Donation Policy

Purpose and Scope

This Donation Policy governs charitable contributions made to Joy for Life, Inc. (“Joy for Life,” “J4L,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) through our website, donation forms, mailed payments, electronic transfers, fundraising campaigns, events, third-party platforms, donor-advised funds, employer programs, or other approved giving channels.

The policy is intended to protect donors, preserve the integrity of charitable assets, and ensure that contributions are accepted and administered consistently with Joy for Life’s mission, governing documents, legal obligations, and operational capacity.

About Joy for Life

Joy for Life, Inc. is a federally recognized section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon.

Joy for Life is built around the Red Thread of Fate—the belief that meaningful intersections between people, ideas, resources, and opportunities can reveal purpose and create lasting change.

Donations support the organization’s charitable mission, initiatives, participants, operations, development, and responsible long-term growth.

Acceptance of Charitable Gifts

Joy for Life may accept contributions that advance or support its charitable purposes and that can be administered without unreasonable financial, operational, reputational, legal, or ethical burden.

Acceptance of a payment, transfer, pledge, or proposed gift is not necessarily final until the contribution has been reviewed, processed, and accepted by Joy for Life or its authorized payment provider.

Joy for Life reserves the right to review, condition, decline, return, or seek modification of any proposed contribution when appropriate.

Joy for Life Giving Paths

Joy for Life currently offers three primary giving paths.

General Fund

General Fund contributions are unrestricted charitable gifts. They may be used where Joy for Life determines the need or opportunity is greatest, including programs, administration, participant support, development, communications, technology, facilities, professional services, fundraising, reserves, and other mission-related expenses.

Red Thread of Fate Fund

The Red Thread of Fate Fund supports meaningful opportunities, connections, initiatives, and circumstances that may not have been predictable in advance but align with Joy for Life’s charitable purposes.

Contributions to this fund may support direct assistance, participation, program development, collaborations, travel, accessibility, creative or educational work, community initiatives, or other mission-aligned opportunities approved by Joy for Life.

Sponsor a Participant

Contributions made through Sponsor a Participant support the costs associated with enabling individuals to participate in Joy for Life programs, experiences, services, or opportunities.

Participant sponsorship may include program costs, supplies, transportation, accessibility, supervision, professional support, administration, safety requirements, or other expenses necessary to provide and sustain participation.

Designated and Restricted Gifts

A donor may express a preference that a contribution support a particular Joy for Life fund, program, initiative, participant category, project, or purpose.

A designation becomes binding only when Joy for Life expressly accepts it as a restriction or enters into a written gift agreement authorized by the organization.

Unless a written gift agreement states otherwise, designations identify the donor’s intended charitable purpose but do not give the donor ownership, continuing control, management authority, or the right to direct individual expenditures after the gift is accepted.

Joy for Life will make reasonable efforts to honor accepted designations. If a designated purpose:

• has been fully funded or completed;
• becomes impossible, impracticable, unlawful, or unnecessary;
• cannot be administered responsibly;
• no longer advances Joy for Life’s charitable mission; or
• requires resources disproportionate to the contribution;

Joy for Life may apply the contribution to a substantially similar charitable purpose, to the broader fund associated with the designation, or to another mission-aligned use, subject to any binding written agreement and applicable law.

Participant Sponsorship

A contribution identified as sponsoring a participant supports charitable participation and related program expenses. It does not create a direct payment arrangement between the donor and a particular individual.

Joy for Life retains responsibility for:

• determining participant eligibility;
• evaluating need and available resources;
• selecting appropriate programs or opportunities;
• protecting participant privacy;
• allocating funds among eligible expenses; and
• determining whether and how participation may proceed.

References to the average cost of supporting a participant are estimates used for planning and donor communication. Actual costs vary according to the individual, program, duration, frequency, location, accommodations, transportation, supervision, and level of support required.

A sponsorship contribution does not guarantee acceptance, participation, a particular service, a specific schedule, or continued eligibility for any person.

Named and Legacy Funds

Joy for Life may permit a donor to establish a named or legacy fund when the proposed gift and purpose are compatible with the organization’s mission, operations, financial requirements, and naming standards.

Unless Joy for Life approves another arrangement in writing, a legacy named fund requires a charitable commitment of at least $1,500 per month.

Establishment of a named fund requires a separate written agreement addressing, as applicable:

• the fund’s official name;
• the amount and duration of the commitment;
• the charitable purpose of the fund;
• permitted and prohibited uses;
• recognition and publicity;
• administration and reporting;
• modification or termination;
• missed or discontinued payments; and
• circumstances requiring removal or alteration of the name.

A fund name does not transfer ownership, governance, employment, program control, intellectual-property rights, or decision-making authority to the donor or the person for whom the fund is named.

Joy for Life may modify, suspend, consolidate, or discontinue a named fund when its funding commitment is not maintained, its purpose can no longer be fulfilled, continued association would harm the organization, or another circumstance identified in the applicable agreement occurs.

Recurring Donations

Donors who select recurring giving authorize the applicable payment processor to charge the selected payment method at the frequency and amount shown during checkout.

A recurring donation continues until:

• the donor cancels it;
• the selected end date or number of payments is reached;
• the payment method repeatedly fails;
• Joy for Life discontinues the arrangement; or
• the payment provider terminates processing.

Donors may request cancellation by using available account controls or by contacting Joy for Life. Cancellation prevents future scheduled charges after the request has been processed but does not automatically reverse donations already completed.

Donors are responsible for maintaining current payment and contact information.

Tax Deductibility

Joy for Life is recognized as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions may be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by applicable law. The amount that may be deducted depends upon the donor’s circumstances, the nature of the contribution, any goods or services received, and applicable federal, state, local, or international tax rules.

Joy for Life does not provide individual tax, financial, estate, or legal advice. Donors should consult their own professional advisers concerning the treatment of a contribution.

A donation receipt or acknowledgment confirms the organization’s receipt of a contribution. It does not constitute a guarantee that the contribution is deductible or establish the amount of any deduction.

Goods, Services, Memberships, and Donor Benefits

Some payments may include both a charitable contribution and the purchase or receipt of goods, services, admission, merchandise, membership access, promotional benefits, or another item of value.

When required, Joy for Life will provide a good-faith estimate of the fair-market value of goods or services supplied in connection with a payment.

Only the portion of a payment exceeding the fair-market value of the goods or services received may qualify as a charitable contribution, subject to applicable law.

A payment for merchandise, event admission, commercial services, or membership access is not automatically a charitable donation merely because payment is made to a nonprofit organization.

Complimentary or promotional Red Thread membership offered in connection with a recurring donation may affect the deductible portion of the payment. Any applicable benefit disclosure will be provided in the solicitation, checkout process, acknowledgment, or receipt.

Receipts and Donation Records

Joy for Life or its payment provider will ordinarily issue an electronic or written acknowledgment for completed donations.

An acknowledgment may include:

• Joy for Life’s legal name;
• the donor’s name;
• the date and amount of a monetary contribution;
• a description of a noncash contribution;
• the designated fund or campaign;
• whether goods or services were provided in exchange for the payment; and
• a good-faith estimate of the value of applicable donor benefits.

Donors should retain their acknowledgments and related records. Duplicate receipts may be requested by contacting Joy for Life.

Joy for Life does not assign a monetary value to donated property on behalf of the donor.

Donation Refunds, Errors, and Unauthorized Charges

Charitable contributions are generally final once processed and accepted.

Joy for Life may consider a refund or correction when:

• a donation was processed more than once;
• an incorrect amount was entered;
• a charge was unauthorized or fraudulent;
• a material technical error occurred;
• Joy for Life cannot accept the gift legally or ethically;
• an accepted restriction cannot be honored and no appropriate alternative can be agreed upon; or
• another exceptional circumstance warrants corrective action.

Refund requests should ordinarily be submitted within 30 days of the transaction and must include the donor’s name, transaction date, amount, payment method, and reason for the request.

Refunds are not guaranteed and remain subject to review, applicable law, payment-provider requirements, available funds, tax documentation, and whether the contribution has already been materially relied upon or expended.

Approved refunds will normally be issued to the original payment method. Processing charges, currency adjustments, bank fees, or third-party fees may be nonrefundable.

A donor receiving a refund is responsible for correcting or returning any previously claimed tax deduction or charitable acknowledgment as required.

Noncash and In-Kind Contributions

Joy for Life may consider gifts of equipment, supplies, services, merchandise, vehicles, securities, real property, intellectual property, or other noncash assets.

Noncash contributions require advance review and are not accepted merely because property is delivered, shipped, transferred, or left at a Joy for Life location.

Factors considered may include:

• relevance to Joy for Life’s mission and operations;
• condition, safety, quality, and usability;
• storage, transportation, insurance, and maintenance costs;
• ownership and transferability;
• environmental, regulatory, or legal liability;
• restrictions imposed by the donor;
• marketability and cost of disposition;
• required professional appraisal or inspection; and
• the net charitable benefit of accepting the property.

The donor is responsible for obtaining any appraisal required for tax or reporting purposes. Joy for Life may describe donated property but will not determine or certify its fair-market value for the donor.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Joy for Life may use, retain, sell, transfer, recycle, or dispose of accepted noncash property in the manner it determines best supports its charitable mission.

Complex, Planned, and Deferred Gifts

Proposed gifts involving securities, real estate, closely held business interests, trusts, estates, beneficiary designations, intellectual property, cryptocurrency, life insurance, charitable gift arrangements, or other complex assets require advance review.

Joy for Life may require:

• a written proposal or gift agreement;
• independent valuation or appraisal;
• title, ownership, or environmental documentation;
• legal, accounting, insurance, or investment review;
• confirmation of transfer restrictions;
• payment of transaction or professional expenses;
• board or officer approval; and
• additional due diligence appropriate to the asset.

Donors are encouraged to obtain independent legal, financial, and tax advice. Joy for Life and its advisers represent the organization and do not represent the donor.

Donor Recognition, Privacy, and Anonymity

Joy for Life may recognize donors through reports, donor lists, publications, events, digital media, displays, or other communications.

Donors may request:

• anonymous public recognition;
• use of a household, business, fund, or memorial name;
• omission of the contribution amount; or
• no public acknowledgment.

An anonymity request affects public recognition but does not prevent Joy for Life, its financial institutions, payment processors, accountants, auditors, regulators, or professional advisers from maintaining or accessing information required to administer the contribution or comply with law.

Joy for Life does not sell donor information for monetary compensation.

Additional information regarding donor and visitor information is contained in the Privacy Policy.

When Joy for Life May Decline a Gift

Joy for Life may decline, return, or condition a contribution that:

• conflicts with the organization’s mission or values;
• is unlawful or would jeopardize tax-exempt status;
• creates unacceptable financial or operational obligations;
• requires discriminatory or improper conduct;
• compromises participant safety, dignity, or privacy;
• requires control inconsistent with nonprofit governance;
• is derived from suspected fraud or unlawful activity;
• creates an impermissible private benefit;
• contains restrictions that cannot be administered;
• could reasonably damage public trust or organizational integrity;
• requires endorsement of a product, person, position, or activity;
• is accompanied by misleading publicity or representations; or
• otherwise presents unacceptable risk.

Joy for Life is not required to provide a public explanation for declining or returning a contribution.

Fundraising Communications

Joy for Life seeks to present fundraising opportunities accurately and in a manner consistent with its current plans, priorities, and reasonable expectations.

Program descriptions, participant costs, campaign goals, examples of impact, anticipated timelines, and future initiatives may represent estimates or plans rather than guarantees.

Conditions, costs, participation, staffing, facilities, funding, legal requirements, and organizational priorities may change. Joy for Life may modify or discontinue a campaign or initiative when necessary.

Photographs, stories, illustrations, composite examples, or descriptions may be used to explain the nature of the mission without representing that a specific donation will be transferred directly to a depicted individual.

Changes to This Policy

Joy for Life may revise this Donation Policy to reflect changes in its programs, giving methods, payment systems, organizational practices, legal obligations, or fundraising activities.

The “Last Updated” date at the top of this page identifies the most recent revision.

A contribution is generally governed by the policy and any applicable written gift agreement in effect when the contribution is accepted.

Donation Questions and Requests

Questions about contributions, receipts, recurring donations, designations, named funds, noncash gifts, or transaction errors may be directed to: