What is a Gift Acceptance Policy?
A gift acceptance policy ensures that every donor’s generosity, including yours, is honored exactly as intended. It provides clear guidelines for how gifts are reviewed, accepted, and managed—protecting both the donor’s wishes and the institution’s ability to fulfill them responsibly. By having this policy in place, we ensure transparency, consistency, and stewardship so that each contribution achieves the purpose and impact envisioned by you, the donor.
What Are Administrative Fees?
The administrative fee is a contribution on a sliding scale to assist development activities in support of WesternU’s educational, research and service mission.
The fee will improve capacity to grow private giving for WesternU and to reach out to more alumni, friends and business partners for philanthropic support.
This fee will be deducted from the contribution before the remaining funds are allocated to the designated purpose.
Gifts from $1,000 to $25,000: A 5% fee is assessed.
Gifts from $25,001 to $1,000,000: An 8% fee is assessed.
Gifts over $1,000,000: This fee is calculated using the following blended rate: 8% on the first $1,000,000 of the gift, and 5% on the portion of the gift exceeding $1,000,000.
Yes, many of our peer institutions apply a similar fee. CASE: 66% of institutions surveyed use similar fees.
Here are just a few examples:
University of California, Los Angeles – 6.5%
Harvard University – 15%
Cal State University, Dominguez Hills – 5%
No. The fee does not affect the tax deductibility of gifts. Donors receive full credit for the total amount.
The fee applies to gifts made by transfer of stock or securities. Brokerage fees associated with securities transfers are assessed to the benefitting fund.
There are currently the following automatic exemptions to the fee:
- Gifts under $1,000
- Gifts Designated to Student Financial Aid
- Gifts in Kind
- Planned or Deferred Gifts
There may be other circumstances where the fee may either be excluded or adjusted. To inquire about an exemption from the fee, please contact University Advancement.
Absolutely! Please contact University Advancement for more information – or just add the designated fee percentage to your total gift amount.
Gifts from $1,000 to $25,000: A 5% fee is assessed.
Gifts from $25,001 to $1,000,000: An 8% fee is assessed.
Gifts over $1,000,000: This fee is calculated using the following blended rate: 8% on the first $1,000,000 of the gift, and 5% on the portion of the gift exceeding $1,000,000.