Donor Bill of Rights
Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
- To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use its donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
- To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
- To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
- To be assured their gift will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
- To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
- To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
- To expect that all relationships with individuals representing the organization’s interests to the donors will be professional in nature.
- To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization, or hired solicitors.
- To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
- To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers.
The text of this statement in its entirety was developed by the American Association of Fund-Raising Council (AAFRC), Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Council for Advancement and Support for Education (CASE), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and adopted in November 1993.
See more: Donor Bills of Rights (CASE website)
Gift Acceptance Policy
The purpose of a Gift Acceptance Policy is to give guidance and counsel to those individuals within the University community concerned with soliciting gifts. All gifts are to be accepted or rejected in accordance with this policy. The guidelines presented in this document have been established to ensure that:
- Informed and consistent decisions are made on the acceptance of gifts.
- Appropriate administrative, legal and accounting practices and procedures are followed.
- All donors are treated equitably and without discrimination, in accordance with University policy.
- The public image of the organization is maintained or strengthened as a result of its gift acceptance policies and practices.
Administrative Fee Schedule
Donor Opt-Out
The University understands that some donors may wish for their entire gift to be directed to its designated purpose without a reduction for administrative costs. As such, a donor may choose to opt out of paying the indirect operating expenses fee OR may choose to cover the fee in addition to their original donation.
To opt-out of the indirect operating expenses fee, please notify your development officer at the time you make your gift. Alternatively, you may contact us at giving@westernu.edu. Our team will ensure your donation is processed in accordance with your wishes.
Sliding Scale
The University assesses an indirect operating expenses fee on new gifts using a sliding scale structure:
● Gifts from $1,000 to $25,000: 5%
● Gifts from $25,001 to $1,000,000: 8%
● Gifts over $1,000,000: 8% on the first $1,000,000 and 5% thereafter
Exemptions
Certain gifts are exempt from this fee. These exemptions are carefully considered to align with the University’s mission and to promote giving in areas that are of strategic importance. The following gifts are not subject to the indirect operating expenses fee:
● Gifts Under $1,000. This exemption is in place to encourage broad participation in our annual giving campaigns.
● Gifts Designated for Student Financial Aid. The University’s commitment to student access and affordability is paramount. This exemption ensures that every dollar designated for student financial aid is applied directly to its intended purpose, maximizing the impact of the donor’s generosity in our students’ lives.
● Gifts In Kind. Costs associated with accepting gifts in kind are typically managed on a case-by-case basis and therefore do not align with the purpose of a general indirect operating expenses fee.
● Planned or Deferred Gifts. Planned gifts represent a future commitment and do not provide immediate operating funds to the University. The fee would be applied when the gift is realized and the assets are transferred to the University. This policy encourages our community to consider the long-term legacy they can create through planned giving without the concern of an immediate fee.
A fee of 8% will be assessed on all net proceeds/revenue generated from all philanthropic events, contests, and opportunity drawings.
A fee of 4% will be assessed on all credit card transactions (This fee is currently covered by our service provider or the university).
A fee of $25, or otherwise the legal maximum amount, will be assessed on all checks with insufficient funds.
Donor and Alumni Data Use and Privacy Policy
The Division of External Affairs is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals categorized as donors and/or alumni of the University whose information we collect in the course of our work.
This policy outlines the types of information we collect, how it is used, with whom it is shared, and the choices individuals have regarding their information. This policy applies to all data collection activities of External Affairs, including those undertaken by Advancement, Stakeholder Engagement, Communications, and Community/Government Relations. Certain rights are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. This policy is also governed by the University’s Data Use and Privacy policies as well as other state and federal laws and regulations.
External Affairs may collect a variety of personal information, depending on how you interact with the University. This information may include:
● Contact information (name, address, phone number, email address)
● Biographical information (schools attended, enrollment/graduation dates, degrees awarded)
● Demographic information (age, gender, occupation)
● Philanthropic information (giving history, event attendance, prospect data)
● Interests and preferences
● Information collected through website cookies and analytics (browsing activity, IP Address)
We use the information we collect for a variety of purposes, including:
- Fundraising: Cultivating relationships with donors, soliciting donations, and stewarding existing donors.
- Alumni Engagement: To engage with and provide benefits to alumni of the University.
- Special Events: Planning and promoting events, registering attendees, and sending event-related communications.
- Communications: Sharing University news, publications, and updates with interested individuals.
- Community/Government Relations: Building relationships with community members and government officials and advocating for the University’s interests.
- Data Analysis: Analyzing data to improve our outreach efforts and understand our audiences better.
- Other: For any other reason that we describe when you provide the information.
We will not share your personal information with third-party organizations without your consent, except as required by law or to fulfill the purposes described above. We may share your information with service providers who assist us with our work, such as event management companies or email marketing platforms. We may also, from time to time, share information with wealth screening agencies in order to update our donor prospect records. These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
For University purposes, authorized faculty, staff, or volunteers may request this information from time to time. Such data may be used only for the purpose approved during the request process and must be securely discarded within two weeks of receipt. To maintain data security, this information may not be permanently stored outside of the University’s central database and official system of record. Requests for information are subject to all policies, laws, and regulations as detailed above and in internal University policy.
The University maintains a secure, online Alumni Directory from which WesternU alumni may obtain contact information of fellow alumni. Participation in this directory is voluntary and all WesternU alumni have the right to decide upon the information they wish to disclose or to opt-out of the directory altogether.
Credit card numbers are used only for donation or payment processing via one of our third-party service providers. Service providers will collect your first and last name, zip code, postal address, email address, donation amount, billing information, and payment card information. Please refer to the privacy policy of the service provider to learn more about the use of your personal information.
You have choices regarding your information:
- Opting Out: You can unsubscribe from our email lists at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. You can also contact us at giving@westernu.edu to request removal from our mailing lists.
- Alumni Directory: You can opt out of the alumni directory at any time by emailing alumni@westernu.edu your request. Be sure to include your name, graduation year, program/college, and student ID number (if known).
- Accessing and Updating Your Information: You can request access to and update your personal information by contacting us at giving@westernu.edu.
External Affairs takes steps to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosures, alteration, or destruction. We use a variety of security measures, including encryption and access control measures. However, no data protection procedures are entirely infallible. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee that it will be 100% secure. Your transmission of your information is done entirely at your own risk.
External Affairs does not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13. If we learn we have collected or received Personal Information from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information. If you believe we might have any information from or about a child under 13 without verifiable parental consent, please contact us at giving@westernu.edu.
We may update this policy from time to time, so please review it regularly. Your continued interactions with us will be deemed your agreement that your information may be used in accordance with the updated policy. If you do not agree with the changes, then you should notify us that you do not want your information used in accordance with the changes.