Describing the purpose
Problems arise where a donor specifies a purpose for a gift that inadvertently does not take into account possible changes at the University in the future.
The donor should specify the purpose of a gift to the University in broad terms. This ensures that the donor's wishes can always be implemented by the University, even if there are changes to the content or structure of a particular course, or if there are changes to the research priorities of the University.
For example:
- for a gift whose purpose is research into a particular disease, the University requests that donors also specify an alternative or additional disease for investigation, as a cure or treatment for the nominated disease may be discovered, or the research priorities of the University may change over time;
- for a gift whose purpose is a prize, the University requests that donors specify an area or discipline of study, rather than stating the name of a particular subject, as the nominated subject may not always be taught at the University, or may change its name over time;
- for a gift whose purpose is a scholarship, the University requests that donors specify an area or discipline of study, rather than stating the name of a particular degree, as the nominated degree may not always be offered at the University, or may change its name over time; and
- for a gift whose purpose is a fellowship, the University requests that donors also specify a fellowship in an alternative or additional area or discipline for research, as the research priorities of the University may change over time.