SUBJECT: Donations to The University of Memphis 

 PROCEDURE: 2A:09:03A                  DATE: November 1, 1997 
 SUPERSEDES PROCEDURE NO.: 2A:09:03A   DATED: February 1, 1992


	A. Responsibility for Acceptance of Gifts



1. The Vice President for Advancement is responsible for the coordination and acceptance of 
all gifts (personal or real property, services, and cash) to the University. The Office of 
Development should be advised immediately upon learning of the probability of the offer of a 
gift or donation of any type. After securing all appropriate information, a recommendation to 
accept the gift or donation will be submitted for approval as detailed in this procedure. 
Depending on the value, the President or the Vice President for Advancement will make a final 
decision on acceptance of the proposed gift or donation.

2. For non-cash donations, a Donation Report Form (Attachment I) 
must be initiated by the receiving department and approved through appropriate channels. 
No acceptance or delivery of the item/service can be made until the Donation Report Form is 
fully completed, with all applicable approvals, as detailed below, secured in advance. 
The Office of Development coordinates all notification of acceptance/rejection to the donor.


	B. General Definitions and Requirements



1. "Gifts-in-Kind," for the purpose of this procedure, refers to all gifts which are not in cash 
or marketable securities and includes tangible property or services.

2. The valuation of gifts-in-kind is an internal designation only. Material gifts-in- kind will 
be recorded in University accounts as both revenue and expenditure. Values for recording purposes 
will be determined based upon valid documentation. Exceptions, however, will occur when the 
University accounts for such amounts for "matching funds" purposes or giving the donor credit 
for various gift levels and similar reasons, i.e., Athletic Department Tiger Clubs.

3. In accordance with University Operating Procedure No. 2D:03:05A, Purchasing, donations of real 
property, insurance, and capital outlay are subject to the approval of the Chancellor of the 
Tennessee Board of Regents or his designee. The Office of the Vice President for Business and 
Finance will secure such approvals.

4. Restricted gifts-in-kind used to meet "matching funds" requirements received from a different 
donor or sponsor should be coordinated through the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, in 
addition to the other requirements detailed in this procedure.

5. Gifts-in-kind in the form of incidental volunteer personal services (fund raising telethons, 
public relations, alumni-sponsored fund raisers) are generally not recorded. The Donation Report 
Form described below is not necessary for volunteer services (except as noted below).

6. The value of donated professional services such as medical, engineering, or architectural may 
be recorded where such services normally would have been purchased.

7. As noted below, the department should reasonably estimate costs associated with renovation, 
installation, and annual maintenance for property and equipment donations. Such initial and 
ongoing costs will be part of the determining factors in accepting or rejecting the gift. Also, 
the University will not routinely replace donated items.



	C. Real Property and Testamentary Gifts


The Office of the Vice President for Business and Finance is responsible for the coordination and 
acceptance of all donations and gifts of real property and testamentary bequests and devises in 
coordination with the Office of Development. The same information shall be secured for these type 
donations or gifts as outlined above.



	D. Donations of Hardware, Software, and Related Services

Specific guidelines must be followed for any acquisition of data processing equipment, software 
and related services. The term acquisition, according to Tennessee Board of Regents Guidelines, 
encompasses gifts as well as purchases, leases, etc. Responsible parties contemplating acceptance 
of such gifts are referred to University Operating Procedures No. 2D:03:05A, Purchasing, and 
No. 2D:03:05C, Contracts for Acquisition of Hardware, Software and Related Services, for
more detailed information.



	E. Tennessee Board of Regents Approval



The Office of the Vice President for Business and Finance shall be responsible for securing the 
approval of the Tennessee Board of Regents when appropriate. University Operating Procedure No. 
2D:03:05A requires approval at the TBR level for acquisitions of real property, insurance or capital 
outlay donations.



	F. Gift-in-Kind Valuation



1. Values for Gift-in-Kind recording in University accounts are determined based upon valid 
documentation. The value of the in-kind gift is for internal purposes only and should not be used 
by the donor for tax deduction purposes. It is the responsibility of the donor, not the University, 
to secure appropriate information and forms for his/her personal IRS reporting. Refer also 
to University Operating Procedure No. 2D:01:08A, Tax Law Concerning Gifts of Noncash Property, for 
additional information. 

2. In general, the value used in recording the gift-in-kind should be the lower of the fair 
market value on the date of the gift or the reasonable value of the gift-in-kind to the 
University. The value should be based upon, but is not limited to, the following general criteria:

	a. Fair market value as it relates to the use and/or actual need for the item by 
	the University.

	b. Purchase price available to the University by competitive bidding.

	c. Donor's recommended retail sales price will not be considered if it is 
	not the normal market sales price.

	d. Published rental rates of item will not be used.

	e. If there is no need for the item, value will be determined by disposable income.

	f. Costs of acceptance of the item will be considered.

	g. If donation/gift is less than complete, i.e., periodic use not to exceed one (1) year, 
	the value will not exceed the cost savings to the department.


3. If the donation is a single item, valid documentation must be included with the Donation 
Report Form. If amounts are recurring, the value will be determined prior to June 30th.

4. Other departments, i.e. Purchasing and Physical Plant and Planning, may be consulted to 
assist in determining values.



	G. Documentation for Gift Values


Adequate support documentation which provides a description and other pertinent 
information concerning a proposed gift/donation must be included with the 
Donation Report Form when the form is submitted for approval to accept the 
gift/donation. This includes, but is not limited to, published price lists, 
appraisals, brochures, etc.

Additionally, once the gift/donation is received and it is from a business and/or 
professional, i.e., food and beverage products, printing, physician, dentist, etc., 
a bill/statement must be provided as if the goods or services were being sold. For 
tangible products, the bill/statement must indicate what is being provided, including, 
but not limited to, name of the product, model number, serial number, quantity, etc. 
For professional services, i.e., medical services, the bill/statement must identify 
the service, date of service and identify the individual(s) for whom the services 
were provided. The department receiving the gift/donation shall approve the 
bill/statement as if it was going to be processed for payment; provided, however, 
where the account number is normally indicated, the words "Gift/Donation" should be 
written. The bill/statement should then be submitted for attachment to the Donation 
Report Form which was previously approved for acceptance of the gift.



	H. Disposal and Internal Revenue Service Notification


If the University sells, exchanges, or otherwise disposes of "charitable deduction 
property," as defined under Internal Revenue Codes and Regulations, within two (2) 
years after receipt of the property, then an information return must be filed with 
the IRS. The department disposing of the property should refer to 
University Operating Procedure No. 2D:01:08A and provide information 
as specified.



	I. Additional Requirements


The Vice President for Advancement will ensure that any additional requirements 
are met prior to acceptance of the gift. As noted above, if the item requires 
Tennessee Board of Regents approval, the Office of the Vice President for 
Business and Finance will be notified. That office is responsible for 
the coordination and acceptance of gifts requiring the approval of the 
Tennessee Board of Regents.



	J. Approval of Acceptance


The President's approval is required for all items with a value over $5,000. 
For items $5,000 or less, only the approval of the Vice President for 
Advancement is required. The Vice President for Advancement secures the 
President's approval as necessary.



	K. Office of Development Actions


1. A complete record of all gifts and donations to the University will be 
maintained in the Office of Development.

2. Proper acknowledgment of all gifts and donations will be made by the Vice 
President for Advancement, who will also insure that all letters and publicity 
concerning gifts and donations are appropriately coordinated prior to release. 
Departments, i.e. Athletics Department, that receive a large number of 
gifts and donations may be permitted to handle acknowledgment and publicity.

3. Upon receipt of an offer of a gift/donation, receipt of the required 
information concerning the item(s), and receipt of the written recommendation 
to accept, the Vice President for Advancement accomplishes the following:

	a. Reviews thoroughly the information submitted by the 
	department/activity head.

	b. Determines that existing Internal Revenue Service 
	requirements have been met. For additional information 
	regarding donations of noncash property, refer to
	University Operating Procedure 2D:01:08A, Tax Laws 
	Concerning Gifts of Noncash Property.

	c. Secures the approval of the President if the value 
	of the item exceeds $5,000.

	d. As needed, reviews the gift/donation proposal with the 
	submitting department and prospective donor, and as appropriate, 
	advises the donor of the non-acceptance and the reasons therefore 
	or the terms and conditions under which the gift/donations will be accepted.

	e. Advises the concerned department of the decision to accept or not accept 
	the gift or donation.

	f. Determines if the documentation of value submitted with the Donation 
	Report Form is adequate.

	g. Coordinates the transfer of ownership and physical possession of 
	the item(s) with the donor and the appropriate University department officials.

	h. Advises the following offices of the acceptance of the gift or donation. 
	Notification of acceptance will include a copy of the completed and approved 
	Donation Report Form.


		(1) Accounting Office

		(2) Department Chairman/Activity Head receiving the gift



	L. Exceptions and special procedures may be established for departments that 
	receive a large number of gifts and donations, i.e. Athletics Department.