Gift Acceptance Policy

Document status: Live
Version number: 2.0
Effective date: November 2025

Purpose and Scope

This document seeks to layout a Gift Acceptance Policy for Green Templeton College’s Development and Alumni Relations Office (“Development Office”). Fundraising is a key element in furthering and supporting the life and work of Green Templeton College (“GTC”).

The University’s policy on Gifts and Hospitality can be found online

GTC recognises that fundraising, and philanthropic activities are the main function and purpose of the Development Office. This document outlines the principles to define standard procedures for the solicitation and acceptance of philanthropic gifts to support GTC and shall apply to all gifts offered to, and received by, the College.

Definitions

Donations are understood to refer to money, gifts in kind (goods or services), stocks and shares, property or offers of help for introductions. The Development and Alumni Relations System (DARS) provides a common source of data on all alumni, donors, students, staff and friends of the collegiate University.

Legal Basis

Green Templeton College is a Registered Charity. As a registered charity, the College must observe the requirements of charity law and other relevant legislation in relation to the receipt and expenditure of funds. As a registered charity this includes the ability to recover tax deducted from deeds of covenant and receipts under Gift Aid, exemption from Inheritance Tax for Donors to the institution, and exemption from Capital Gains Tax.

Statement of Principles

The objective of the Gift Acceptance Policy is to ensure that GTC accepts gifts that are in line with its charitable purposes and are not in conflict with its principles. Steps in the College’s Due Diligence Policy should be followed to provide an initial screening report on the individual or organisation for approval at the appropriate level in college.

In general terms the College will not accept significant gifts from anonymous individuals or from individuals or organisations that lead to a perceived or actual endorsement of illegal activities or involve unlawful discrimination or would lead to reputational damage to the College.

Principles

• GTC will be transparent about the sources and purposes of gifts received.
• GTC will only accept donations from students, or family members of current students, if there is no inappropriate personal or academic gain, or perceived gain, for the student from making such a donation.
• GTC will only accept donations from a donor who has the mental capacity to decide to make the donation.
• GTC will not accept donations:
  • That are inconsistent with the College’s charitable purposes or if any conditions attached to accepting the gift outweigh its value to the College.
  • That impose conditions that require the return of all or part of the original donation.
  • From anonymous sources, however, anonymity will be respected provided the name of the donor is known to the Director of Development, Principal and the Governing Body.
  • If the proposed donation arises in whole or in part from any illegal activities or from activities that would lead to damage to the reputation of the College. Dependent upon the size of the donation, decisions concerning whether to accept will be made with reference to Table 1.
  • If accepting the proposed donation will require any illegal action on the part of GTC.
  • If accepting will restrict academic freedom or limit freedom of enquiry.
  • If accepting will create a conflict of interest, that cannot be managed, with a college member or the University.
  • If accepting will cause harm to the reputation of the College or to the name of the University.
  • If accepting will damage the College’s relationship with other beneficiaries, students, benefactors, partners, staff, collegiate community, the university or other stakeholders.

Gift Acceptance Approval Process

The College will have due regard to the University policy relating to the University of Oxford Committee to Review Donations and Research Funding (CRDRF). If significant concerns are raised about a new Donor or proposed donation, the College may seek guidance from the CRDRF on whether the donation should be accepted. Any donation which, in the opinion of the Governing Body (following referral by the Director of Development and the Principal), has the potential to have harmful reputational implications to the College or the University should be referred to CRDRF for review.

It is not mandatory for the College to refer any potential donors for review by the CRDRF, however it is suggested for donations of £1 million or above, or if there are significant concerns regarding the donor.

The potential donor details should be referred in the first instance to the CRDRF via the University Prospect Research Team – research@devoff.ox.ac.uk. It may be that the donor already has approval from the CRDRF, in which case the University Development Office (via the email address above) will inform the College straight away.

The CRDRF meet ten times during the year and require a 5-7 week lead time for considering any donations. It is possible that the donor has already been approved by CRDRF, in which case the Prospect Research Team will inform straight away.

All donations should be referred to the appropriate level in college for approval, with reference to Table 1, prior to acceptance.

Table 1. Gift thresholds with required approval levels