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GLOBAL MOONSHOTS IN EDUCATION, INC. • BOARD DISCUSSION DRAFT • OCTOBER 21, 2026

A charter for an enduring public trust.

This is a draft operating charter for Moonshot Prize Endowment, proposed as a donor-restricted charitable program of Global Moonshots in Education, Inc. (EIN 83-2466931), an existing 501(c)(3) public charity based in California. Moonshot Prize is a program name—not a distinct legal recipient or independently incorporated foundation.

Not yet adopted: No board minutes, resolutions, bylaws, charitable registration clearance, award-selection rules, or approved gift acceptance policy have been supplied to establish formal program authorization. No contribution, binding pledge, prize award, or tax acknowledgment may be accepted through the platform until appropriate approvals are completed. Opal Group is not a confirmed partner.

Article I — Host charity and charitable compatibility

Global Moonshots in Education, Inc. is the sole proposed fiduciary holder and legal recipient of future restricted endowment gifts. Its board retains ultimate authority over fund acceptance, investment, distributions, committees, contracting, reporting, asset custody and regulatory compliance. Before adopting a worldwide science/health/climate prize program, the board and nonprofit counsel must review current Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, exemption application, determination letter and existing educational mission. Amend governing purposes and provide required state/IRS notices if the contemplated activities exceed the charity's existing purposes. Initial prizes may prioritize education and science education until broader categories are cleared.

Article II — Restricted program and accounting

Legal organization

Global Moonshots in Education, Inc. • 501(c)(3) public charity • EIN 83-2466931. Its bank and investment accounts, authorized signers and board policies govern program assets.

Program designation

Moonshot Prize Endowment. Maintain separately classified donor-restricted funds and sub-fund ledgers; do not represent donor restrictions as a separately owned foundation or trust without counsel approval.

Article III — Gift restrictions and investment stewardship

  1. The board shall adopt a gift-acceptance and restricted-funds policy and use fund-specific agreements for each named endowment.
  2. Gift instruments shall specify perpetual or term restrictions, permitted educational/scientific charitable purpose, allocation of expenses, investment pooling, naming rules, variance provisions and charitable disposition upon termination.
  3. A 4% target annual spending rate using a trailing 12-quarter average is an illustration, not a contractual spending guarantee, investment return or assurance of maintained principal. Board appropriation must be prudent under California UPMIFA and donor restrictions.
  4. The finance or investment committee shall approve custody, diversification, liquidity, fees, performance assessment, donor-reporting controls and related-party prohibitions.
  5. Maintain appropriate restricted-fund accounting under applicable nonprofit reporting rules and disclose aggregate impact, income, expenses and distributions in approved annual stewardship reports.

Article IV — Scientific and award independence

  1. The parent charity shall approve written rules for program scope and award making before nominations or prize commitments begin.
  2. Independent subject-matter reviewers evaluate nominees using published merit criteria, documented recusals and appeal/complaint channels.
  3. Donors and their related parties may not appoint winners, veto findings, direct grants to selected individuals, or obtain unreasonable private benefits.
  4. Review prizes to individuals, cross-border payments, taxable reporting and—in cases involving private-foundation funds—restrictions under IRC §4945 and related rules; grant procedures may require counsel or IRS consideration depending on entity and payment structure.

Article V — Governance inside Global Moonshots

Moonshot Prize is a board-supervised program, not a separate board-controlled entity. Global Moonshots may appoint a program steering committee, a majority-independent scientific council, a finance and audit liaison, and a development council. All delegated authority remains revocable by the organization's governing board. Written related-party, conflicts, nomination, privacy, gift-acceptance and records policies must be adopted.

Article VI — Naming rights and donor stewardship

Recognition reflects charitable generosity, not purchased prestige. Fund names and advisory participation require written board approval; donors have no entitlement to select recipients or direct business to affiliated enterprises. Anonymous interest remains confidential unless appropriate permission is obtained, subject to lawful disclosure requirements.

Article VII — Activation checklist

  1. Confirm current exemption, California status/registration, governing documents and board authority.
  2. Approve board resolution creating Moonshot Prize as a restricted program and its educational/scientific purposes.
  3. Approve gift instrument, investment/spending policies, subfund ledger design, signatories and donor acknowledgment rules.
  4. Approve independent juries, measurable award rubrics and individual-grant tax compliance.
  5. Activate secure lead storage with a privacy notice, retention plan, incident response and access controls.
  6. Obtain any Opal Group endorsement and trademark consent in writing before using official co-branding.

Public references

Global Moonshots nonprofit mission and leadership ↗

Federal tax filing reference by EIN ↗

IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search ↗

IRS guidance on changes in exempt activities ↗

California Attorney General on endowment governance ↗

Draft for discussion only. No current donation portal or funded award is offered, and no Global Moonshots board adoption is represented. Last updated: October 21, 2026.