Gift Acceptance Policy

The purpose of these guidelines is to govern acceptance of gifts and provide guidance to donors and their advisors in completing gifts.

Friends of PBS Wisconsin (hereinafter referred to as Friends) is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, and encourages the solicitation and acceptance of gifts for the purposes that advance and fulfill its mission to support the work of PBS Wisconsin. All gifts to Friends will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Executive Director of Friends and the Director of PBS Wisconsin to determine acceptability.

The Friends Executive Director and PBS Wisconsin Director will evaluate all gifts which are subject to donor restrictions, directives, or expenditure requirements, and make a recommendation to the Friends Board of Directors whether to accept or decline gifts that are subject to restrictions. If a gift is accepted, any reasonable directives will be honored.

In addition, the following policies will be in effect:

1. Friends may accept gifts of cash and securities (except as noted below).
2. Friends may accept bequests, retirement plan beneficiary designations, and life insurance beneficiary designations.
3. In collaboration with the Director of PBS Wisconsin, Friends may accept gifts of real estate if a buyer for that real estate has been identified and that buyer is prepared to enter into a contract for the purchase of the real estate, subject to Friends acquiring title and the buyer furnishing a satisfactory Environmental Impact Statement or Friends has received appropriate assurances that such assets can be liquidated within a time frame and upon terms and conditions, including reasonable associated expenses, acceptable to Friends. The buyer or donor shall assume costs associated with the real estate transaction.
4. Friends may accept gifts of tangible personal property, including vehicle donations, to the extent the assets can be liquidated within a time frame and upon terms and conditions, including reasonable associated expenses, acceptable to Friends.
5. Gifts with significant administration, including Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts or Charitable Lead Trusts, will be directed to the University of Wisconsin Foundation, with a designation to PBS Wisconsin through University of Wisconsin Extension, to provide the resources required to effectively manage and maintain the trust.
6. Friends may accept donations of shares of stock of closely held corporations or limited partnership interests to the extent the assets can be liquidated within a time frame and upon terms and conditions, including reasonable associated expenses, acceptable to Friends.