In-Kind Donations

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Purpose

Camp Seneca Lake welcomes meaningful support from donors who wish to contribute goods and materials to the camp community. At the same time, we have a responsibility to ensure that in-kind donations meet the actual needs of the camp, are in appropriate condition, and can be received safely and efficiently.

Eligible Donations

Camp Seneca Lake will consider in-kind donations that meet all of the following criteria:

  • The item is in good, clean, and functional condition
  • The item addresses a current or anticipated camp need
  • The item is appropriate for use in a Jewish overnight camp setting
  • Safe transport and storage of the item is feasible
  • Acceptance of the item does not create undue cost, liability, or burden for camp or the JCC

Camp Seneca Lake reserves the right to decline any in-kind donation that does not meet these standards, regardless of donor intent or perceived value.

Items That Will Generally Not Be Accepted

  • Items in poor, damaged, or unsanitary condition
  • Items that do not correspond to an identified camp need
  • Food or consumables (unless arranged in advance with camp leadership)
  • Items that require significant repair, cleaning, or disposal cost
  • Large equipment or furniture without prior approval

Donation Request and Approval Process

All in-kind donation inquiries must follow the steps below. Donations that arrive to camp or the JCC without prior coordination will not be accepted.

Step 1: Any individual or organization wishing to donate goods must contact Tony Satryan or Isabella Daniels. Staff, board members, JCC personnel, and volunteers who are approached by potential donors should redirect those donors to Tony or Isabella rather than accepting or approving donations independently.

Step 2: Before any donation can be evaluated, the donor must provide the following to Tony or Isabella:

  • A written itemized list of each item being offered (description, quantity, approximate age and condition)
  • Photo documentation of each item

Step 3: Tony and Isabella will evaluate the potential donation against current camp needs, consulting other members of the CSL staff. A decision will be communicated to the donor in writing. Camp Seneca Lake is not obligated to provide detailed reasoning for a declination.

Step 4: If approved, Tony or Isabella will coordinate directly with the membership desk  at the JCC to arrange a confirmed dropoff time. Donors should not arrive without a scheduled time. Isabella will be onsite to receive the donation whenever possible.

Donor Acknowledgment and Valuation

Camp Seneca Lake will provide a written acknowledgment of received in-kind gifts. The organization does not assign monetary value to donated items. Donors are responsible for determining the value of their gift for tax purposes and should consult a tax advisor as needed.