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Administrative Services GatewayReview the guidelines for naming opportunities, as related to the policy for Naming University Properties, Facilities, and Academic and Non-Academic Programs.
Minimum thresholds must be met when considering naming in recognition of a donor’s philanthropic contributions. The listed opportunities are not inclusive, but rather represent the types of naming that are more commonplace. To consider naming opportunities not included on this list, contact University Advancement.
Schools and units are encouraged to develop naming opportunities and target gift levels consistent with the minimum guidelines. When establishing naming minimums, consider the purpose to be served by the naming so that adequate funds will be available to achieve the gifting objective.
An inventory of all school and unit specific naming opportunities is maintained by the vice president for university advancement.
Naming opportunities for physical facilities are generally only available through endowment gifts. It is intended that the name will remain on the building, interior, or exterior space for the life of the building or space. If at some future time the building or space is replaced, the name may or may not be carried on the replacement at the university’s sole discretion. If the name is not used on the replacement, some form of recognition may be incorporated into the new building or space, as appropriate.
| Facility Type | Purpose | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Older Existing Building (more than 10 years old) | Funds will be used to cover costs associated with the construction, renovation or equipping of the named space. Alternatively, depending on the need of the university, the funds may be used to establish an endowment fund whereby income from the fund is used to support an academic program or department in perpetuity. | Naming is a tribute that may be made in recognition of a gift equal to one-third of a building’s current value or one-third of the privately funded portion of its replacement cost. Current value will be established on an individual building basis by the vice president for university advancement in consultation with the applicable dean, university facilities, and other appropriate campus entities. This analysis will consider original construction costs, age of facility, square footage, anticipated continued usage requirements and facility appreciation or depreciation. Total replacement costs include: architectural planning and construction; fees; site clearance and landscaping; furnishing; and equipment. |
| Newer Existing Building (10 years old or less) | Income from the fund supports an academic program or department in perpetuity. | Naming is a tribute that may be made in recognition of a gift equal to at least 50% of the building’s current value. Current value will be established on an individual building basis as determined by the vice president for advancement in consultation with the applicable dean, university facilities, and other appropriate campus entities. This analysis will consider original construction costs, age of facility, square footage, anticipated continued usage requirements, and facility appreciation or depreciation. |
| New Building | To provide significant funding costs for a new facility that the university and donor wish to have constructed. | Naming is a tribute that may be made in recognition for a gift of 50% of the total construction costs (including architectural planning and construction; fees; site clearance and landscaping; furnishing; and equipment), 30% of total construction costs plus an endowed maintenance fund, or 50% of the privately funded portion of cost (if a State-supported initiative). |
| Interior Spaces (e.g., lab, hall, conference room, classroom, wings, performance space, lounge) | Funds will be used to cover costs associated with the construction, renovation or equipping of the named space. Alternatively, depending on the need of the university, the funds may be used to establish an endowment fund whereby income from the fund is used to support an academic program or department in perpetuity. | Naming is a tribute that may be made in recognition for a gift made to construct, renovate, or equip the named space. In instances when construction, renovation, or new equipment is not required, the gifting standard will be equal to the amount it may have originally cost to construct, renovate, or equip the space after taking into account any factors related to appreciation or depreciation. See the guidance for Calculating Space Values. |
Naming opportunities for academic programs are only available through endowment gifts. To name a school, college, center, institute, program, or academic unit, separate and apart from the physical facility (building) housing that entity, the gift should be proportional to the amount of endowment (approximately principal x 4% annual payout) that would be necessary to sustain or propel the program to academic excellence on a permanent basis.
| Institutional Academic Program/Initiatives | Purpose | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Schools of Dental Medicine, Engineering & Applied Sciences, Law, Management, Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the College of Arts & Sciences | Income from the fund supports a school in perpetuity | $30 million |
| Schools of Architecture & Planning, Education, Public Health & Health Professions, Social Work, and Nursing | Income from the fund supports a school or faculty in perpetuity | $15 million |
| Academic Center or Institute | Income from the fund supports an academic center or institute in perpetuity | $5 million |
| Academic Program or Department | Income from the fund supports an academic program or department in perpetuity | $5 million |
| Library Fund | Income from the fund supports the acquisition of books or educational resources related to an academic program | $25,000 |
Naming opportunities exist for the purpose of providing support of faculty, students, or academic priorities. In such instances, naming may be available to honor donors making significant gifts, regardless of whether the contribution allows for sustainable financial support (endowment), or for instances where the endowment will be built up over time (i.e., quasi-endowment).
Non-permanent (term) naming also may be possible to recognize donors providing financial support for faculty, student, or academic priorities for a finite period. Term naming is possible when there is an understanding that the contributed amount will be fully expended and/or when the donor commits to providing an annual gift equivalent to the annual yield from an endowment fund (approximate principal x 4%) for a fixed period, typically five years or more.
| Faculty Naming Opportunity | Purpose | Minimum Annual Gift* (Term) | Minimum Endowment Gift (Permanent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair (the highest faculty honor) | Income from the fund significantly enhances and honors the teaching and academic work of a faculty member. Supplements salary, research, and other expenses related to the teaching and research of a distinguished faculty member (beyond core support provided by the university). | $60,000 | $1.5 million |
| Professorship | Income from the fund helps provide research and teaching support for a faculty member. A professorship provides recognition as well as some financial assistance for salary or research. | $40,000 | $1 million |
| Associate Professorship | Income from the fund helps provide research and teaching support for a faculty member. A professorship provides recognition as well as some financial assistance for salary or research. | $30,000 | $750,000 |
| Assistant Professorship | Income from the fund helps provide research and teaching support for a faculty member. A professorship provides recognition as well as some financial assistance for salary or research. | $20,000 | $500,000 |
| Visiting Professorship | Provides funds to bring a visiting professor or other leader to campus on a short-term, temporary basis, to teach, or undertake research at UB | $12,000 | $250,000 |
| Faculty Research Fund | Supports or supplements the costs of academic research being carried out by or under the auspices of one or more distinguished faculty members | $4,000 | $100,000 |
| Visiting Scholar Fund | Provides funds to bring a visiting scholar or teacher to UB | $2,000 | $50,000 |
| Dean's Fund | Provides unrestricted support for the excellence of a school, college, or faculty. Fund administered at the discretion of a dean. | $2,000 | $50,000 |
| Director's Fund | Provides unrestricted support for a unit headed by a director | $2,000 | $50,000 |
| Lecture Fund | Used to bring a visiting lecturer to UB or to provide a public or community lecture | $1,000 | $25,000 |
| Department Excellence Fund | Provides monies for use where the need is greatest, at the discretion of the department head | $1,000 | $25,000 |
| Graduate Student Scholarship or Fellowship | Provides financial support to graduate students for qualified educational expenses such as tuition, books, and other required fees. Scholarships are generally tax free for the recipient. | $4,000 | $100,000 |
| Undergraduate Student Scholarship | Provides financial support to undergraduate students for qualified educational expenses such as tuition, books, and other required fees. Scholarships are generally tax free for the recipient. | $2,000 | $50,000 |
| Student Award | Provides financial recognition for a student who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship or community service or other specific accomplishments. An award is generally taxable income to the recipient. Typically, no restrictions are placed on how the student can use the award money; it is not limited strictly to educational expenses. If restrictions are imposed, such as for travel or room and board, then it is no longer considered a prize or award. See the Gifts, Prizes, Awards Policy | $1,000 | $25,000 |
| Student Assistance Fund | Provides funding for ancillary expenses (not considered qualified educational expenses) such as travel, room and board, and research. The taxability of these transactions largely depends on whether we are reimbursing for incurred expenses or merely providing funds directly to the student recipient. | $1,000 | $25,000 |
| * Minimum amount required for an annual naming gift is computed by multiplying the endowment funding amount by the current percentage used for calculating the annual spendable amount on endowment accounts. | |||
| Student Naming Opportunity** | Purpose | Minimum Annual Gift* | Minimum Endowment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Student Scholarship or Fellowship | Provides financial support to graduate students for qualified educational expenses such as tuition, books, and other required fees. Scholarships are generally tax free for the recipient. | $4,000 | $100,000 |
| Undergraduate Student Scholarship | Provides financial support to undergraduate students for qualified educational expenses such as tuition, books, and other required fees. Scholarships are generally tax free for the recipient. | $2,000 | $50,000 |
| Student Award | Provides financial recognition for a student who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship or community service or other specific accomplishments. An award is generally taxable income to the recipient. Typically, no restrictions are placed on how the student can use the award money; it is not limited strictly to educational expenses. If restrictions are imposed, such as for travel or room and board, then it is no longer considered a prize or award. | $1,000 | $25,000 |
| Student Assistance Fund | Provides funding for ancillary expenses (not considered qualified educational expenses) such as travel, room and board, and research. The taxability of these transactions largely depends on whether we are reimbursing for incurred expenses or merely providing funds directly to the student recipient. | $1,000 | $25,000 |
| Study Abroad Fund | Provides funding to offset the costs of student study abroad experiences. The taxability of these transactions largely depends on whether we are reimbursing for incurred expenses or merely providing funds directly to the student recipient. | $1,000 | $25,000 |
* Minimum amount required for an annual naming gift is computed by multiplying the endowment funding amount by the current percentage used for calculating the annual spendable amount on endowment accounts. ** All student naming opportunities are based on in-state tuition only. For naming opportunities pertaining to out-of-state and international tuition, further adjustment is needed to these listed minimums. | |||
| Contact | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Vice President for University Advancement | 716-645-8398 | ub-giving@buffalo.edu |