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Oakland University Roadmap to Maximizing Donor Anonymity

Oakland University Roadmap to Maximizing Donor Anonymity. The Unknown Donor. I’d like to give you millions! Please don’t tell anyone. Definition. Anonymity: “A condition in which an individual's true identity is unknown.” Yep, its as easy as that! Or is it?. Overview.

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Oakland University Roadmap to Maximizing Donor Anonymity

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  1. Oakland University Roadmap to Maximizing Donor Anonymity

  2. The Unknown Donor I’d like to give you millions! Please don’t tell anyone.

  3. Definition • Anonymity: • “A condition in which an individual's true identity is unknown.” • Yep, its as easy as that! • Or is it?

  4. Overview • What does the donor really want? • Potential employees that may know about the anonymous donor/gift • No such thing as complete and guaranteed anonymity • Communications guidelines • Reporting of anonymous gifts and donors • Donor Relations / Stewardship • Further Reading

  5. What does the donor “really” want? • Does the donor want to be completely anonymous? • Does the donor just want a specific gift to be anonymous? • Remember, sometimes the word “anonymous” means different things to different people, so make sure you and the donor are “on the same page”.

  6. If the donor wants to be completely anonymous: • No recognition, no stories in publications • No listing in donor honor roll or wall of honor other than “Anonymous”. • No gift receipt unless the donor requests. Do not save gift receipt. – verify address with donor. (the IRS requires a gift receipt in order for the donor to claim a charitable deduction) • No thank-you letter unless the donor requests. Do not save thank-you letter. – verify address with donor. (development officer responsible) • No Banner record with identifying personal information • No soft credit in fundraising system linked to donor’s record (if they have a “non”-anonymous record also or linked to the anonymous donor’s Donor Advised Fund.

  7. If the donor wants just the gift to be anonymous: • No recognition, no stories in publications for the gift in question • Listing in the donor honor roll or wall of honor. • Gift receipt • Thank-you letter (development officer responsible) • Banner record with identifying personal information • Soft credit in fundraising system linked to potential Donor Advised Fund

  8. Potential employees who may know about the anonymous gift • President • Vice President for University Relations • Development Officers • Director, Development Information Services • Gift Accounting Manager – for processing of gift • General Counsel – for approval of endowment / gift agreements

  9. No such thing as complete anonymity • Oakland will: • use its best efforts to maintain anonymity • NOT guarantee anonymity • For example, anonymity may not extend to: • Audits • Government subpoenas for information • The Board of Trustees “need to know” clause as mentioned in Board of Trustee Policy “Confidentiality of Donor and Prospect Records”. • That is why this document is called “OU Roadmap to Maximizing Donor Anonymity” • Most states provide that when the donor’s reasonable expectation of privacy outweighs the public’s right to know, the court will not necessarily require disclosure

  10. Communications guidelines • Review carefully, all written, oral, and electronic communications with the donor to ensure they do not compromise the donor and/or gift anonymity • Do not promise or guarantee anonymity. • Development Officers should provide all documentation on anonymous donors and anonymous gifts to the Gift Accounting Manager upon finalization of the gift. • Development officers should take care not to record details of anonymous gifts in the Banner prospect module.

  11. Reporting of anonymous gifts and donors • Anonymous gifts will be counted in all fundraising reports • Any fundraising report that would normally show the donor name will show “Anonymous” for those donors who wish to be completely anonymous

  12. Donor Relations / Stewardship • Ask the donor how they would like Oakland to handle such stewardship issues as: • Annual Endowment Reports • Thank-you letters • Etc.

  13. Further Reading (internet links) • From DIS – Stewardship Web page: • Board of Trustees Gift Policy: Confidentiality of Donor and Prospect Records • Banner Advancement Procedure Manual: “Anonymous Donors” • CASE Currents Article: “Protecting Donor Anonymity” • Wall Street Journal Article: “Why Donating Millions Is Hard To Keep Secret”

  14. DIS Web pages – www.oakland.edu/dis

  15. I will not talk about anonymous donors. I will not talk about anonymous donors. I will not talk about anonymous donors. I will not talk about anonymous donors. I will not talk about anonymous donors. I will not talk about anonymous donors. I will not talk about anonymous donors. I will not talk about anonymous donors. I will not talk about anonymous donors.

  16. Additional Questions – please contact: • Rob Saunders, Director of Development Information Services (rsaunder@oakland.edu) • Theresa Allen – Gift Accounting Manager (tallen@oakland.edu)

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