WASHINGTON, DC—Giving to higher education is in the news. $100 million and $200 million gifts to UCLA. $200 million to USC. A majority of Bose stock to MIT. And so on: Nearly half of all philanthropic gifts over $5 million go to higher education.
That’s why the American Council of Trustees and Alumni has published a tool for donors and trustees, the 2nd edition of the Intelligent Donors’ Guide.
As the guide explains, universities don’t always steward the money as philanthropists intend. And donors should proceed cautiously. As a recent piece in Smart Money noted, there are lots of things colleges don’t say to donors. Colleges are likely to put money into a general operating fund, or even sit on it for years in the endowment: Another recent study and article showed how gifts are funneled into scholarships and buildings—while the traditional undergraduate curriculum is nearly ignored.
Stephen Friess recently wrote in Investors’ Business Daily about the “hard lesson” he and his family learned: “Wise giving to higher education requires as much care as any other purchase or investment. It’s essential that donors clarify their intentions and communicate clearly—before their gifts are made.” That’s why, he wrote, “Intelligent donors have a valuable ally in a group called the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. ACTA recently published a ‘how-to’ called ‘The Intelligent Donors Guide to College Giving,’ which is just that.”
With tax revenues low and endowments still suffering, both public and private colleges and universities will turn to donors to make up the lost revenue.
Never has savvy philanthropy to higher education been so important. The story of donor intent in higher education is hot and getting hotter.
This guide provides step-by-step instructions for donors on how to target their giving, with profiles of successful gifts. American philanthropists long have been generous in their support of colleges and universities. But donors do not always find the results they envisioned for their generosity and good intentions. ACTA has responded by publishing The Intelligent Donor’s […]
Are you planning on donating to your alma mater? Before you write that generous check, you should be sure that your donation is going to support quality, freedom, and accountability. ACTA Vice President of Development Dr. Jacqueline Pfeffer Merrill explains the nuances of donor intent and alumni giving. She also describes different methods of supporting […]
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