Macomb Community College welcomes and encourages philanthropy to help support
student scholarships, academic programs, construction and renovation of college
facilities, as well as other important college projects or programs. This policy is intended
to govern the recognition of significant financial support given to the college.
Donor Recognition and Naming Opportunities
Macomb Community College and the Macomb Community College Foundation shall
seek private funds to enhance the College’s ability to meet the higher education needs of
the community.
The Director of the Foundation, in consultation with the Vice President for Business and
the Vice President of Student and Community Relations, shall develop a comprehensive
list of donor naming and recognition opportunities and the contribution level associated
with each opportunity. The menu of proposed naming and recognition opportunities,
together with the contribution levels associated with each opportunity shall be presented
to the Board of Trustees for approval.
Granting the right to name a facility, or a portion of a facility is a challenging task, and
setting up the appropriate donor level is at best an inexact science, and much depends
upon the size, age, prestige, location, original cost, ect. However, some general
principals can be put forth as follows:
· Older Existing Facilities (more than 10 years old) funded with public money
should be named only in exchange for gift commitments of at least 20 percent of
the building’s current value or replacement cost, or a minimum of seven hundred
and fifty thousand, ($750,000) dollars. Total costs include: architectural,
planning, and construction; fees; site clearance and landscaping; furnishing; and
equipment.
· Newer Existing Facilities (less than 10 years old) funded with public money
should be named only in exchange for gift commitments of at least 25 percent of
the building’s current value or replacement cost, or a minimum of three million
($3,000,000) dollars. Total costs include: architectural, planning, and construction;
fees; site clearance and landscaping; furnishing; and equipment.
· Facilities, or a portion of a facility, that a donor wishes to have constructed or
remodeled, will require a 100 percent gift commitment.
· The minimum gift for a naming commitment as to a portion of a facility should
take into account the location, visibility, and prestige associated with the space.
· Donor names proposed for fountains, ornamental structures, landscaping or
similar features will normally require a gift to cover the full cost of the project as
well as a maintenance fund for long-term preservation.
· To avoid any appearance of commercial influence or conflict of interest, due
diligence should be taken before recommending the naming of a major program
or area, building, opens space, or roadway that involves the name of a
corporation or corporate funding. The naming for an individual associated
with a corporation should be handled as any naming for an individual.
The following principles shall be fully adhered to in the naming process:
· Naming commitments are reflections on the ideals and reputation of the College,
and accordingly, each gift and naming commitment should be reviewed carefully
for full compliance with applicable laws and ethical principles. this is especially
true where there is some direct or indirect business or other continuing
relationship between the donor and the college, its officers or employees.
· The Office of General Counsel shall be consulted as to each potential naming
commitment and shall advise the Board of Trustees whether or not there are any
questions about the applicability of state or federal laws on conflicts of interest
and other ethical considerations that the Board of Trustees should be made
aware of.
· All proposed names for buildings and other facilities should be held in confidence during the review and approval process. There should be minimum communication about the proposed naming before appropriate approval has been granted.
· The naming of buildings in recognition of a donor or honoree implies a promise
to that donor or honoree that the facility will be permanently maintained, or if
change is unavoidable, that an alternative means of recognizing the donor or
honoree will be found at that time.
· The College shall be responsible for maintaining a record of named buildings,
and other spaces.
· The College Board of Trustees may remove naming recognition at any time if
the donor fails to timely meet an obligation specified in a gift agreement, is found
to be in violation of law, or otherwise engages in conduct that, in the opinion of
the College Board of Trustees, brings dishonor to the College or otherwise
undermines the College’s reputation or image in the community.
The size, design and wording of any signs acknowledging corporate generosity and
college appreciation should exclude logos to avoid the appearance of advertising and must be consistent with the College signage.
Any donor wishing to specify a naming opportunity must provide at least 25 percent of the gift at the time of the request with a written pledge to complete the gift within three years.
The space will be officially named when the gift is fully received, but will be reserved for
the donor during the time of the pledge.
The name of an existing facility will remain for an agreed upon time, depending upon
the significance of the donation. The name on a facility to be demolished or repurposed
will not be transferred to a new facility except in such case where transferring the name
would be in the best interest of the college, and the new building is similar to the original
building in function, size, ect.
Macomb Community College may decline or return a gift if the purpose of the gift is:
· Clearly commercial.
· Obligates the College to undertake responsibilities, financial or otherwise, that it may not be capable of meeting.
· Restricted in use based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex or other
classification prohibited by law.
· Restricted in beneficiary to relatives or descendants of the donor.
· Reserves the designation of beneficiary of a gift to the donor or his or her assigns.
· Restricted to the future employment of the recipient of any gift.
· Restricted by interest rates or conditions for repayment of loans.
· Inappropriate or not in the best interest of the college.
The terms and conditions of all donations to the Foundation or College that would result
in a naming opportunity shall be set forth in a written gift agreement or other instrument
and approved by the Office of General Counsel.
If the Office of General Counsel approves a proposed written agreement or other
instrument, the naming request will be submitted to the College Board of Trustees for
approval. The Vice President for business or Vice President for Student and Community
Relations is authorized to execute a board-approved gift agreement or instrument on
behalf of the College.
Approved by the Board of Trustees
Macomb Community College
May 19, 2009