Frequently Asked Questions

How are gifts to MIT accepted?

MIT works together with its donors to accept gifts that are aligned with its philanthropic mission, values, and needs. The MIT Gift Acceptance Committee reviews prospective gifts to the Institute and evaluates if MIT’s philanthropic activities are consistent with the Institute’s mission and values.

Gift documentation generated by MIT or the donor may only be signed by authorized signatories of MIT. The MIT Office of the Recording Secretary will coordinate the appropriate signatory for gift documentation.

Gift documentation must ensure the gift will:

• Support MIT’s mission and activities
• Consider how conditions or fields of research may change over time and contain alternate uses if the fund cannot be used as initially envisioned or if the available funds exceed the amounts needed for the original purpose
• Address MIT’s ability to charge prescribed administrative fees
• Meet MIT’s established fund minimums

How are gifts to MIT administered?

Once MIT is in receipt of a gift, it will honor the donor’s expressed intentions, while also retaining full control of the gift’s investment, use, and administration. Gifts to MIT are recorded to a specific fund that is already established or newly created for the gift. Gifts may be held in expendable or endowed funds.

The MIT Gift Policy Committee develops, updates, and distributes guidelines and policies that inform the solicitation, administration, and recognition of gifts, as well as ensure that these policies align with MIT’s values and advance its mission.

How can donors be recognized at MIT?

MIT can recognize the generosity of donors and their support for the Institute by naming spaces, academic activities, positions, and funds in honor of a gift made to support activity at MIT. Namings that are made in connection with a philanthropic gift must follow the established guidelines and processes for approval. Some namings are not permitted, including those of active employees of the Institute.

MIT reserves the unilateral right to revoke a naming before the conclusion of its naming period, whether the support is expendable or endowed. Such extraordinary instances might include but not be limited to:

• MIT’s determination that its continued association with the donor or the honoree could cause significant damage to the Institute’s reputation, standing, or integrity, or be contrary to the Institute’s values.
• The donor’s failure to fulfill the terms of the gift that is recognized by a naming.

How can donors use MIT’s name?

The Institute’s name and marks are among MIT’s most valuable assets. Use of these by any party, including donors, requires specific consent agreed to in writing or to the extent required by applicable law.

How does MIT protect donor privacy?

MIT is committed to protecting the privacy of its donors. MIT respects a donor’s request not to have their name publicly disclosed, to the extent permitted by law.

MIT will generally honor a donor’s request for anonymity if the donor’s identity is known to MIT. Notwithstanding a request for anonymity, MIT may be obligated by law to disclose information regarding a gift, including the donor’s name and gift amount.

Occasionally, MIT receives gifts from donors who cannot be identified. While MIT makes every effort to determine the identity of all its donors, if one cannot be determined within one year of receipt, MIT will allocate the gift to an unrestricted gift fund of the Institute. If a donor is identified after this period, MIT will determine whether to retain the gift and, if so determined, will attribute the gift to the donor and endeavor to reallocate the gift to the donor’s preferred designation.

How does MIT report on gifts?

Donors with established endowed funds receive an annual financial report on the status of the fund, including the market value and income distributed to support the purpose of the fund. They may also receive stewardship reports from the department administering the fund. Donors who have made expendable gifts may receive stewardship reports from the department administering the fund.

MIT presents its annual gift revenues in its audited consolidated financial statement using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

MIT complies with all federal and state requirements on the reporting of gift activity, including from the IRS, the Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and other agencies.