Carnegie Mellon University

Donor Bill of Rights

To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the organizations and causes they are asked to support, Carnegie Mellon supports the following rights for donors:

  1. To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes
  2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities
  3. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements
  4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given
  5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition
  6. To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law
  7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing the organization to the donor will be professional in nature
  8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization, or hired solicitors
  9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that the organization may intend to share
  10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers

The text of this statement in its entirety was developed by the American Association of Fundraising Counsel (AAFRC)Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP)Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). The statement was adapted for use by Carnegie Mellon University.

All personally identifiable information provided by Carnegie Mellon University alumni and other donors is strictly reserved for use by authorized university employees, contractors and alumni volunteers for university related purposes only. Information you provide to Carnegie Mellon will never be sold or traded to other educational institutions, nonprofit organizations or businesses, without your consent.

Carnegie Mellon University does not store credit card numbers after an online transaction has been completed.

Carnegie Mellon University does not routinely publish donors’ names and does not identify donors and their giving information without consent.

On rare occasions Carnegie Mellon University may be legally compelled to disclose certain information, such as in response to a subpoena or court order.

Read CMU's legal policies here.