Charitable donation recommendations

Below is a summary of the advice to charitable donors provided in Paul Sullivan, Keep Donations Flexible Now to Avoid Conflict Tomorrow, NY Times, May 2, 2009:

Donors need to anticipate that problems could occur in the near and distant future. For example, the amount of money being donated could tremendously exceed the amount needed for the original purpose.  Thus, the donor should include instructions on how to handle this possibility.

Donees need to include escape clauses.  For example, if a building is named after the donor and then the donor is arrested and convicted of a major crime, the donee should have the ability to remove the donor’s name from the building.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.