In my experience, the only time you need to restrict a donation is when you
ask for a specific item or for a specific fund. For example, if you are
raising funds for a new LCD projector those funds need to go for that
expenditure and some directly related costs (e.g. replacement bulbs, etc.),
or if you are raising funds for the restoration of the ship's figurehead you
need to sequester those funds. As is stated in you post you say that a
donation to the "operating fund" will result in "educational programs," if
that is what your literature says, you are actually asking money for the
operating funds, with the donation having a projected effect on educational
programming. Your treasurer is needlessly worried.
Cheers, -Nick

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Issaquah Historical Society Info
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 3:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: restricted donations and direct mail

I'm preparing our annual appeal letter and using our children's programs as
a hook. I've been careful to say that a contribution to our operating fund
will support educational programming. My volunteer treasurer is antsy and
insists that this means we need to restrict the resulting funds to only our
educational programs.

What guidelines or rules govern restricted transactions? I find that in
order to raise $$ for the general fund.... one must become very specific.

:)
Thanks,
Erica

Erica S. Maniez
Museum Director, Issaquah Historical Society
425/392-3500
[log in to unmask]
www.issaquahhistory.org

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