Faculty and staff may donate funds to Kentucky State University or the Foundation for the purpose of supporting scholarships, programs, research, or other initiatives—provided that the donations are made voluntarily and without any expectation of personal benefit.
Donations made by faculty and staff to the University shall be irrevocable and unconditional (except for restrictions established in a written memorandum of understanding or on current established accounts/funds), indicating that the donor relinquishes control over the funds and does not expect any personal financial gain or preferential treatment as a result of the donation. Although restrictions may be placed on donations, the University and the Foundation reserve the right to reject any donation that is deemed too restrictive. Further, the University and the Foundation reserve the right to reject any donation for any reason.
In compliance with IRS regulations, faculty and staff donors shall not receive any personal benefit or consideration that could be perceived as a quid pro quo arrangement in exchange for their donations. This includes benefits to immediate family members.
Neither faculty and staff donors, nor their immediate family members, shall have the authority to select the recipient(s) of any scholarship or restricted fund that they personally funded. The selection process shall be conducted by a designated committee or relevant University office, thereby ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance with University policies and guidelines. The faculty or staff donors, as well as their immediate family members, may sit on a scholarship/selection committee, but they shall not have a controlling/majority vote.
In the event that a faculty or staff member violates this policy by attempting to select the recipient(s) of a scholarship or fund he or she personally funded, appropriate disciplinary action may be taken, which may include, but is not limited to, counseling, reassignment of responsibilities, or in severe cases, termination of employment, as well as notification to the IRS and the appropriate state agencies.
The Office of Institutional Advancement shall maintain accurate records of all donations received from faculty and staff, including the purpose of the donation, the donor's name, and any accompanying restrictions or preferences expressed by the donor. If the donation was made to a fund held on behalf of the University at the Foundation, the University shall maintain continuous operational control per established policy.
The Office of Institutional Advancement shall be responsible for managing donations and shall provide regular reports to the appropriate University authorities on faculty and staff giving at least quarterly, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability in the utilization of donated funds. If an employee believes he or she has a conflict prior to a donation or a disbursement, he or she should contact the Office of Institutional Advancement for guidance.
The University shall provide appropriate acknowledgement and recognition to faculty and staff donors in