Gift Acceptance Policy
Effective Date: August 1, 2026
Purpose
The Altenbernd Foundation welcomes gifts that support its charitable mission of fostering contemplation, curiosity, and exchange through contemporary art.
The Foundation recognizes that every charitable contribution represents an investment in the future of contemporary art, education, and public engagement. We are committed to stewarding every gift responsibly, ethically, and transparently for the benefit of present and future generations.
This Gift Acceptance Policy provides general guidelines for the acceptance of charitable contributions and helps ensure that all gifts are consistent with the Foundation's mission, values, legal obligations, and long-term sustainability.
General Principles
The Altenbernd Foundation seeks to accept gifts that:
Advance the Foundation's charitable mission.
Support educational programming, public initiatives, collections, research, or other organizational priorities.
Can be responsibly managed using the Foundation's available resources.
Do not compromise the Foundation's independence, integrity, or reputation.
Comply with applicable laws and ethical standards.
The Foundation reserves the right to decline, refuse, or return any gift that it determines is inconsistent with its mission, legal obligations, organizational capacity, or long-term stewardship responsibilities, including gifts that would create ongoing financial, conservation, storage, insurance, or administrative burdens disproportionate to their charitable value or the Foundation's available resources.
Types of Gifts
The Foundation may consider accepting:
Monetary donations
Securities and publicly traded stocks
Donor-advised fund grants
Employer matching gifts
Qualified charitable distributions, where applicable
Artwork
Books and exhibition catalogues
Archival materials
Research collections
Library materials
In-kind donations of goods or professional services
Planned and legacy gifts
Other charitable contributions that support the Foundation's mission
Acceptance of any gift remains at the Foundation's sole discretion.
Artwork Donations
The Foundation welcomes inquiries regarding gifts of artwork.
As the Foundation develops its long-term museum and collections strategy, proposed artwork donations will be reviewed individually to determine whether they align with the Foundation's mission, educational objectives, collecting interests, available resources, and long-term stewardship responsibilities.
When evaluating artwork, the Foundation may consider factors including:
Artistic significance
Relevance to the Foundation's mission
Provenance
Authenticity
Physical condition
Conservation requirements
Storage and exhibition considerations
Copyright and intellectual property considerations
Any restrictions or conditions proposed by the donor
The anticipated cost of conservation, insurance, storage, or exhibition relative to the gift's charitable value
Acceptance of artwork does not guarantee exhibition, publication, display, or inclusion in the Foundation's future collection. The Foundation may decline artwork gifts that would impose ongoing costs disproportionate to the Foundation's resources at the time of the offer.
To ensure an appropriate review process, the Foundation does not accept unsolicited deliveries of artwork. Prospective donors are encouraged to contact the Foundation before arranging the transfer of any artwork.
Books, Library, and Archival Materials
The Foundation welcomes inquiries regarding donations of books, exhibition catalogues, archives, and research materials that support its educational mission and future public art library.
Materials may be evaluated based on their relevance, scholarly value, condition, duplication, available space, and relationship to the Foundation's educational priorities.
Accepted materials may become part of the Foundation's library, research resources, educational initiatives, or other programs.
In-Kind Donations
The Foundation may accept donations of goods or professional services that directly support its charitable mission or organizational operations.
Examples include:
Design and branding services
Photography and videography
Printing
Technology equipment
Event materials
Office furnishings
Museum and archival supplies
Professional consulting services
Acceptance depends upon the Foundation's needs at the time the gift is offered, including its capacity to absorb any associated maintenance, storage, or operating costs.
Restricted Gifts
The Foundation generally prefers unrestricted gifts because they provide the greatest flexibility in advancing its mission.
Restricted gifts may be accepted when the proposed restriction is consistent with the Foundation's mission and has been approved by the Foundation.
The Foundation reserves the right to decline gifts containing restrictions or conditions that cannot reasonably be fulfilled or that interfere with its governance, independence, charitable purposes, or long-term sustainability.
Valuation and Tax Matters
The Altenbernd Foundation does not provide legal, financial, accounting, or tax advice.
Donors are encouraged to consult their own professional advisors regarding the tax consequences of any contribution.
The Foundation does not determine the value of donated property for tax purposes.
When required by applicable law, donors are responsible for obtaining qualified independent appraisals.
Acknowledgment of Gifts
The Foundation acknowledges charitable contributions in accordance with applicable law and Internal Revenue Service requirements.
Gift acknowledgments generally describe the nature of the contribution but do not assign a monetary value to non-cash donations.
Donor Recognition
The Foundation is grateful for the generosity of its supporters.
Unless anonymity is requested, donors may be recognized in Foundation publications, annual reports, donor listings, digital communications, or other appropriate acknowledgments.
Donors may request that their gifts remain anonymous, and the Foundation will make reasonable efforts to honor those requests except where disclosure is required by law.
Review and Acceptance
Certain gifts may require additional review before acceptance. Depending upon the nature of the proposed contribution, the Foundation's Board of Directors and Executive Director will review and determine whether a proposed gift can be accepted, and may consult legal, financial, conservation, curatorial, or other professional advisors as needed.
Gifts of unusual size, complexity, or those involving restrictions, artwork, or long-term stewardship obligations will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and Executive Director prior to acceptance.
Changes to This Policy
The Altenbernd Foundation may revise this Gift Acceptance Policy periodically to reflect changes in its mission, operations, legal obligations, or organizational priorities.
Updated versions will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
Contact
Questions regarding this Gift Acceptance Policy or proposed charitable contributions may be directed to:
Altenbernd Foundation
Email: caroline@altenberndfoundation.org
Subject Line: Gift Acceptance Inquiry