Gift Stewardship

As a private organization that supports UB, we work with the university to ensure that your gift is used for its intended purpose. We take pride in representing the interests of donors, often in perpetuity.

• Contact us to discuss how we can help protect your legacy through gift stewardship

• Learn more about our rates of return and read about our diversification strategies
• Access audited financial statements

We understand that you may want to protect your privacy and your personal financial information. As a private organization, we are not required to disclose gift agreements, which means that your gift for UB will remain confidential unless you wish to be recognized publicly for your generosity.

• Making your gift
• Gift receipts
• Investment practices and performance
• Gifts made partly in consideration for goods or services (quid pro quo)
• Administrative fees
  

MAKING YOUR GIFT

Can I make a gift online?

Yes. Please visit our Make a Gift Now page.

Can I make a gift through payroll deduction or electronic funds transfer (EFT)?

Yes, you can make a gift through EFT or (for UB employees) payroll deduction. Please visit the Giving to UB website for details.

Can I make a gift of marketable securities?

Yes. Gifts of stocks, bonds and some mutual fund shares held in a brokerage account can be readily transferred to the UB Foundation’s account. Please note that certain mutual fund shares may require a transfer within the specific fund company and may take up to a month to complete the process. Our practice is to immediately liquidate all gifts of marketable securities and invest the funds in our professionally managed portfolios.

Contact us to make a gift of marketable securities

GIFT RECEIPTS

Do you send a receipt for gifts?

Yes. We send gift receipts for all gifts received. If a gift is from a corporation or organization, please include the name and title of the individual who needs to receive the receipt.

Can you email a receipt to me?

Yes. If you are donating online, all online gifts are sent an email receipt. If you are mailing in your donation, please note that you would like your gift receipt emailed and include your email.

INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE

How are endowment funds and other funds invested?

More than 90 professional investment managers currently share in the administration of the portfolio, with performance monitored by the trustees. Investments are distributed among various asset classes in order to honor spending policies, maintain risk tolerance and stability, produce appropriate investment returns, and achieve long-term objectives.

What are the anticipated returns?

Our primary investment objective is to continue maximizing total investment return while preserving the inflation-adjusted purchasing power of the portfolio.

View our benchmarks

GIFTS MADE PARTLY IN CONSIDERATION FOR GOODS OR SERVICES (QUID PRO QUO)

What is a quid pro quo gift?

Per the IRS, a quid pro quo gift is “a payment made partly as a contribution and partly in consideration for goods or services provided to the donor by the donee organization.” In other words, there is an expectation or understanding on the part of the donor that he or she will receive specific goods or services due in part to the gift.

How do I determine the fair market value of any benefits I receive?

Benefits provided to you that are “insubstantial” do not need to be subtracted from your contribution. Items are “insubstantial” if they meet one of the following criteria:

• The fair market value of all benefits is less than 2% of your total contribution, or $113, whichever is LESS. Note: It is not possible to determine the fair market value for a percentage or dollar off discount benefit (e.g., a bookstore discount, or non-athletic ticket discount). As a result, these types of benefits are exempt when determining the fair market value of benefits you receive in exchange for your contribution.
• For gifts of $56.50 or more, the benefits received are token items like mugs, bookmarks, etc. that bear UB’s name and/or logo and for which the cost to the university for all items given is $11.30 or less.
• Benefits are offered to a donor in return for a payment/contribution of $75 or less and consist of rights or privileges that can be used frequently during the membership period (e.g., parking privileges, bookstore discounts, non-athletic events, etc.).

Benefits that do not meet the criteria above are considered “substantial” and must be subtracted from your contribution for tax purposes.

Are payments for raffle tickets deductible?

No portion of a payment made resulting in an opportunity to win a prize or gift may be considered deductible. This includes raffle tickets, door prizes and other games of chance.

Where can I find more information about which contributions are deductible?

For more detailed information, including examples of deductibility of various contributions, please consult the following sources:

• IRS Publication 526
• IRS Publication 1771
• Federal Register Vol. 61, No. 242
• CASE Management Reporting Standards

ADMINISTRATIVE FEES

Are there gift fees involved with giving to UB?

Yes. Gift fees—which we strive to keep as low as possible—allow us to continue providing exceptional service, stewardship and flexibility in support of UB. The fees are as follows:

Gift revenues

• Endowment Principal Gifts: 0%
• Expendable Gifts: 5%

While no fee is deducted from any gifts to the principal of an endowment, an endowment fee amounting to approximately 1% of the value of each endowment fund is charged each year.

Charitable trusts and gift annuities

For all charitable trusts that we administer, an annual fee is charged of approximately 0.5% of the beginning-of-the-year market value. For all gift annuities that we administer, a fee totaling less than 0.5% of the beginning-of the-year market value is charged on the annual income allocation. Upon final distribution of trust or annuity assets, standard gift revenue fees are applied. For those charitable trusts that we do not administer, standard gift revenue fees are applied upon receipt of distribution from the trust.

For more detailed information please see the Philanthropic Fee Policy.