SKIP TO PAGE CONTENT

Accountability 

Checks and balances exist to ensure the financial and missional integrity of the Foundation.

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors consists of a minimum of 12 up to 30 volunteers who share a passion for the mission of WT, with varied experience and expertise. These Board determines the Foundation investment and fundraising policies and approve the annual budget. 

External Audits
The Foundation is audited regularly by an external auditor. The Foundation financial statement is printed in an annual report and made available upon request. 

Gift Administration
The Foundation monitors the use of gifts through numerous internal and external controls. Foundation and University administrators approve fund disbursement and can access monthly statements documenting activity for gift accounts. 

Partnership with the University
Several factors ensure the Foundation focuses on the established priorities of the Univeristy. The Foundation has a direct line of communication with the University President and Vice President of Business and Finance who also serve as ex-officio members of the Foundation's Board of Directors. West Texas A&M University serves as fiscal agent for the Foundation.

Endowments

The Foundation manages endowment gifts made to benefit West Texas A&M University. Endowments are permanent gifts in which the corpus is invested in perpetuity and a determined percentage of the annual earnings are spent according to the endowment agreement criteria which is determined in cooperation with the donor. 

Donor Bill of Rights

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. Giving and sharing is primary to the quality of life. To assure philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

  1. To be informed of the WTAMU Foundation's mission, of the way it intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
  2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the WTAMU Foundation governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
  3. To have access to the WTAMU Foundation's most recent Annual Report.
  4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
  5. To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
  6. To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by the law.
  7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing WTAMU will be professional in nature.
  8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers or WTAMU employees.
  9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists.
  10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers.

 

The West Texas A&M University Foundation endorses the Donor Bill of Rights in its entirety as developed by the American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel (AAFRC), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).