Ranchers end up with an unsold share more often than anyone admits. Food shelves and school kitchens are short on protein every week. Give connects the two: you pledge the animal, an inspected plant processes it, the meat goes to a food shelf near you, and a real charity sends you the acknowledgment. We're building it the legitimate way, which means a few things have to be true before the first animal moves. Pledges are open now so we know who's ready.
A whole animal, an unsold share, or dollars toward processing. Sign a deed of gift once the program can take it — title moves to the charity, not to us.
Donated meat has to carry a USDA or Minnesota "Equal To" mark to go to a food shelf. Custom-exempt meat can't. The program fund pays the kill and processing so you pay $0.
Frozen, labeled, 1-lb ground packs to an approved recipient. The 501(c)(3) that took title sends you a written acknowledgment your CPA can use.
Only the charity that receives a gift can issue the acknowledgment the IRS requires — a marketplace can't. We're choosing between a fiscal sponsor (weeks) and a Minnesota sister nonprofit (months). Until then, nothing here is tax-deductible and we don't say it is.
Federal rule (9 CFR 303.1) and Minnesota law: custom-exempt product is "Not for Sale" and only for the owner's household. Food shelves can only take meat with a USDA or MN Equal To legend. That means a state- or federally-inspected plant, not a custom shop.
Each food shelf or school signs a simple agreement: frozen, labeled, inspected product only; freezer space confirmed; temperature logged on receipt. Apply on this page — that part is real today.
Deed of gift, the charity's no-goods-or-services acknowledgment, a Form 8283 workflow for gifts over $500 (appraisal over $5,000), and Minnesota Attorney General charity registration once contributions pass $25,000.
The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act and Minn. Stat. 604A.10 protect good-faith donors, processors and food banks — as long as the food meets labeling standards. Another reason the inspected plant isn't optional.