In a paper commissioned by the Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal, ACTA draws out the implications of the settlement in Robertson v. Princeton, the landmark donor-intent lawsuit against Princeton University. ACTA argues that universities have broken the compact of trust with donors, who must now take an active role in ensuring their alma maters properly use their donations. While emphasizing the importance of donor vigilance, ACTA also calls on boards to take steps to affirm their commitment to carrying out donor intent.
This guide, updated in 2019, outlines some of the key questions trustees should ask regarding the academic and financial operations of their institutions. Institutions vary significantly in terms of size, audience, and purpose. But by asking questions and following up, trustees can play a pivotal role in ensuring that the next generation receives a quality […]
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 […]
Governance for a New Era, a blueprint for higher education governance, is the product of a summit facilitated by ACTA and chaired by Benno Schmidt, past president of Yale University and former board chairman of the City University of New York. Signatories to the statement, a diverse group of 22 distinguished national leaders, include college […]
Given the level of vitriol that marked the six-year legal battle between Princeton University and the relatives of a former donor, it’s hardly surprising that Wednesday’s settlement to bring the lawsuit to a close was not, as some such accords are, of the “Can’t we all just get along?” group hug variety. The two parties […]
Princeton University could lose $1.5 billion as the result of a critical development in a five-year legal battle that could influence how much say donors have in determining how nonprofit organizations use their gifts. The heirs of the A&P supermarket fortune are suing the Ivy League school, arguing that Princeton did not follow the terms […]
Does this graduation season bring any good news from the American campus—any deviation from higher ed’s slide into politically correct incivility and closed-mindedness? A few cheering, or at least not thoroughly disheartening, signs are visible. The president of Bethune-Cookman University, joined by the school’s faculty, took a stand against protesters’ rudeness last week, when the […]
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