Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, the College will utilize a 7% administrative fee on all restricted gifts. This will allow for most effective management of your gifts and College resources and help propel us forward by stabilizing advancement efforts. This accountability includes our commitment to provide timely gift acknowledgement and receipt, accurate records, management of funds, and efficient disbursement of funds to programs at the College. Unrestricted gifts made to the College for the areas of greatest institutional and athletic need (Wesleyan Scholarship Fund and Panther Athletic Fund) are not assessed a gift fee.
What is the Kentucky Wesleyan College general administration fee?
The fee on gifts to Kentucky Wesleyan College, which are designated for a restricted purpose, is our cost of being accountable to you and each of our investors. This accountability includes our commitment to provide timely gift acknowledgement and receipt, accurate records, management of funds, and efficient disbursement of funds to programs at the College. Unrestricted gifts made to the College for the areas of greatest institutional and athletic need (Wesleyan Scholarship Fund and Panther Athletic Fund) are not assessed a gift fee.
How much is the fee?
Each donation for restricted purpose is assessed a one-time administrative fee equal to 7% (as of 1/1/2021) of donations to endowed funds and capital projects and 7% of donations to current use funds.
Why does Kentucky Wesleyan College have a general administrative fee?
The gift fee is simply our cost of doing business. While the College appropriates operating funds for the Office of Advancement, restricted funds carry additional direct costs for appropriate handling and stewardship of your generosity. As restricted gifts to benefit Kentucky Wesleyan College increase, the costs of gift receipting, accounting, investment and disbursement increase.
Do other colleges and universities charge general administrative fees?
Administrative fees are common practice in higher ed fundraising, and colleges and universities throughout the country make use of these fees to provide proper handling of donor investments. It is not uncommon for these fees to be 14-15% at peer institutions.
Do other non-profits charge general administrative fees?
Yes, though not often identified as such. All non-profit organizations have operating costs and revenue from contributions offsets those. Locally, United Way of the Ohio Valley, for example, typically charges fees of 18% or more to allow for administrative expenses.
Will the general administrative fee change?
The Board of Trustees and its Committees for Finance and Advancement will review the general administrative fee on an annual basis. In order to assure budgetary and financial stability for both the institution and our investors, it would change only rarely.
Can the general administrative fee be waived?
Gifts from private foundations may require waiving of the general administrative fee. Additionally, the general administrative fee may not apply to specific principal gifts to the institution. These will be reviewed and determined on a case by case basis by the administration of the College and its Board of Trustees.