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  • 1.  Sharing policies about reputational considerations?

    Posted 01-15-2024 12:57 PM

    Hello, all –

     

    I am doing research on other institutions' policies about reputational considerations associated with gifts (e.g. what institutions' processes are for assessing potential reputational concerns with gifts, how to handle gifts that have already been received if reputational concerns later arise). 

     

    May I ask if any of your institutions have specific policies about this topic that you would be willing to share?  Please know that I'd appreciate any and all info you are able to provide. 

     

    Thanks so much!

     

    Michael Halverson, Ed.D.
    Associate Vice President
    Development Resources
    Division of Development and Alumni Relations
    6200 San Amaro Drive, Suite 400
    Coral Gables, FL 33146
    Office: 305-284-1608 | Cell: 320-363-4987
    Email: mhalverson@miami.edu
    miami.edu | everbrighter.miami.edu


    https://advancement.miami.edu/NetCommunity/image/adv_intra/dept-name-updates/Standard-Signature-UMlogo.png

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  • 2.  RE: Sharing policies about reputational considerations?

    Posted 01-15-2024 01:12 PM
    Michael, what I find most common is a subsequent review by the Gift Acceptance Committee when there are concerns after gift acceptance. That committee reviews the circumstances and determines whether to return the gift.

    Certainly, if a gift officer has reputational concerns about a donor before a gift is accepted, it is incumbent on them to bring those concerns to the attention of the gift acceptance committee.

    Including a "morality clause" in your gift agreements is critically important in this process. Here is one example of language you should be using:

    "If at any time the donor may compromise the public trust or the institution's reputation, the institution, with the approval of the gift acceptance committee, has the right to return the gift."

    Similar language is used for "name dropping" should the gift have been used in a naming opportunity.

    John

    John H. Taylor

    Principal

    John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC

    2604 Sevier St.

    Durham, NC   27705

    johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com

    919.816.5903 (cell/text)

     

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  • 3.  RE: Sharing policies about reputational considerations?

    Posted 01-24-2024 09:51 PM

    Michael, a couple items we have:


    Our university policy (approved by the Board of Trustees) gives us the authority to decline a gift or return a gift for reputational reasons.  Additionally, we have an SOP on Acceptance of Gifts that establishes our Gift Acceptance Committee which can consider gifts. 

    For program and facility naming agreements (and progressing into other gift agreements), we do have an ethics clause as follows:

    If at any time the Benefactor fails to conduct itself without due regard to public morals and decency, or if the Benefactor commits any act or becomes involved in any situation or occurrence tending to degrade the Benefactor in the community, or which brings the Benefactor into public contempt or scandal, or which materially and adversely affects the reputation, mission, or business of NC State, whether or not information in regard thereto becomes public, NC State shall have the right to remove Benefactor's recognition rights hereunder and terminate this Agreement.



    ------------------------------
    Jeff Baynham
    NC State University
    jtbaynha@ncsu.edu
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