1800 Donations Gifts and Grants to the District

1000: Community Relations

The Board of Education welcomes and appreciates gifts and donations from the public. Gifts and donations of money, property, equipment, and materials may be accepted by the Board, except that the Superintendent of Schools may accept on behalf of the Board gifts and donations having a value less than $1,000.00. (This policy does not cover personal gifts to staff. See policy 2160, Code of Ethics, for guidance on that issue.)

The Board reserves the right to refuse to accept any gift which does not contribute towards the achievement of the District’s goals, or the ownership of which would deplete the resources of the District. In accepting or rejecting gifts and donations, the Board will review the following factors:

The terms of the gift must identify:
The subject of the gift;
The purpose of the gift; and
All conditions or restrictions that may apply.
The gift must not benefit a particular or named individual or individuals.
If the purpose of the gift is an award to a single student, the determination of the recipient
of such award shall be made on the basis that all students shall have an equal opportunity to qualify for it in conformance with Federal and State law.
If the gift is in trust, the obligation of the investment and reinvestment proceeds shall be clearly set forth.
Any gift or trust accepted by the Board will:
Be consistent with the mission/vision of the District; or
Be for a purpose for which the District could legally expend its own funds; or
Not endorse or promote any particular religion or business or
Will not add undesirable or hidden costs to the District.

Any gift rejected by the Board shall be returned to the donor or their estate within 60 days together with a statement indicating the reasons for the rejection of such gift.

Soliciting and Accepting Gifts, Grants or Donations

Teachers seeking grants or donations for their classroom must obtain prior approval from the Building Principal and Superintendent before requesting a donation (see attached Form 1800-F). Other staff or administrators seeking grants or donations to benefit an entire school or the District as a whole must obtain prior approval from the Superintendent or designee.

Approval shall depend on factors including, but not limited to compatibility with the District’s educational program and standards; availability of existing District resources; whether ownership would deplete District resources; and its impact on the equitable distribution of District resources.

All grants and donations must benefit the District and be congruent with the following principles:

The District’s mission, vision, core values and beliefs.
The District’s and school’s goals positively impact student performance. The District’s

instructional priorities and strategies.

Equity in funding.
Conform to District governance and decision-making procedures of the Board, central office, and building-level staff.
Provide a value or benefit that is greater than the obligation under the grant award.
Not violating management and/or bargaining unit rights and responsibilities.
Not carry any conditions that would divert school or District efforts away from the District’s primary mission.

The Board reserves the right to deny approval of solicitation of any funding or grant application which does not contribute towards the achievement of the District’s goals, or which would deplete the resources of the District. The Board must pre-approve seeking grants which require a match of District funds or resources.

All solicited grants and donations equal to or exceeding $1,000 must be formally accepted by the Board.

Coordinating with Support Organizations

The District requires independent support organizations (e.g., booster clubs, parent-teacher associations, education foundations) seeking to make a contribution of money or property to first meet with the Superintendent to identify the terms and conditions of the proposed gift and the needs of the District. The Board must approve such gifts and donations prior to any public announcement or contribution.

Accounting for, and Oversight of, all Donations, Gifts, and Grants

All gifts, donations, grants, funds, property, and materials received by the District become the property of the District. Such items may not be returned without the approval of the Board. All items are subject to the same controls and regulations as other District property and shall be deposited or inventoried accordingly.

Cross-ref: 1222, Relationship with Booster Organizations

2160, School District Officer and Employee Code of Ethics

Ref: Education Law §1709(12)

Adopted by the Board of Education: 06/14/18

Revised by the Board of Education: 09/26/24

Revised by the Board of Education: 05/21/25

Download the Donations Gifts and Grants to the District PDF