As the fall semester begins at colleges and universities across the country, students, faculty, alumni and donors are watching closely, anticipating that new and returning administrators alike may bring with them new policies on free speech, protests and the role that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) will play on campus in areas other than admissions.
In 2023, following the passage of the Donor Intent Protection Act in Kansas, Philanthropy Roundtable launched a monthly series on donor intent developments and controversies nationwide to better inform those who care about this important topic. The Donor Intent Protection Act has now passed in Kentucky and Georgia as well, and efforts on behalf of this legislation continue in additional states.
With the recent resignation of the third Ivy League president in the 10-month period following October 7, 2023, university trustees are likely to face continued questions about hiring policies and practices
In 2023, following the passage of the Donor Intent Protection Act in Kansas, Philanthropy Roundtable launched a monthly series on donor intent developments and controversies around the country to better inform those who care about this important topic. The Donor Intent Protection Act has now passed in Kentucky and Georgia as well, and efforts on behalf of this legislation continue in additional states.
In 2023, following passage of the Donor Intent Protection Act in Kansas, Philanthropy Roundtable launched a monthly series on donor intent developments and controversies around the country to better inform those who care about this important topic. The Donor Intent Protection Act has now passed in Kentucky and Georgia as well, and efforts on behalf of this legislation continue in additional states.
May 1, 2024, marked the sunsetting of the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation after 54 years. Rich and Helen DeVos, who passed away in 2017 and 2018, distributed $1.1 billion in grants to over 1,000 nonprofit organizations during their lifetimes.
In 2023, following the passage of the Donor Intent Protection Act in Kansas, Philanthropy Roundtable launched a monthly series on donor intent developments and controversies around the country to better inform those who care about this important topic. The Donor Intent Protection Act has now passed in Kentucky and Georgia as well, and efforts on behalf of this legislation continue in additional states.
This month’s Donor Intent Watch includes an update on our legislative efforts, a summary and link to a recent webinar on antisemitism sponsored by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a reminder of the power of a values statement in protecting donor intent and very welcome comments from a donor-affirming fundraising adviser.
In late February, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) published the key findings of its annual Voluntary Support of Education survey. These findings are based on fundraising data for the 2022-23 academic fiscal year (FY), typically July 1 through June 30.
Last month’s Donor Intent Watch reported on a lawsuit filed by Webster University donors to stop the reclassification of restricted endowment funds as “unrestricted” to meet the liquidity requirement of the cash-strapped university’s loan obligations.
This month’s Donor Intent Watch includes a story about a current dispute at Webster University in Missouri, a look at one state featured in our recently released 50-state summary on the legal status of donor intent and excerpts from our Top Ten Tips for Higher Education Donors.
In 2020, responding to both increased community needs resulting from the pandemic and consequent lockdowns and calls for racial equity, many foundations and individual donors willingly suspended their stated missions, usual procedures and customary payout rates.