribution of $10,000 is required to establish a named endowment.
  • For restricted and endowed funds, the donor fails to fulfill his/her pledge obligation, or the purpose for which the fund is established becomes illegal, impractical, or no longer meets the needs of NAWA, NAWA may designate an alternative use in the spirit of the donor’s original intent for the gift to further the objectives of NAWA.
  • Members, Officers, Directors, Staff and the Chapters of NAWA, in their respective capacities, may not accept gifts from others doing business, seeking to do business and/or engaged in activities with NAWA valued at more than fifty ($50.00) dollars.

Adopted by the National Association of Women Artists, Inc. (NAWA) Board of Directors at a regular meeting on March 24, 2026. This policy is to be reviewed annually by the Executive Committee.