Benefactors of the University may be granted greater privacy if the Virginia General Assembly passes legislation introduced earlier this week that would allow donors to request anonymity. The bill would also permit the University to keep its large database of personal information about current and prospective donors private.
The University petitioned Del. Glenn Oder, R-Newport News, and Sen. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania to sponsor the legislation.
"The bill's primary aspect allows anonymity to donors," Oder said. "The problem for U.Va. is that most university endowments are shielded by a 501c3 [private corporation] ... if you're a 501c3, it's already anonymous. But because the [University's] money is under the Board of Visitors, it doesn't qualify for the same degree of anonymity."
Robert Sweeney, University senior vice president for development and public affairs, noted the problem is almost exclusive to the University as other universities in the Commonwealth have private 501c3 funds established.
"We have the most open record system in the state right now," Sweeney said. "It's a delicate balancing act, and this legislation allows us to maintain that balance."
While fewer than 2 percent of donors request anonymity, Sweeney said the issue was important given the sensitive information kept in the University's records.
"We have thousands of data elements," Sweeney said. "These are private issues that should not be bandied about in public. It's really legislation to protect our donors."
Sweeney cited wealth assessments, health, employment, marital status, birth dates and social security numbers as sensitive elements included in donor profiles.
Oder outlined several reasons donors have told the University that they want anonymity. Donors have said they do not want to be hounded by other philanthropic organizations. Others who have a child at the University do not want knowledge of their donation to interfere with their child's education. Donors may also not want their heirs or other family members to know about their donation or they may not want the general public to know about their wealth for security reasons.
Several groups, including the Virginia Association of Broadcasters, the Virginia Press Association and the Virginia Coalition for Open Government have previously expressed concern about the legislation, although representatives of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government said the organization needed to take a closer look at the bill.
"For the coalition to support this legislation, the sponsors would have to come up with really good reasons to keep this information private," said Wat Hopkins, president of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government.
He added that the organization has yet to take an official vote on the legislation.
Oder said protecting donor information is critical to fundraising for quality higher education.
"I think we want U.Va. to do everything it can to raise private funds to educate our children," Oder said. "By exempting certain gift giving information, U.Va. will be able to maximize its fundraising."
The bill has been referred to the Freedom of Information Act subcommittee of the House General Laws Committee to be reviewed in the coming weeks.
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