Business Services

Gift Form Submission Due Date Schedule - 2024-25
Received and Approved By Business	Board Meeting
Friday, November 1, 2024	Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Monday, December 2, 2024	Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Monday, January 6, 2025	Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Friday, January 24, 2025	Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Friday, February 7, 2025	Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Friday, March 28, 2025	Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Friday, May 2, 2025	Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Friday, May 23, 2025	Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Friday, June 6, 2025	Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Submission dates may change.
Additional meetings may be added.

Gift Form - Restricted - Donation is for your site/location only.

Gift Form - Unrestricted - Donation may be used district-wide.

Books or Other Media:

• Prior approval is required before books or media donations may be accepted.
• Submit your list of books or other media that is being donated to Ms. Julie Vasi, Librarian at the District Office. Ms. Vasi’s email is (jvasi@nmusd.us).
• Ms. Vasi will review and obtain approval from an administrator within Education Services.
• Ms. Vasi will communicate with you directly regarding the decision to accept/decline the donation.
• If approved, you may submit your donation form to Veronica Hallman in Business Services.

Musical Instruments:

• Prior approval is required before a musical instrument donation may be accepted.
• All musical instruments must be approved by Ms. Tamara Fairbanks, Arts TOSA.
• You may contact Ms. Fairbanks via email (tfairbanks@nmusd.us) to discuss the potential donation.
• Ms. Fairbanks will communicate with you directly regarding the decision to accept/decline the donation.
• If approved, you may submit your donation form to Veronica Hallman in Business Services.
• Upon Board approval, if the instrument requires a pickup, it is the responsibility of the site to make arrangements with the Warehouse for pickup.

FAQS

Question:
Are books and instructional materials accepted as donations?
Answer:
Gifts of books and instructional materials shall be accepted only if they meet regular district criteria.

Question:
If I receive a grant from a non-profit organization such as an electronic device to be used in the classroom, am I able to take it with me with I transfer to a different site or leave the district?
Answer:
No, all gifts, grants and bequests become district property.  Gifts donated to a specific site stay at that site.

Question:
When should I turn in the Gift Form from the various Foundations, PTAs, etc. that are regarding supplemental salaries?
Answer:
The donations toward salaries will be acknowledged once a year at a May or June board meeting, so please submit those to Business Services in early May. It should include the total dollar amount of the supplemental salary commitment.

Question:
Does the principal need to sign the gift form before sending it to Business Services?
Answer:
Yes, the principal will need to sign the form, as site principals are responsible for knowing what has been donated to their site.

Question:
What is Board Policy 3290?
Answer:
Board Policy 3290 states that any and all gifts, including donations, grants, and bequests received on behalf of the district, and/or its schools must receive formal acceptance from the Board.

Question:
Where can I find the Gift Form?
Answer:
The gift form can be found on the Business Services webpage. When filling out the Gift Form please include the purpose/use of the donation and the model/serial number if applicable. The dollar value and condition (new, used, good, fair) of gifts of equipment/materials shall be determined by the donor.

Question:
Where do I send the completed gift form and how does the donor receive a receipt for tax purposes?
Answer:
Send the signed gift form to Business Services for inclusion on the gift register for the next board meeting.  Gift registers are approved by the Board and proper acknowledgment of the gift will be made to the donor by the Chief Financial Official (these acknowledgment letters may be used by the donor for tax purposes).

Question:
What kinds of donations should be on the Gift Form for approval by the Board?
Answer:
Donations such as technology equipment (computers, monitors, printers, scanners, etc.) that have been pre-approved/assessed by the IT Department. Cash donations for computers, school supplies, field trips, etc. (whether by a parent, business or a PTA, PFO group). Use/Purpose of the cash donations must be approved by appropriate department before receiving the check. NOTE: Purchase of IT/tech equipment with donated funds MUST be purchased through the proper district IT Department channels. Donation of pre-approved/assessed goods that have a value equal to or greater than $500 such as computers, theater equipment, sporting equipment (including scoreboards), pre-school equipment, etc.) must be assigned an asset tag for tracking. (Notify Warehouse of the donation so they can issue the asset tag once it is board approved.) Fundraiser prizes such as bicycles or gift credit to book stores. Musical Instruments that have been pre-approved/assessed by the district’s Music/VAPA TOSA. Office furniture donated by a business, which must first be accepted by the warehouse for assessment of condition and usefulness. Field trips, assembly programs, Target’s “Take Charge of Education”, “Donors Choose” photography studio fundraisers (Fall and Spring rebate programs), and similar programs.

TAX ID NUMBER
When asking for a donation for the site, vendors often ask for the tax ID number.

Question:
What is the district’s tax ID number and how do I get it?
Answer:
The district does not typically give out the tax ID number as government organizations are not required to share their tax ID numbers.  The district is not a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization but enjoys tax-exempt status by virtue of being a government entity.

Question:
My child is enrolled in a State Pre-School Program and my tax advisor is asking for the tax ID number, how do I find it?
Answer:
Please call Fiscal Services at 714 424-5027 to receive this information.

Guidelines

To ensure that the district is not unduly liable for donations, please use the following guidelines. 

When accepting donations for your site, it is necessary to fill out a gift form and send it to Business Services for inclusion on the gift register at the next Board meeting.  Board Policy 3290 states that any and all gifts, including donations, grants, and bequests received on behalf of the district and/or its schools, must receive formal acceptance from the Board. 

What kinds of donations should be on the gift form for approval by the Board?

• Donations such as technology equipment (computers, monitors, printers, scanners, etc.) that have been approved by the IT Department
• Cash donations for computers, school supplies, field trips, etc. (whether by a parent, business or a PTA / PFO group)
• Gifts of equipment shall be noted as to value (as determined by the donor) and condition (new, used, good, fair), and shall include model and serial numbers
• Donations of goods that have a fixed asset value greater than $500 (computers, theater equipment, sporting equipment such as a scoreboard, pre-school equipment, etc.)
• Fundraiser prizes such as bicycles or gift credit to book stores
• Items purchased by parents or PTA / PFO groups at “wish night” type events
• Office furniture donated by any party must be accepted by the warehouse for usefulness and condition of furniture
• Field trips, assembly programs, Target’s “Take Charge of Education,” photography studio fundraisers (Fall and Spring rebate programs)

Gifts of books and instructional materials shall be accepted only if they meet regular district criteria.  While the Board greatly appreciates suitable donations, gifts which may directly impair its commitment to providing equal educational opportunities for all district students or gifts that do not meet criteria contained in Board Policy 3290, will not be accepted.

All gifts, grants, and bequests shall become district property.  If the teacher/staff member who uses the donated item transfers sites the item stays at the site, it does not follow the teacher/staff member. 

Donations from the various Foundations, PTA’s etc. towards salaries will be acknowledged at a May or June Board meeting for the total amount of the supplemental salary commitment.

In summary:

1. Use the attached gift form to document receipt and approval of donation.
2. Send the signed gift form to Business Services for inclusion on the gift register for the next Board meeting.
3. Gift registers are approved by the Board.  The Chief Financial Officer will make proper acknowledgment of the gift to the donor (these acknowledgment letters may be used by the donor for tax purposes).

Students and staff of Newport-Mesa are extremely fortunate to be the recipients of generous benefactors within our community.  To ensure that our donors are properly acknowledged for their gifts, which provide additional enhancements to the education of our students, please use the above mentioned guidelines.

Further Notes Regarding Gifts To The District

• Importance of submitting gift forms:
• All gifts should be submitted to the Business Office so they can be placed on the Gift Register, which is taken before the Board of Education for approval. If a gift is NOT approved and acknowledged by the Board as district property, there is no recourse if the gifted item is lost, stolen, or broken
• The donor will not receive a letter of acknowledgement that they could use for their tax purposes.
   
• For gifts that are ‘stuff’ must be assessed by the appropriate department first:
• Furniture – Assessed by Warehouse (Nickole Terrell, Warehouse Supervisor)
• Technology – Assessed by IT (Chris Endicott, Technology Support Supervisor)
• Musical instruments – Assessed by Education Services (Tamara Fairbanks, TOSA)
• If the item is $500 or more, it needs to asset-tagged once it is Board approved. Contact Sally Becenti in Warehouse who will work with you.
   
• If it is a cash donation, the check should be sent to the Business Office with a thorough description of its use and what account line it should be deposited into. The items must be purchased through the proper channels after it has been Board approved (utilizing Purchasing Department, approved vendors, and getting pre-approval of items from the IT Department).
   

• The order in which you accept / utilize donations for facilities purposes:
• If a gift is for your site improvement (a site-mod), you first must contact the appropriate department (Facilities Development/M&O) for assessment of the proposed improvement/addition. This must be done to get the approval and so the department can provide an accurate quote.
• Once it is approved (with a site-mod entered), fill out the Gifts to the District form and send it to the Business Office.ZZZZ
• The donation check should also be sent to the Business Office with a clear explanation of its use and purpose. Be sure to indicate into what account line the check should be deposited. 
   
• Any donations for supplemental staffing will be Board approved and acknowledged once a year, usually at the May or June board meeting. Please submit one gift form for all regular supplemental staffing in May. This would coincide with a commitment letter sent to Budgets.
   
• Group funding and any applications for grants by teachers must first be brought to the site administrator for review and approval BEFORE it occurs.
   
• The district generally does NOT give out its tax ID number. There is a letter that can be given to potential donors who ask for the tax ID number. It explains the district’s position and that their donation is still tax-deductible. They will receive an acknoacknowledgment letterer that can be used for their tax purposes after the gift is Board approved.

Request for District Tax ID Number for Donations to Newport Mesa Unified School District

Because student organizations are legally part of the school district, they are exempt from income tax just as the district is due to its status as a governmental organization. The district is not a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization but enjoys tax-exempt status by virtue of being a government entity.

Many external organizations that donate to the district/student organizations will request a tax identification number because they assume that this number is needed to claim a tax deduction on their annual income tax return. However, the district's tax identification number is not needed for them to claim a deduction and will not be given out.

Government organizations are not required to share their tax identification numbers.

All donations to the district must be presented to the Board of Education at a scheduled board meeting and the Board of Education may accept any bequest or gift of money or property on behalf of the district for the benefit of the district. These gifts, donations, grants, and bequests may be made subject to conditions or restrictions that the Board of Education may prescribe. Board Policy 3290.

Any and all gifts, including donations, grants, and bequests received on behalf of the district, and/or its schools, including gifts to Associated Student Body accounts, must receive formal acceptance from the Board of Education. After the Board of Education has accepted, proper acknowledgment of the gift will be made by letter to the donor by the Assistant Superintendent, Chief Business Official. This acknowledgement letter will include the donor’s name(s), dollar value of the donation, and which entity received the donation.

Policy 3290: Gifts, Grants And Bequests	Status: ADOPTED
Original Adopted Date: 09/08/2009

The Governing Board may accept any bequest or gift of money or property on behalf of the district. While greatly appreciating suitable donations, the Board discourages any gifts which may directly or indirectly impair its commitment to providing equal educational opportunities for all district students.

Any and all gifts, including donations, grants, and bequests received on behalf of the district, and/or its schools, including gifts to Associated Student Body accounts must receive formal acceptance from the Board.

(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)

Before accepting a gift, the Board shall consider whether the gift:

1. Has a purpose consistent with the district's vision and philosophy

2. Begins a program which the Board would be unable to continue when the donated funds are exhausted

3. Places restrictions on the school program

4. Entails undesirable or excessive costs

5. Implies endorsement of any business or product

(cf. 1325 - Advertising and Promotion)

The Board shall carefully evaluate any conditions or restrictions imposed by the donor in light of district philosophy and operations. If the Board feels the district will be unable to fully satisfy the donor's conditions, the gift shall not be accepted.

Gifts of equipment shall be noted as to value, as determined by the donor, condition (new, used, good, fair), and shall include model and serial numbers.

Gift books and instructional materials shall be accepted only if they meet regular district criteria.

(cf. 6161.1 - Selection and Evaluation of Instructional Materials)

All gifts, grants and bequests shall become district property. Donors are encouraged to donate all gifts to the district rather than to a particular school. At the Superintendent or designee's discretion, a gift may be used at a particular school.

After Board acceptance, proper acknowledgment of the gift will be made to the donor by the Deputy Superintendent. Individual letters of thanks from school district administrators are encouraged.