The Supreme Court of Kentucky has settled a seven-year legal battle by ruling that the University of Louisville must disclose the names of 47,000 donors to the University of Louisville Foundation because the fund-raising unit is a government entity, reports The Chronicle of Higher Education.

In 2001 The Courier-Journal, a Louisville newspaper, sued to obtain the names under the state’s open-records law. The foundation had denied the newspaper’s request for information on donors to the McConnell Center for Political Leadership. Kentucky’s senior U.S. senator, Mitch McConnell, a Republican, helped found the center.

A. Keith Inman, the University of Louisville’s vice president for advancement, said the institution would abide by the ruling but that he believes donors have a right to privacy. Mr. Inman also said he worried that as a result of the ruling, some potential donors who wish to remain anonymous may direct their gifts to other foundations where confidentiality is guaranteed.

“I really think it creates an unlevel playing field for public universities in Kentucky,” Mr. Inman said.

(A paid subscription or short-term is required to view this article.)