Campaign reinvestment fee FAQs
How much is the campaign reinvestment fee?
Why does VCU have a fee?
Do other universities in Virginia apply a fee to their donations?
Are there any exceptions to the fee?
Is my gift still fully tax deductible?
I am creating an endowment with my gift, but after the fee is assessed my gift will be less than the university’s required minimum. Will the endowment rules be adjusted to allow a payout below the minimum?
What is the Office of Development and Alumni Relations doing to control its operating costs?
How much is the campaign reinvestment fee?
A 4 percent campaign reinvestment fee will be assessed on all qualifying gifts to further fund Virginia Commonwealth University’s development and alumni relations efforts. Half of the fee will support the school or unit to which the original gift was made while the remaining 2 percent will bolster universitywide efforts.
The fee will support VCU’s commitment to an accountable development and alumni relations operation. This accountability includes our promise to provide timely gift receipts, accurate records and efficient disbursement of gift funds to programs at VCU. Do other universities in Virginia apply a fee to their donations?
Gift fees of 3 percent to 5 percent are common at universities throughout the country. Several Virginia institutions, including George Mason, Old Dominion, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, assess a gift fee. Are there any exceptions to the fee?
Yes, the campaign reinvestment fee will not be applied to:
- payments on pledges made before Oct. 1, 2010;
- any amount greater than $2 million on a single gift;
- voluntary research grants from private sources; and
- gifts in kind.
Yes. Assessment of a campaign reinvestment fee does not affect the tax-deductible amount of a donor’s gift to Virginia Commonwealth University. Donors will receive a gift receipt for the full amount of their gift. I am creating an endowment with my gift, but after the fee is assessed my gift will be less than the university’s required minimum. Will the endowment rules be adjusted to allow a payout below the minimum? The Board of Visitors has approved endowment minimums that are based on the donor's gift amount, not the amount invested. The university’s affiliated fundraising foundations will make payouts based on the amount of the gift invested. What is the Office of Development and Alumni Relations doing to control its operating costs?
We continue to explore entrepreneurial ways to increase private giving to the university while keeping our administrative costs at a minimum and our efficiencies at a premium. VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., has appointed a Development Advisory Council charged with providing a continual review of the fee.