David Wheeler Newman
CharitablePlanning.com Author
Biography
David Newman chairs the Charitable Sector Practice Group at the Los Angeles law firm of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP. For what seems to him like forever he has advised families and individuals concerning their foundations and other philanthropy, as well as charitable organizations and their donors on the legal and tax aspects of planned giving. He also advises these organizations on transactional and governance matters. David is a former member of the Board of the National Committee on Planned Giving, where he served as an officer and member of its executive committee, and a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Council on Gift Annuities. In 2012, he received the Dana Latham Award from the Los Angeles Tax Bar for outstanding contributions in the field of taxation. He is a founder and President Emeritus of New Roads School in Santa Monica and a member of the Professional Advisors Council of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. David was named Los Angeles Non-Profit / Charities Lawyer of the Year for 2015 by The Best Lawyers in America.
Effective Gift Acceptance Policies and Procedures-
Well-considered gift acceptance policies, and effective procedures to implement those policies, cannot only ensure that an organization's fundraising activities are consistent with the values and objectives of the organization, they can help prevent misunderstandings with donors, negative publicity, and even litigation arising from the acceptance of problem gifts. This article considers what things should and should not be included in a gift acceptance policy, and suggests a process to develop policies and procedures tailored to a particular organization, its values, objectives, constituencies, and circumstances.