BENEFITS OF CHARITABLE GIVING & THE DONOR BILL OF RIGHTS

Some of the benefits a donor would consider donation to Texas Southern University and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law include:

• To fulfill a philanthropic desire, goal or mission
• To reduce income tax through a charitable deduction
• To increase spendable income
• To avoid capital-gains taxes on appreciated property
• To eliminate federal estate taxes

Whatever the reason, donors have chosen to give their assets, and they have selected TSU to be the recipient of those assets. All donors deserve to be treated with respect and professionalism. They rightfully expect the development officers with whom they work to be knowledgeable of and to exemplify the highest professional standards.

Developed by a consortium of professional organizations¹ to serve as guidelines for fundraising professionals, The Donor Bill of Rights lists expectations to which the TSU Office of Development adheres. The University will endeavor to treat all donors and prospective donors with the utmost respect and understanding. Donors will:

• Be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
• Be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
• Have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
• Be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
• Receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
• Be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
• Expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
• Be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
• Have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
• Feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.²

¹American Association of Fundraising Counsel (AAFRC), Association of Fund Raising Professionals (AFP), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

²The same organizations that developed the Donor Bill of Rights are preparing an “E-Donor Bill of Rights” that will address issues concerning electronic fund raising. Once this has been adopted and approved by all the above organizations, TSU will adhere to its guideline as well. The E-Donor Bill of Rights at a minimum will include the following: that all online transactions should occur through a safe, private and secure system; that the organization’s privacy policy should be clearly worded and posted on the site; and that the donor has an opportunity to opt out of inclusion of any shared, rented, traded or transferred donor lists.