Charitable Mission Statement - Our primary interest in giving is to support local non-profit organizations specifically in developing and sustaining child-centered, play-based learning efforts that are inclusive to all children and families within the geographic reach of the non-profit organization. We strongly prefer to give to learning efforts that support learning and development of STEM skills and those that foster inclusive social responsibility.
Purpose - The Charitable Giving Policies ensure that all contributions are coordinated and aligned with our Charitable Mission Statement and business goals, maximize corporate visibility, foster long-term business relationships, and are within our budget and resource limitations. All expenditures for charitable purposes of all types will be handled in accordance with these policies.
Coordination - All incoming and outgoing requests for charitable contributions/sponsorships, in-kind services or support, and/or company volunteer support, or business courtesies will be coordinated by the charitable giving committee. Individual employees may and will not respond to requests from (or solicit from) individuals or organizations that have an actual or potential business relationship with Bricks & Minifigs - St. Louis Metro East.
Incoming or outgoing requests for sponsorships, charitable donations, volunteers, in-kind services, gifts or give-aways, or business courtesies must be submitted online using the appropriate form for review and final disposition. Additional information, if necessary, may be submitted via email, but will not count as an application.
The store's general manager will communicate with applying organizations via email as is necessary, but applicants may not directly solicit donations from any employee of Bricks & Minifigs - St. Louis Metro East nor should an applicant discuss their application with any employee of Bricks & Minifigs - St. Louis Metro East during the employee's working hours nor during their personal time. Interrupting the business of Bricks & Minifigs - St. Louis Metro East with solicitations may result in an immediate denial of any request made.
Any submitted application that does not meet our guidelines as described below, or any application that is excluded as described below, will not receive a response.
Decisions made by our organization regarding charitable donations are final and cannot be appealed.
Guidelines - The following guidelines will be used in reviewing requests for charitable contributions, sponsorships and/or company volunteer initiatives:
1. Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations will be considered for charitable contributions, sponsorships, volunteer support, or in-kind donations.
2. Aforementioned organizations must be based in the Bricks & Minifigs - St. Louis Metro East franchise territory and MUST primarily benefit families and children in that territory.
3. All contributions, sponsorships, and in-kind services will promote our business goals, create positive visibility, and demonstrate social responsibility.
4. Contributions may include volunteer participations in community events, monetary sponsorships, and borrowed inventory, but will not include donated inventory.
5. We will also consider requests to support social, community, civic, educational, diversity, and economic endeavors if these support business goals and meet contribution guidelines and/ or if Bricks & Minifigs - St. Louis Metro East staff is involved in the governance of the organization.
6. Requests from individual schools (public or private) will be considered only if the request is to support a play-based, best practice-informed program specifically designed to address STEM or inclusive social educational goals, in accordance with our charitable giving mission statement. Applicants requesting on behalf of such an organization must explain such program in detail to be considered.
7. Even when a request meets our charitable giving criteria, we may be unable to fulfill it due to limited available funds or the volume of requests received. We appreciate your understanding as we work to support organizations within our small business means.
The following exclusions apply:
1. Bricks & Minifigs - St. Louis Metro East will not support organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability with respect to employment, volunteer participation, or the provision of services.
2. Contributions will be made only to the qualifying nonprofit agency. Contributions will not be made to organizations conducting fundraising (third party giving) on behalf of nonprofit agencies.
3. Requests that solicit financial support for individuals, political candidates, and political campaigns, or entities that are not nonprofit organizations, will not be considered.
4. Financial requests for capital campaigns will not be considered.
