In October 2019, in response to concerns over the nature and motivation of gifts from certain outside sources of funding, and the potential effects of MIT’s associations with such sources, Provost Martin Schmidt charged the Ad Hoc Committee to Review MIT Gift Processes with understanding MIT’s current gift processes and recommending changes to ensure MIT’s process is aligned with the Institute’s values.

The Ad Hoc Faculty Committee on Guidelines for Outside Engagements was convened by Chair of the Faculty Rick Danheiser in October 2019 to define a set of values and principles, consistent with MIT’s mission, to guide the assessment of outside engagements, including grants, gifts, and any other associations and collaborations with governments, corporations, foundations, or private individuals, domestic or foreign.