Mystery Donors Shower Schools With $45M

(AP)  A mystery is unfolding in the world of college fundraising: During the past few weeks, at least nine universities have received gifts totaling more than $45 million, and the schools had to promise not to try to find out the giver's identity.

One school went so far as to check with the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security just to make sure a $1.5 million gift didn't come from illegal sources.

"In my last 28 years in fundraising ... this is the first time I've dealt with a gift that the institution didn't know who the donor is," said Phillip D. Adams, vice president for university advancement at Norfolk State University, which received $3.5 million.

The gifts ranged from $8 million at Purdue to $1.5 million donated to the University of North Carolina at Asheville. The University of Iowa received $7 million; the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of Maryland University College got $6 million each; the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs was given $5.5 million; and Penn State-Harrisburg received $3 million.

It's not clear whether the gifts came from an individual, an organization or a group of people with similar interests. In every case, the donor or donors dealt with the universities through lawyers or other middlemen. Some of the money came in cashier's checks, while other schools received checks from a law firm or another representative.

All the schools had to agree not to investigate the identity of the giver. Some were required to make such a promise in writing.

"Our chancellor was called to a Denver law office and had to sign a confidentiality agreement that she would not try to find out," said Tom Hutton, spokesman at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. "Once the chancellor signed it, she was emphatic that we don't try to find out."

Each was delivered since March 1 and came with the same stipulation: Most of the money must be used for student scholarships, and the remainder can be spent on various costs such as research, equipment, strategic goals and operating support.

"We have no idea who this generous individual is, but we're extremely grateful," said Lynette Marshall, president and chief executive of the University of Iowa foundation. "This is the first time in my 25-year career that something of this magnitude has happened."

Usually when schools receive anonymous donations, the school knows the identity of the benefactor but agrees to keep it secret. Not knowing who is giving the money can raise thorny problems.

William Massey, vice chancellor for alumni and development at UNC-Asheville, said the school contacted the Department of Homeland Security and the IRS to make sure the money was legal before accepting it.

"There may be an ethical problem if you knowingly accept funds from ill-gotten gains," said Colorado Springs' Hutton. University officials "do due diligence and ask the appropriate questions and receive satisfactory answers."

The $6 million donated to the University of Southern Mississippi was the largest single gift ever bestowed to the school.

"It was a remarkable gift particularly during these economic times," said David Wolf, vice president of advancement.

"I think somebody is out there, or potentially a group of people, that has a great respect for the value of a college education and the power that it brings," Wolf said. "Gosh, if it's the same person or the same collective group of people, it's an amazing story."
By Associated Press Writer Michael J. Crumb

[gramto8]

The name of the donor who gave this wonderful gift is walter williamson who passed away on march 1,2009 at the age of 89...
Posted by mrswilson1944 at 1:18 PM : Apr 17, 2009

Way to go, Mrs Gop-Harry-Wilson. You have them all on the line. Reel them in!

[NancyLou9]

I searched the internet for an obit of a Walter Williamson who passed away at the age of 89 on April 1, 2009, and came up big, fat goose eggs. Someone this wealthy, you'd imagine he'd receive a pretty nice obit, at the very least.

Also, another reason to be skeptical is that an endowment this large, an estate large enough to send out this kind of money, would take months or years to get through probate, not mere weeks. Heck, the audit alone would take at least two or three months and believe you me, that executor isn't paying for parking out of the estate until they know the money's there.

Seems to me mrswilson1944 is blosing sunshine up our skirts, for what reason I don't know, except maybe they got out of their rubber room and somehow got into the computer lab at their hospital.

[antoniof123]

The liberals must be mad because they couldn't steal this money and distribute it to THEIR pet causes. It's particularly interesting that these donors donated anonymously, unlike liberal politicians who like to portray themselves as magnanimous while giving away other peoples money!

The more we reduce taxes the more we will see this wonderful tradition continue. Keep Nancy Pelosi's grubby hands off charitable giving!
Posted by azirine at 3:58 PM : Apr 17, 2009

Wow, the liberals didn't even have to steal it becaue it went to a liberal cause. Of course the conservatives will now want to cut funding to those schools so they can add it to the war cause.

It is going to be another blood bath in 2010 I can see it now.

[amazedd]

So long, Land of the Free. Welcome to the Home of Beggars and The Forty Thieves.

[sandy19731]

"The liberals must be mad because they couldn't steal this money and distribute it to THEIR pet causes" - azirine

Yes, that's it!! How did you know, I was just thinking how could I steal this money for my liberal causes!! Because, you know, higher education is never a liberal cause, we don't believe in it!

[wtcmedic911]

althou i will never be of benifit from this monies given, i thank the people/family that donated these money.

[cbsblogger]

Even Bernie Madoff was disgusted with the huge procreation of self serving charities of his tribe such as the Robert I. Lappin Foundation, and proceeded to bankrupt them using his own devious methods.

Google: Robert I Lappin Foundation Mission Statement.

[cbsblogger]

Mrs Wilson thank you if that be the case.

[cbsblogger]

Apparently there are still generous well meaning people in the world aside from those who represent the self serving greed of banking and Wall Street. These people would never have donated to the greater good. I can assure everyone with 100% certainty that the donor involved did not come from this tribe.

They give to their own charities, and these charities are only open to their own, and they are set up to advance for their own interests...in other words they are self serving charities.

They get racist tax deductions.

[onevoteinwi]

Thank you, and we will pray for the williamson family in the weeks and months to come