What action would you take in the following scenario-- Joe Schmoe dies. His widow, Mrs. Schmoe, wants to start a fund in his name. The fund has not been announced in the obituary or in any other way--it's just between you and Mrs. Schmoe. In the meantime, memorial contributions with no designation other than "in memory of Joe Schmoe" begin to arrive. Can these gifts be placed in the fund Mrs. Schmoe wants to start in Joe's memory even though the donor has not specifically named that fund and probably doesn't even know about it? Angela Gill Major Hospital Foundation [Email Removed] Angela Gill Executive Director Major Hospital Foundation 317-421-2012, Ext. 226 [i]--- Edited at 2/1/2006 3:33:14 PM by Angela Gill[/i]

I would say that you 'Can' but the question is do you really want to. Unrestricted gifts are so necessary for us that we do not restrict a gift unless it is specifically requested by the donor. Doing so limits your use of the funds so it that okay by you? Your call. I realize you also have to maintain a relationship with the surviving spouse and if they see that so many gifts came in memory of their spouse and nothing is in this fund they may question it. You may need to have a frank (and careful) discussion with her as to whether or not her intention was for you to direct all memorial gifts to the fund or only those specifically earmearked. I wouldn't ask her preference - just her intention. Of course her preference would probably be to put them all in there. Melissa S. Graves Manager, Development Database & Direct Mail Planned Parenthood of Connecticut [Email Removed] 203-752-2804

Here and at other organizations where I have worked, we do get this request on occasion. We always directed the money to where the family requested it should go, UNLESS a donor specfically made their own request. Knowing that some donors may or may not know about the family's wishes, in acknowledging gifts we would thank the donor and let them know their money was designated to XYZ fund at the request of the family. We felt this gave the donor the opportunity to call us, if they had concerns or questions but I don't recall ever receiving a call questioning the family's wishes. Of course, I certaintly see the sense in not wanting to designate gifts unnecessarily. But since it is not a frequent issue and the gifts involved are usually in a lower range, we decide to honor the family wishes. Denise Stengl Supervisor of Data Services School Sisters of St. Francis Milwaukee, WI [Email Removed]