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August 26, 2008

Kentucky Rules University Must Disclose Donors' Names

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.

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Tuesday August 26, 2008 | Permalink

Comments

1. So much for the Donor Bill of Rights. Here comes Uncle Sam.

   — Geoff Whittaker    Aug 26, 02:06 PM    #

2. Question for the Courier-Journal: Do you think the public good (whatever it is) that you are accomplishing by getting the records outweighs the likely consequence that you will have cost the University some contributions?

   — Kevin O    Aug 26, 02:32 PM    #

Commenting is closed for this article.

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