Naming Opportunities

Guidelines for Naming Opportunities

The following guidelines detail minimum thresholds that must be met when considering naming in recognition of a donor’s philanthropic contributions. This list of opportunities is not inclusive, but rather representative, of the types of naming that are more commonplace. For consideration of naming opportunities not included on this list, please contact University Advancement.

Schools and units are encouraged to develop a list of naming opportunities and target gift levels for their respective school or unit that are consistent with the minimum guidelines. When establishing gifting minimums, each school or unit should consider the purpose to be served by the naming so that adequate funds will be available to achieve the gifting objective.

An inventory of all school and unit specific naming opportunities will be maintained by the vice president for university advancement.

Naming opportunities for physical facilities are generally only available through some combination of cash, endowment gifts, and sponsorships that support both construction/renovation/furnishing as well as provide a recurring source of funding to support the maintenance of the facility over time. Except in the case of sponsorships and/or term namings, it is intended that the name will remain on the building, interior, or exterior space for the life of the building or space. If at some future time the building or space is replaced, the name may or may not be carried on the replacement at the university’s sole discretion. If the name is not used on the replacement, some form of recognition may be incorporated into the new building or space when appropriate.

In those cases where funds received are used to support an academic program or department in perpetuity, rather than to directly support the construction, renovation, or furnishing of the facility/space, the recognition that is given should be commensurate with the size of the gift. In most cases, this means that only the facility/space will carry the donor’s name (and not the academic program or department as well).

Naming Buildings and Spaces
Facility Type	Purpose	Minimum
Older Existing Building (more than 10 years old)	Funds will be used to cover costs associated with renovating or equipping the named space. Alternatively, depending on the need of the university, the funds may be used to establish an endowment fund whereby income from the fund is used to support an academic program or department in perpetuity.	Naming is a tribute that may be made in recognition of a gift equal to one-third of a building鈥檚 current value or one-third of the privately funded portion of its replacement cost. Current value will be established on an individual building basis by the vice president for university advancement in consultation with the applicable dean, university facilities, and other appropriate campus entities. This analysis will consider original construction costs, age of facility, square footage, anticipated continued usage requirements and facility appreciation or depreciation. Total replacement costs include: architectural planning and construction; fees; site clearance and landscaping; furnishing; and equipment.
Newer Existing Building (10 years old or less)	Income from the fund supports an academic program or department in perpetuity.	Naming is a tribute that may be made in recognition of a gift equal to at least 50% of the building鈥檚 current value. Current value will be established on an individual building basis as determined by the vice president for university advancement in consultation with the applicable dean, university facilities, and other appropriate campus entities. This analysis will consider original construction costs, age of facility, square footage, anticipated continued usage requirements, and facility appreciation or depreciation.
New Building	To provide significant funding for a new facility that the university and donor wish to have constructed.	Naming is a tribute that may be made in recognition of a gift of 50% of the total construction costs (including architectural planning and construction; fees; site clearance and landscaping; furnishing; and equipment), 30% of total construction costs plus an endowed maintenance fund, or 50% of the privately funded portion of cost (if a state-supported initiative).
Interior Spaces (e.g., lab, hall, conference room, classroom, wings, performance space, lounge)	Funds will be used to cover costs associated with the construction, renovation or equipping of the named space. Alternatively, depending on the need of the university, the funds may be used to establish an endowment fund whereby income from the fund is used to support an academic program or department in perpetuity.	Naming is a tribute that may be made in recognition of a gift made to construct, renovate, or equip the named space. In instances when construction, renovation or new equipment is not required, the gifting standard will be equal to the amount it may have originally cost to construct, renovate, or equip the space after taking into account any factors relating to appreciation or depreciation. See the Guide to Calculating Space Values.

Naming opportunities for academic programs are only available through endowment gifts and sponsorships. To name a school, college, center, institute, program, or academic unit, separate and apart from the physical facility (building) housing that entity, the gift should be proportional to the amount of endowment (approximately principal x 4% annual payout) that would be necessary to sustain or propel the program to academic excellence on a permanent basis.

Institutional Academic Program/Initiatives	Purpose	Minimum
Schools of Dental Medicine, Engineering & Applied Sciences, Law, Management, Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the College of Arts & Sciences	Income from the fund supports a school in perpetuity	$30 million
Schools of Architecture & Planning, Education, Public Health & Health Professions, Social Work, and Nursing	Income from the fund supports a school or faculty in perpetuity	$15 million
Academic Center or Institute	Income from the fund supports an academic center or institute in perpetuity	$5 million
Academic Program or Department	Income from the fund supports an academic program or department in perpetuity	$5 million
Library Fund	Income from the fund supports the acquisition of books or educational resources related to an academic program	$25,000

Naming opportunities also exist for the purpose of providing support of faculty, students, or academic priorities. In such instances, naming may be available to honor donors making significant gifts, regardless of whether the contribution allows for sustainable financial support (endowment), or for instances where the endowment will be built up over time.

Non-permanent (term) naming also may be possible to recognize donors providing financial support for faculty, student, or academic priorities for a finite period. Term naming is possible when there is an understanding that the contributed amount will be fully expended and/or when the donor commits to providing an annual gift equivalent to the annual yield from an endowment fund (approximately principal x 4%) for a fixed period, typically five years or more.

Faculty Naming Opportunities
Faculty Naming Opportunity	Purpose	Minimum Annual Gift* (Term)	Minimum Endowment Gift (Permanent)
Chair (the highest faculty honor)	Income from the fund significantly enhances and honors the teaching and academic work of a faculty member. Supplements salary, research, and other expenses related to the teaching and research of a distinguished faculty member (beyond core support provided by the university).	$60,000	$1.5 million
Professorship	Income from the fund helps provide research and teaching support for a faculty member. A professorship provides recognition as well as some financial assistance for salary or research.	$40,000	$1 million
Associate Professorship	Income from the fund helps provide research and teaching support for a faculty member. A professorship provides recognition as well as some financial assistance for salary or research.	$30,000	$750,000
Assistant Professorship	Income from the fund helps provide research and teaching support for a faculty member. A professorship provides recognition as well as some financial assistance for salary or research.	$20,000	$500,000
Visiting Professorship	Provides funds to bring a visiting professor or other leader to campus on a short-term, temporary basis, to teach, or undertake research at UB	$12,000	$250,000
Faculty Research Fund	Supports or supplements the costs of academic research being carried out by or under the auspices of one or more distinguished faculty members	$4,000	$100,000
Visiting Scholar Fund	Provides funds to bring a visiting scholar or teacher to UB	$2,000	$50,000
Dean's Fund	Provides unrestricted support for the excellence of a school, college, or faculty. Fund administered at the discretion of a dean.	$2,000	$50,000
Director's Fund	Provides unrestricted support for a unit headed by a director	$2,000	$50,000
Lecture Fund	Used to bring a visiting lecturer to UB or to provide a public or community lecture	$1,000	$25,000
Department Excellence Fund	Provides monies for use where the need is greatest, at the discretion of the department head	$1,000	$25,000
Graduate Student Scholarship or Fellowship	Provides financial support to graduate students for qualified educational expenses such as tuition, books, and other required fees. Scholarships are generally tax free for the recipient.	$4,000	$100,000
Undergraduate Student Scholarship	Provides financial support to undergraduate students for qualified educational expenses such as tuition, books, and other required fees. Scholarships are generally tax free for the recipient.	$2,000	$50,000
Student Award	Provides financial recognition for a student who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship or community service or other specific accomplishments. An award is generally taxable income to the recipient. Typically, no restrictions are placed on how the student can use the award money; it is not limited strictly to educational expenses. If restrictions are imposed, such as for travel or room and board, then it is no longer considered a prize or award. See the Gifts, Prizes, Awards Policy	$1,000	$25,000
Student Assistance Fund	Provides funding for ancillary expenses (not considered qualified educational expenses) such as travel, room and board, and research. The taxability of these transactions largely depends on whether we are reimbursing for incurred expenses or merely providing funds directly to the student recipient.	$1,000	$25,000
* Minimum amount required for an annual naming gift is computed by multiplying the endowment funding amount by the current percentage used for calculating the annual spendable amount on endowment accounts.

Student Naming Opportunities
Student Naming Opportunity**	Purpose	Minimum Annual Gift*	Minimum Endowment
Graduate Student Scholarship or Fellowship	Provides financial support to graduate students for qualified educational expenses such as tuition, books, and other required fees. Scholarships are generally tax free for the recipient.	$4,000	$100,000
Undergraduate Student Scholarship	Provides financial support to undergraduate students for qualified educational expenses such as tuition, books, and other required fees. Scholarships are generally tax free for the recipient.	$2,000	$50,000
Student Award	Provides financial recognition for a student who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship or community service or other specific accomplishments. An award is generally taxable income to the recipient. Typically, no restrictions are placed on how the student can use the award money; it is not limited strictly to educational expenses. If restrictions are imposed, such as for travel or room and board, then it is no longer considered a prize or award. See the Gifts, Prizes, and Awards Policy	$1,000	$25,000
Student Assistance Fund	Provides funding for ancillary expenses (not considered qualified educational expenses) such as travel, room and board, and research. The taxability of these transactions largely depends on whether we are reimbursing for incurred expenses or merely providing funds directly to the student recipient.	$1,000	$25,000
Study Abroad Fund	Provides funding to offset the costs of student study abroad experiences. The taxability of these transactions largely depends on whether we are reimbursing for incurred expenses or merely providing funds directly to the student recipient.	$1,000	$25,000
* Minimum amount required for an annual naming gift is computed by multiplying the endowment funding amount by the current percentage used for calculating the annual spendable amount on endowment accounts. ** All student naming opportunities are based on in-state tuition only. For naming opportunities pertaining to out-of-state and international tuition, further adjustment is needed to these listed minimums.

Contact An Expert

Contact for Questions or Comments
Contact	Phone	Email
Vice President for University Advancement	716-645-8398	ub-giving@buffalo.edu

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