The Naming Opportunities Toolkit
The Office of Donor Services
Version 8/12/19 Table of Contents
Introduction 4
Chapter 1: The Role of Donor Services in Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities 5 Responsibilities of the Office of Donor Services 5 Donor-Funded Naming Opportunity Identification 5 Calculation of Minimum Gift Values for Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities 5 Board of Trustees Approval Process 5 Records Management 5
Chapter 2: The Donor-Funded Naming Process Reference Guide 6 The Eight Phases of Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities 6 Process Reference 6 Phase 1: Strategic Planning and/or Capital Project Fundraising Approval 6 Phase 2: Naming Recommendation Letter 7 Phase 3: Board of Trustees Approval of Naming Opportunity 8 Phase 4: The Donor Ask 8 Phase 5: Donor Naming Approval 10 Phase 6: Signage Approval 11 Phase 7: Stewardship 12 Phase 8: Records Management 12 Tips for Donor-Funded Naming Success 13 To Initiate an Honorific Naming Request 13 Contacts for Namings 14
Chapter 3: The Rules of Naming Opportunities 15
Chapter 4: The Essentials of Namings 21 The Purpose of Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities 21 Why Donors Choose to Pursue Naming Opportunities 21 Definition of Donor-Funded Naming Opportunity 21 Definition of an Honorific Naming 22 Duration of Naming 22 Corporate, Foundation or Other Organizational Naming 22 Renaming 22 Donor-Initiated Name Change 22 Naming Removal or Revocation 23 How to Write the “Donor History and Rationale” on the Donor Naming Proposal Form 23 Purpose of the Donor History and Rationale 23
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Example of a Donor History and Rationale 23 Instructions on How to Write the Rationale 24
Chapter 5: Strategic Planning, Gift Types and Creation of Funds 26 Strategic Planning Prior to Pursuing Naming Opportunities 26 Developing a Fundraising Purpose 27 Acceptable Gifts for Naming Opportunities 27 Fund Types for Facilities 28 Named Programs 28
Chapter 6: Selecting Facilities to be Named 29 Selecting Facilities: Existing Facilities 29 Selecting Facilities: for Capital Projects (New Construction and Renovation) 30 Developing Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities for New Capital Projects 31 The Four Phases of Design 31 Facility Naming Opportunity Types 32 What Can Be Named 32 What Cannot Be Named 33 Hallowed Places 34
Chapter 7: Board of Trustees Approval 35
Chapter 8: Donor Recognition Signage 36 Selecting Signage 36 Why are Donor Recognition Walls, Plaques and Signs Effective? 36 Signage Types 37 Statues and Works of Art 40 Vendor Selection 40 Signage Best Practices 41
Chapter 9: Naming Standards 43 Identification Naming Standards 43 Common Issues with Identification Names 43 Full List of Identification Naming Standards 44 Donor Recognition Naming Standards 46
Appendix A: Reference 50
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Introduction
Beginning with the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign, donor-funded naming opportunities have become a major initiative for NC State, due primarily to the range of capital projects in need of private funding. Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of donors interested in leaving their legacy or honoring another individual, further driving growth of this program.
The Office of Donor Services manages the donor-funded naming opportunity process. The Naming Opportunities Toolkit was created as a resource to guide development officers and development staff through the naming process, as well as to provide in-depth details of NC State’s procedures.
This resource contains information about all phases of the naming process, from the earliest phase of inquiry to the final approval by the North Carolina State University Board of Trustees (BoT) and everything needed in between.
The Naming Opportunities Toolkit: ● Sets naming best practices and standards to ensure consistency across the university. ● Explains in-depth naming procedures and rules. ● Provides the tools and process details development officers need to be successful. ● Guides college/unit coordinators through each step of the process.
The document is kept up-to-date and can be found on the Advancement Services intranet, along with related forms and other resources.
Naming opportunities are governed by NC State University policy POL 3.00.02 Criteria and Procedures for Naming Facilities, Programs and Funds.
For any inquiries about the donor-funded naming process or if you need assistance, please contact the Office of Donor Services at [email protected].
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Chapter 1: The Role of Donor Services in Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities
Responsibilities of the Office of Donor Services The Office of Donor Services manages the donor-funded naming opportunity process, which includes the following responsibilities:
1. Donor-Funded Naming Opportunity Identification Donor Services partners with colleges/units and/or the Facilities Division to identify marketable rooms, spaces, buildings and programs for donor-funded naming opportunities.
2. Calculation of Minimum Gift Values for Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities Using information provided by the colleges/units and the Facilities Division, Donor Services analyzes nameable rooms, spaces, buildings and programs to provide minimum gift values to colleges/units based on utility, visibility, location and size. Additionally, Donor Services will compare these calculations to the prospect list to adjust the menu and ensure the overall fundraising goal is achievable.
3. Board of Trustees Approval Process Donor Services coordinates the BoT approval process for donor-funded naming opportunities and proposals. This includes: ● Guiding colleges/units through the process ● Managing templates ● Reviewing and edits BoT materials ● Managing signatures ● Notifying colleges/units of BoT decisions
4. Records Management Donor Services manages naming records before, during and after a facility or program is named. This includes: ● Tracking the status of each naming opportunity and/or donor naming proposal throughout the approval process for. ● Maintaining historic and current NC State naming inventories. ● Providing reports for colleges/units regarding the naming status of existing facilities or programs.
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Chapter 2: The Donor-Funded Naming Process Reference Guide
The Eight Phases of Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities
Process Reference The following are the primary points of action in the naming process. The Donor-Funded Naming Process Reference Guide is meant to provide development officers with a checklist of the process to ensure compliance on all steps being executed.
Phase 1: Strategic Planning and/or Capital Project Fundraising Approval
Step 1 (College/Unit): Gain approval to pursue the naming project from college/unit leadership. For new capital projects, major renovations or program namings, notify the Director of Donor Services of the potential upcoming naming project.
Step 2 (College/Unit): Develop a strategic plan and use the following templates to assist you: ● Use the Naming Opportunity Planning Worksheet and Prospect Pool Worksheet: Naming Opportunities. ● Create a strategic stewardship plan and use Stewardship Plan Template. ● Contact Prospect Development to identify potential prospects.
Refer to Chapter 5: Strategic Planning, Gift Types and Creation of Funds for additional information, if needed.
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Step 3 (College/Unit) (Required Depending on the Project): For capital projects that require private funding : 1. Gain approval from University Advancement senior leadership before initiating fundraising efforts by completing and submitting the Capital Project Concept Approval Form (CPCAF). 2. Submit the form to [email protected] and wait for approval before starting fundraising effort.
Refer to POL 03.00.01 – Coordination of Fundraising Activities and Acceptance of Private Donations (Gifts) for additional information, if needed.
Phase 2: Naming Recommendation Letter
Step 1 (College/Unit): Complete and submit the Step 1: Naming Recommendation Letter Request (NRLR).
Step 2 (Donor Services): Donor Services will contact the college/unit regarding the next following steps: 1. For facility requests, Donor Services will meet with the college/unit, which may require a tour and opportunities to photograph the facility. 2. Conduct research, analyze the results, calculate minimum gift levels and develop an internal naming map overlay that displays those minimum gift levels. 3. Review the recommended gift minimums before finalizing with the college/unit. 4. Develop and send the Naming Recommendation Letter to the college/unit. The letter will include recommended naming minimums for each facility or program, BoT approval timeline and next steps.
Refer to Chapter 6: Selecting Facilities to be Named for additional information on facility selection, if needed.
Step 3 (College/Unit): In certain cases, Donor Services will notify the college/unit that they are allowed to make a “soft ask” to a prospect; however, the college/unit must make it clear to the donor that the facility or program has not received official BoT approval to be named. In addition, the recommended gift minimums cannot be published.
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Phase 3: Board of Trustees Approval of Naming Opportunity
Note: The college/unit has few action items within this phase.
Step 1 (Donor Services and College/Unit): Donor Services will develop the materials needed to present the donor-funded naming opportunity to the BoT and will send to the college/unit to review and approve.
Refer to Chapter 7: Board of Trustees Approval for additional information, if needed.
Step 2 (Donor Services): The Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development will present the naming opportunity to the BoT for approval.
Step 3 (Donor Services): Donor Services will notify the college/unit of the BoT decision and next steps.
Phase 4: The Donor Ask
Step 1 (College/Unit) (Optional): Publicize available naming opportunities. The college/unit may develop their own donor-facing printed or web-based marketing materials including the list of approved naming opportunities. If you need assistance in developing a marketing plan, contact Development Communications and Stewardship and Marketing at [email protected].
Step 2 (College/Unit): Enter a proposal into the Advance database. If this is a new donor, please send a request to create the new entity to Gift and Records Management at [email protected].
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Step 3 (College/Unit) (Optional): Develop a written proposal for the donor. If you need assistance with writing proposals for principal gifts ($5M+) or VIDs/VIPs, please contact Development Communications and Stewardship at . For large projects, contact Donor Services at to request assistance in identifying rooms and spaces for prospects at various gift levels.
Step 4 (College/Unit): Make the ask to a prospect regarding a gift for the right to name a facility or a program. Points of discussion with the donor may include those listed below: ● Discuss with the donor that they will be naming the room and not the purpose of the room. ● If needed, discuss with the donor that they will not own the room and that they cannot alter the room, suggest design changes or direct the design. ● What is the donor’s preference for how their name will appear on identification signage and for donor recognition? Refer to Chapter 8: Donor Recognition Signage for important details regarding naming standards, including word choice. ○ The identification name refers to the title used by the Facilities Division to code the room. This name will also be used for room listings, campus maps and Google Maps. It is what identifies the building, room or space and how students and faculty will refer to it. ○ The donor recognition name is what will be placed on donor walls, donor plaques or donor recognition signs. This naming standard can also be applied to printed materials. ● Will this gift be in honor of or in memory of someone (or of an animal)? ● What is the donor’s legacy information? ● Can the donor’s information be publicized?
Step 5 (College/Unit and Donor): Complete the Naming Commitment Intent Form (NCIF) with donor and confirm both the identification name and the donor recognition name. Gather information to complete the Step 2: Donor Naming Proposal Request (DNPR) and the Gift Transmittal Form.
Refer to How to Write the Donor History and Rationale of the Donor Naming Proposal Form for more information on completing the donor history and rationale.
Note: Refer to the Chapter 9: Naming Standards for a more detailed explanation on how to develop a name for a facility or program.
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Step 6 (College/Unit and Gifts and Records Management): Submit the Naming Commitment Intent Form (NCIF) and supporting documentation to Gifts and Records Management at [email protected]. Gifts and Records Management will process the gift or pledge and upload the Naming Commitment Intent Form into Advance. For new capital projects, please update the status of each commitment on the project inventory sheet provided by Donor Services.
Step 7 (College/Unit): Update proposal and enter contact report.
Phase 5: Donor Naming Approval
Step 1 (College/Unit): Complete and submit the Step 2: Donor Naming Proposal Request (DNPR).
Note: Please notify Donor Services of any pending groundbreaking, dedication or any other ceremonies/ public events at which you will be revealing donor signage or donor namings. This will assist the office in planning when to bring the proposal to the BoT for approval.
Step 2 (Donor Services): Donor Services will do one of the following: 1. Create donor naming documents and print formal document packets for signatures; college/unit will pick up the packets from Donor Services 2. Or, provide secured electronic donor naming documents for the college/unit to send to the donor and the Dean to sign electronically; college/unit will collect signatures on the document and send email back to donor
Step 3 (College/Unit): Gather donor(s)’ and Dean’s signatures for the following documents and deliver the signed hard copies to Donor Services: ● Donor Naming Proposal ● Facility Naming Agreement or Program Naming Agreement
Note: There is no need to retrieve any other signatures other than the donor(s)’ and Dean’s because Donor Services will route for further signatures.
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Step 4 (Donor Services): Donor Services will: 1. Submit the proposed donor naming to the Namings Opportunities Committee for approval 2. Route for further signatures and document 3. Submit to BoT for review
Note: Please refer to the BoT Naming Deadline Calendar for submission deadlines and note that documents are submitted to the BoT a month prior to the meeting. It takes Donor Services approximately 16 weeks to prepare for each BoT meeting.
Step 5 (Donor Services): Donor Services will notify the college/unit of the BoT decision.
Phase 6: Signage Approval
Step 1 (College/Unit): Review the Manuals for Exterior and Interior Signage (MEIS). All identification signs must follow exterior and interior signage standards (Refer to Rule 35-39, Chapter 8: Donor Recognition Signage and Chapter 9: Naming Standards).
Step 2 (College/Unit): Select either an approved external vendor to produce the sign or request the Office of the University Architect to provide you one within the Donor Signage Approval Request.
Step 3 (College/Unit): Submit the Donor Signage Approval Request. For questions, please contact the Donor Signage Committee at .
Step 4 (College/Unit): Once the sign has been approved by the committee, please: 1) Send to donor for review. 2) Purchase the sign through the Office of the University Architect or approved external vendor. 3) Contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at to request installation.
Notes: ● All signage must be installed by the Facilities Division. ● Mockup of designs for donor review cannot be provided until after the BoT has approved and the overall design has been set.
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Step 5 (College/Unit): Send photos of the installed sign to Donor Services at . Donor Services will upload into the database for record management.
Phase 7: Stewardship
Step 1 (College/Unit): Create a stewardship and communication plan for the naming projects of all donors at all levels. Stewardship resources can be found within the Campaign Toolkit.
Note: Stewardship is decentralized and each college/unit should develop their own stewardship plan. If you need assistance to do this, contact Development Communications and Stewardship at .
Step 2 (College/Unit): After BoT approval of a specific donor naming commitment, the college/unit can make gift/donor announcements.
Step 3 (College/Unit): Send any announcements, news articles and photos related to stewardship to Donor Services at to be stored in the naming database.
Note: No public announcement should be made, nor signs created or installed, until the BoT approves the naming commitment.
Phase 8: Records Management
Step 1 (Donor Services): After the Naming Opportunity Recommendation Letter is completed, Donor Services will create an inventory of naming opportunities for the new capital projects or other large-scale project(s) and send to the college/unit.
Step 2 (College/Unit): Update the project inventory as soon as a room/space is committed, if applicable.
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Step 3 (College/Unit): Send the following items to Donor Services to ensure that all information is recorded: ● Press releases, announcements and articles about the project and donors ● Donor pictures ● Donor history ● Pictures of signage ● Picture of facility (if applicable)
Tips for Donor-Funded Naming Success ● Obtain approval from college/unit leadership before beginning the process ● Before formally requesting naming opportunities, develop a strategic plan for achieving your fundraising goal that includes a list of prospects and their potential giving levels. ● Ensure that you submit your proposed naming to be approved twice by the BoT. ○ First, to receive permission to present a naming opportunity to potential donors. ○ Later, to propose a specific donor-funded naming for a previously-approved naming opportunity. ● Discuss with the donor the following: ○ The proposed names, both identification and donor recognition, and use of the facility or program. ○ The information they want to include in the Donor Legacy section of the Gift Agreement. ● Factor in that the scope of the complete naming approval process can be a few months or a few years, depending on the project type and scale. ● Ensure that, after approval, that the sign is purchased and properly installed by the Division of Facilities. ● Feel free to contact Donor Services with questions at
To Initiate an Honorific Naming Request Email the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement ● Email copies to: ○ Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development ○ Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement Services ○ Executive Director and Chief of Staff of University Advancement ○ Director of Donor Services
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● Include the following information in your request: ○ Building and room location ○ Name of the person whom you are nominating ○ Brief explanation of why you are nominating this person for an honorific naming
For additional information, please refer to Definition of an Honorific Naming and Rule 5-9.
Contacts for Namings
Topic Department/Office/Committee Email
Naming Questions, Policy Donor Services Questions and Naming Requests
Naming Stewardship Development Communications and Stewardship
Signage Requests, Donor Signage Committee Questions and Approval
Signage Installation Customer Service Center Questions and Requests
Honorific Naming Request Vice Chancellor for University ● Vice Chancellor for Advancement University Advancement ● Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development ● Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement Services ● Executive Director and Chief of Staff of University Advancement ● Director of Donor Services
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Chapter 3: The Rules of Naming Opportunities
Throughout this toolkit, you will find procedures, best practices and rules. Procedures have been established in order to streamline red tape and approvals, and best practices help ensure maximum success for you, the donor and the university. Because university policy guides the donor-funded naming process, rules have been established to ensure compliance with all applicable university policies. For more information, reference POL 03.00.02 – Criteria and Procedures for Naming Facilities and Programs.
B oT Approval ● Rule 1: The BoT must review and approve the following actions. Refer to Chapter 7: Board of Trustees Approval for additional information, if needed. ○ The pursuit of a donor-funded naming opportunity ○ The donor commitment to name a facility or program ○ Certain fundraising incentives for capital projects; refer to POL 03.00.01 – Coordination of Fundraising Activities and Acceptance of Private Donations (Gifts) for additional information, if needed ○ Revocation of a naming if the donor fails to maintain payments on a pledge ○ Revocation of a naming if the donor’s reputation changes substantially so that the continued use of that name may compromise the public trust, dishonor the University’s standards or otherwise be contrary to the best interests of the University
Note: Requests for approval initiates through Donor Services, so please contact that office first.
C hancellor Approval ● Rule 2: The Chancellor must review and approve the following actions. ○ The pursuit of a donor-funded naming opportunity ○ The donor commitment to name a facility or program ○ Exceptions to POL 03.00.02 – Criteria and Procedures for Naming Facilities and Programs ○ The naming of a university program, unit, department or college after a corporation ○ The naming of an entire facility (e.g. building namings) after a corporation. ○ The naming of a facility beyond a twenty-year term limit. ○ Development of a new program, unit, department or college based on gift funds provided by a donor-funded naming opportunity.
Note: Request for approval initiates through Donor Services, so please contact that office first.
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V ice Chancellor of University Advancement or Designee Approval ● Rule 3: The Vice Chancellor of University Advancement, or their designee, must review and approve the following actions. ○ Pledges extending beyond five years ○ Planned gifts tied to donor-funded naming opportunities ○ Gifts-in-kind tied to donor-funded naming opportunities ○ Pledges tied to naming opportunities for capital projects that are contingent on funds to be built
Note: Request for approval initiates through Donor Services, so please contact that office first.
D onor Management ● Rule 4: All naming opportunities should be managed between the donor and a development officer. Non-development staff should not directly liaise with donors regarding naming opportunities unless approved by the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development or designee.
H onorific Namings ● Rule 5: Honorific namings are approved by the Special Committee on Honorary Namings and the BoT.
● Rule 6: An honorific naming is rare. It names a facility or program in honor of an individual or organization who has made achievements of extraordinary and lasting distinction to NC State.
● Rule 7: Honorific naming of facilities will not be made for members of the university faculty or staff, members of the BoT, members of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, the Governor of North Carolina, elected officials or state employees concerned with the functions, oversight or control of the university, so long as the relationship exists.
● Rule 8: The naming of facilities and programs is primarily reserved for philanthropic gifts to the university. Naming of a facility or a program to honor a person in the absence of a gift will remain an extremely rare method of recognizing individuals.
N aming Removal, Changes, Revocation or Time Limited Namings ● Rule 9: Upon demolition, replacement, movement, substantial renovation or similar modification of a named facility, or upon dissolution of a program, the university may deem that the naming period has concluded.
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● Rule 10: In appropriate instances, most often involving a corporate benefactor, a naming may be granted for a predetermined fixed term. At the end of the term, the name of the facility or program shall expire, but may be renewed with the same or a new name. The Facility or Program Naming Agreement should clearly specify the period of time for which the facility or program will be named.
● Rule 11: If a donor or honoree requests a change to the name of a facility or program (e.g., due to divorce or corporate merger), the University will consider the request. For donor-funded namings, an amendment to the facility agreement should occur to reflect the new name.
● Rule 12: The University reserves the right, on reasonable grounds, to revoke and terminate its obligations regarding a naming, with no financial responsibility for returning any received contributions to the donor. These actions, and the circumstances that prompt them, may apply to an approved naming that has not yet been acted upon or to a conferred naming. If the University seeks to revoke the naming based on these grounds, the Board of Trustees must approve prior to removal.
● Rule 13: If the donor’s reputation changes substantially so that the continued use of that name may compromise the public trust, dishonor the university’s standards or otherwise be contrary to the best interests of the university, the naming may be revoked. However, caution must be taken when, with the passage of time, the standards and achievements deemed to justify a naming action may change and observers of a later age may deem those who conferred a naming honor at an earlier age to have erred. Namings should not be altered simply because later observers would have made different judgments.
● Rule 14: If the donor fails to maintain payments on a pledge upon which the naming was bestowed, the naming may be revoked after a pro rata period of time that reflects the number of pledge payments made, given the estimated useful life of the building or the term of years covered by the Facility or Program Naming Agreement, as applicable.
● Rule 15: If a planned gift upon which the naming was bestowed does not result in the value agreed upon, the naming may be revoked. If the University seeks to revoke the naming based on these grounds, the Board of Trustees must approve prior to removal.
● Rule 16: Any proposal to rename a facility, or to add a second name in recognition of a gift, shall be reviewed by the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and the General Counsel of the University.
● Rule 17: Any facility or program naming in which the name is being removed due to the end of the life cycle of the facility or program shall be approved by University Advancement.
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C orporate, Foundation or Organizational Namings ● Rule 18: Corporate, foundation or other organizational naming of a facility shall be term-limited up to a twenty-year period, unless an exception is approved by the chancellor or their designee.
● Rule 19: Corporate, foundation or other organizations may not name a university program, unit, department or college, unless an exception is approved by the chancellor or their designee.
● Rule 20: Only in rare, exceptional situations should an entire facility be named for a corporation, foundation or other organization. The gifts must represent a "transformative contribution" for such an exception to be made by the chancellor or their designee.
● Rule 21: In the instance of a corporate, foundation or other organizational naming, due diligence should be taken to avoid any appearance of commercial influence or conflict of interest.
B equests ● Rule 22: All naming opportunities that will be funded by a bequest must receive prior approval by the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development before the donor is solicited.
● Rule 23: Irrevocable planned gifts may generate current naming opportunities for facilities and programs if current cash flow considerations are not an issue for the requesting facility or program. Irrevocable planned gifts will be credited at their face value with particular emphasis being given to the predictability of the long-term value of the irrevocable deferred gift.
● Rule 24: Combinations of revocable planned gifts and cash may occasionally generate current naming opportunities under the right circumstances. Each combination request must be explained fully to the Naming Opportunities Committee and a case made for the appropriateness of the naming given the specifics of a particular gift. Particular emphasis will be given to the cash flow requirements of the requesting facility or program, the predictability of the long-term value of the revocable deferred gift component and the predictability of its receipt.
G ifts-in-Kind ● Rule 25: All naming opportunities that will be associated with the acceptance of a gift-in-kind to fulfill the minimum gift will need prior approval by the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development before soliciting the donor.
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● Rule 26: In order to receive a naming opportunity, a gift-in-kind must meet the following requirements: ○ The naming opportunity fund purpose is for a capital project. ○ The gift-in-kind is accepted by the university. ○ The fair market value meets the recommended gift minimum to name the facility. ○ The gift-in-kind is needed for the capital project and would have been purchased even if it was not given to the university.
F und Purpose and Management ● Rule 27: Donor-funded naming opportunities cannot be used for stewardship of a non-naming opportunity gift.
● Rule 28: All funds that are allocated to a restricted fund will be subject to a 7% gift fee. Any exceptions (which will be rare) must be approved by the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement or their designee.
● Rule 29: If gift funds are to support a capital project, a plan needs to be developed to create a fund allocated for excess naming gifts to the project (e.g., for building maintenance, scholarships or faculty support).
● Rule 30: No internal funds can be used, transferred or applied to a pledge to name a facility or program for an individual, couple, group or organization.
● Rule 31: The donor’s gift can either name a fund or name a facility/program. However, the donor’s gift cannot be directed to both a fund and a donor-funded naming opportunity. An exception to this rule may occur when the donor’s contribution meets both the endowment minimum of $50,000 and the minimum gift value to name the facility, and the donor’s named fund intent aligns with the pre-approved allocation of funds purpose for the donor-funded naming opportunity.
M inimum Gift for Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities ● Rule 32: The minimum gift value to name a facility is $25,000.
F acility Naming ● Rule 33: Facilities or spaces designated as “hallowed” shall not be named or renamed, unless the chancellor has approved.
● Rule 34: Facilities that are being leased to NC State or by NC State cannot be named.
D onor Recognition ● Rule 35: Donor signage cannot be approved until the donor naming proposal has been approved by the BoT.
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● Rule 36: Donor signage will conform to all university signage guidelines and shall not be installed until approved by the Office of the University Architect.
● Rule 37: Signage reflecting a corporate or organizational naming of a facility may not include the donor’s logo or other branding components. This policy applies only to donor-funded namings and does not apply to corporate partnerships, signage on leased spaces or other contractual business relationships.
● Rule 38: No statues or significant works of art of the donor(s) in recognition of their gift will be commissioned or installed without following the Guidelines for Public Art Acquisition and/or receiving approval of the Office of the University Architect.
● Rule 39: The name which will be placed on the sign cannot be decided via contest.
P ublicity ● Rule 40: No information about donor namings can be released to the public until the naming proposal has been approved by the BoT.
Responsibilities of Costs ● Rule 41: In the event that outside legal counsel is necessary, all legal costs related to donor-funded naming opportunities and endowed funds are the responsibility of the college/unit supported by the gift.
● Rule 42: All costs of donor signage are the responsibility of the college/unit supported by the gift.
● Rule 43: If the donor requests a change to a sign and the request is approved, all replacement signage and other related costs shall be at the donor’s expense.
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Chapter 4: The Essentials of Namings
The Purpose of Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities Donor-funded naming opportunities are intended for use as strategic marketing incentives that drive particular, pre-defined fundraising initiatives. Donor-funded naming opportunities at NC State are used to drive private support for many elements of the university’s mission, which could support the following: ● Construction and renovation projects, known collectively as capital projects ● Building maintenance ● Scholarships ● Faculty and staff ● Programs ● Dean’s initiatives
Why Donors Choose to Pursue Naming Opportunities There are numerous reasons why donors commit to gifts with naming recognition: ● To leave their legacy ● To honor a loved one, friend, pet or someone they admire ● Sentimental ties to the facility or program ● Passion for the fundraising initiative ● A sense of philanthropic duty ● A desire to build respect and a good reputation in the community
Definition of Donor-Funded Naming Opportunity A donor-funded naming opportunity recognizes a donor who makes a gift in support of a specific naming initiative by naming a facility or program for the donor or a person whom they choose to honor.
Types of opportunities include: ● Facilities ○ New, renovated or existing rooms, spaces or buildings (refer to Chapter 6: Selecting Facilities to be Named) ● Programs ○ New or existing programs, units, departments, colleges, centers or institutes associated with NC State
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Definition of an Honorific Naming Honorific namings recognize individuals who have made achievements of extraordinary and lasting distinction. Generally, these individuals have had direct, substantial and active association with the university. For individuals without such an association with the university, selection may be based on the individual's record of scholarship, creativity, leadership, humanitarian service or public service. Refer to To Initiate an Honorific Naming Request for additional information, if needed.
Duration of Naming Non-corporate donors have the opportunity to name a facility or program for either: ● The lifespan of the facility or the program (refer to Rule 8) ● An agreed-upon time period that is typically up to ten years (refer to Rule 9)
Corporate or foundation donors have the opportunity to name a facility for an agreed-upon time period that is typically up to ten years (refer to Rule 17).
Corporate, Foundation or Other Organizational Naming Corporation, foundation or other organizational namings abide by different rules than individual namings (refer to Rules 17-20 and 36).
● Corporate, foundation or other organizations may not name a university program, unit, department or college (refer to Rule 18) . ● Only in rare, exceptional situations should an entire facility be named for a corporation, foundation or other organization. The gifts must represent a "transformative contribution". ● In the instance of a corporate, foundation or other organizational naming, due diligence should be taken to avoid any appearance of commercial influence or conflict of interest. ● Signage reflecting a corporate or organizational naming of a facility may not include the donor’s logo or other branding components. This policy applies only to donor-funded namings and does not apply to corporate partnerships, signage on leased spaces, or other contractual business relationships (refer to Rule 36).
Renaming When the donor’s naming period has concluded, the facility or program may be renamed in recognition of new gifts and the original name will be removed, subject to any specific terms and conditions set forth in the original naming agreement (refer to Rule 9).
Donor-Initiated Name Change If a donor requests a change to the name of a facility or program (e.g., due to divorce or corporate merger), the university will consider the request. If approved, the cost of all replacement signage and other related expenses shall be paid by the donor (refer to Rule 42).
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Naming Removal or Revocation Situations that require renaming or removal of a name include (refer to Rule 8-16): 1. Expiration of designated naming term 2. Donor requests the change 3. Pledge was not fulfilled 4. Named facility has been demolished, replaced, moved or substantially renovated 5. Named program has been dissolved 6. Donor has violated the ethical standards of the NC State naming policy. For more information, refer to POL 03.00.02 – Criteria and Procedures for Naming Facilities, Programs and Fund. 7. Naming was not officially approved by the BoT
If a naming removal is needed, contact the Director of Donor Services. The director will review the situation and provide the college/unit next steps. Depending on the situation, the removal might need to be approved by the BoT.
How to Write the “Donor History and Rationale” on the Donor Naming Proposal Form
Purpose of the Donor History and Rationale The Donor Naming Proposal Form presents information about the naming gift for the Board of Trustees’ (BoT) review and also for NC State to keep as a historical record. The “Donor History and Naming Rationale” section provides the BoT with the following important information about: ● The donor and their legacy ● The specific gift ● The description of the room, space, building or program they are naming ● How the funds will be directed and the impact of their gift
Example of a Donor History and Rationale
Ellen Smith Memorial Teaching Laboratory
Jane Wuf (Electrical Engineering ’89) is CEO of Red Wuf Engineering in Fayetteville, NC and was president of the American Association of Electrical Engineers 2012-14. Since 2010, her firm has provided two internships annually for NC State Electrical Engineering undergraduate students. Wuf is a past member of the College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board and has been actively involved in the planning for this project. By naming a teaching laboratory, she pays tribute to the practical lab classes that sparked her excitement about electrical engineering. Jane Wuf and her family also are lifelong members of the Wolfpack Club. They have established a scholarship for women student-athletes and are loyal supporters of the women’s and men’s basketball programs.
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The Ellen Smith Memorial Teaching Laboratory is named for the Department Head for Electrical Engineering from 1980 until her retirement in 1999. Dr. Smith earned her BS, MS and PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and began her NC State career as a professor in 1970. She was a founding member of the Society of Women Engineers and served as its president 1972-76. After her retirement from NC State, she continued to advocate for women in engineering roles, both academic and professional. Smith was the first woman to lead a department in the College of Engineering, and she was a major influence and mentor for Jane Wuf.
Instructions on How to Write the Rationale These instructions break down the sample rationale above into its component parts.
Content: The development officer will have a wealth of knowledge about the donor, the gift and the project. However, the rationale section should tightly concentrate the highlights of that information into a brief one or two paragraphs that focus on the following:
1. The donor’s connection to NC State, especially to the college, department or program which will benefit from the gift. This might include: a. If an NC State graduate, the donor’s year, college and degree ● E.g., Jane Wuf (Electrical Engineering ’89)
b. Career information as it pertains to the naming gift and/or project: ● E.g., Wuf is CEO of Red Wuf Engineering in Fayetteville NC and was president of the American Association of Electrical Engineers 2012-14. Since 2010, her firm has provided two internships annually for NC State Electrical Engineering undergraduate students.
c. Why the naming opportunity (e.g. the room, building or program that will bear this name) is of interest to the donor : ● E.g., by naming a teaching laboratory, Jane Wuf pays tribute to the practical lab classes that sparked her excitement about electrical engineering.
d. Past giving history at NC State and especially to this college, as well as other demonstrated interest/loyalty (as pertinent to this naming): ● E.g., she is a past member of the College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board and has been actively involved in the planning for this project. ● E.g., Wuf and her family also are lifelong members of the Wolfpack Club. They have established a scholarship for women student-athletes and are loyal supporters of the women’s and men’s basketball programs.
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2. If the naming gift is in honor of or in memory of someone other than the donor, also include a brief explanation and bio of the honoree. ● E.g., the Ellen Smith Memorial Teaching Laboratory is named for the Department Head for Electrical Engineering from 1980 until her retirement in 1999. Dr. Smith earned her BS, MS and PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and began her NC State career as a professor in 1970. She was a founding member of the Society of Women Engineers and served as its president 1972-76. After her retirement from NC State, she continued to advocate for women in engineering roles, both academic and professional. Smith was the first woman to lead a department in the College of Engineering and was a major influence and mentor for Jane Wuf.
3. All information should be in the context of this project as much as possible.
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Chapter 5: Strategic Planning, Gift Types and Creation of Funds
Strategic Planning Prior to Pursuing Naming Opportunities As a best practice, it is important to develop a strategic fundraising plan to reach fundraising goals. Donor-funded naming opportunities should not be requested simply to develop a catalogue of opportunities with the hope that donors will stumble onto a website and shop for the perfect facility or program to name. Pre-planning must occur before naming opportunities are requested in order for a fundraising effort to be successful.
Before reaching out to Donor Services to seek donor-funded naming opportunities, take the following steps for capital projects, existing funds and programmatic namings:
Note: For some capital projects the Capital Project Fundraising Approval Form is required.
Step 1: Develop the fundraising purpose statement. ● What is the fundraising initiative? ● What will the funds from the naming opportunities support? ● How will the funds raised make an impact?
Step 2: Identify the total amount needed to achieve the goal. ● The cost of all donor signage is the responsibility of the college/unit supported by the gift. If the college/unit does not have funds set aside for signage, it is recommended that those funds be included in the fundraising goal. ● For capital projects, the estimated project cost should be obtained from the Facilities Division prior to requesting naming opportunities or pursuing fundraising efforts
Step 3: Review any risks of pursuing the fundraising effort.
Reason: There might be too many fundraising efforts and not enough donors in the pool, or anticipation that the dean will leave within the next year, possibly causing a change in fundraising strategies.
Step 4: Review college/unit resources.
Reason: This gages how many development staff and other resources that you have to ensure you will achieve the set goal.
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Step 5: Develop a list of possible prospects, targeted giving levels for each and specific facilities and programs each prospect might be interested in naming.
Reason: This information is crucial for Donor Services during development of naming opportunities because: ○ It indicates how many facility namings will need to be created for each level. ○ It illustrates the college/unit threshold for fundraising and what opportunities generate the most interest from donors.
Developing a Fundraising Purpose Before a Naming Recommendation Letter is requested for either a facility or a program, the college/unit should develop a fundraising purpose for gifts received from donor-funded naming opportunities. Donor Services will work with the college/unit from the beginning of the naming process to establish where funds will be allocated, so that BoT approval of each Donor Naming Proposal is able to proceed smoothly.
Acceptable Gifts for Naming Opportunities 1. These gift types can be accepted to name either a facility or program: a. Outright gift b. Pledge
2. These gift types need pre-approval to determine whether they can be used to secure naming rights: a. Bequest b. Gift-in-kind c. Employee matching gift d. Donor matching or internal matching
3. These gift types may not be used to secure naming rights: a. Unrestricted funds where the original purpose was not designated by the donor for a naming opportunity b. Internal funds (neither used, transferred nor applied to a pledge).
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Notes: ● If there are multiple donors, they must all sign either a Naming Commitment Intent Form or a facility agreement. ● Pre-approval must be obtained in order to use unrestricted funds as a matching incentive to stimulate giving (refer to Rule 1). ● Funding of a naming opportunity through an irrevocable bequest or a gift-in-kind is to be avoided. In rare occurrences, an exception may be pre-approved by the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development (refer to Rules 24-25). Such approval must occur before the donor is solicited.
To initiate pre-approval regarding gift acceptance, or to request an exception, email Donor Services at [email protected].
Fund Types for Facilities The gift to name a facility will be directed into either a restricted use fund or an established (pooled) endowment fund, and can support some of the following items:
● Restricted Use Fund (Current Use) ○ Unrestricted (always preferred) ○ For a construction or renovation project ○ For maintenance, operational support and future improvements of a facility
Note: Remember the gift assessment fee.
● Established (Pooled) Endowment Fund ○ Unrestricted (always preferred) ○ For faculty support ○ For scholarships ○ For graduate fellowships ○ For departmental or program support or dean’s discretionary use
Named Programs NC State’s current policy states that the gift to name a program will be in the form of an endowment, of which at least three-fourths is unrestricted for the benefit of that program.
● Best Practice: It is recommended that the entire gift be in the form of a named unrestricted endowment. ● Best Practice: Avoid developing multiple funds for programmatic namings or developing named programmatic funds with restrictions so that the program is able to best adapt spending to its needs over the indefinite lifespan of the endowment.
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Chapter 6: Selecting Facilities to be Named
Selecting Facilities: Existing Facilities
Suggestions for Colleges/Units in Selecting Existing Facilities ● It might be difficult to solicit a commitment for existing facilities that have not been renovated and have no renovation planned for the near future.
● If you have plans to renovate in the future but you are pursuing an existing facility naming, it is recommended that you contact the Office of the University Architect prior to pursuing naming opportunities.
○ It is recommended that you develop a budget with assistance from the Office of the University Architect before soliciting gifts to ensure that you will be able to reach your renovation goal.
○ It is never a good idea to fundraise for an initiative and plan to determine renovations based on the amount of funding that has been secured.
○ In addition, any renovations must be pre-approved by the Office of the University Architect.
○ It is extremely difficult to commit a donor to a plan that does not exist.
○ Furthermore, a Donor Services evaluation at this stage would be calculated from the value of the existing facility, resulting in under- or overvaluation if the renovations being considered were committed to at a later date.
● For existing facilities, look at prospects who have personal ties to the facility or target key featured spaces. ○ E.g., auditoriums, lecture halls, Dean’s suites, theaters, hearths or lobbies.
When a request is made to evaluate an existing facility for potential naming opportunities, the following will occur: 1. Donor Services retrieves and reviews existing floor plans from the Facilities Division.
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2. The Director of Donor Services meets with the college/unit and tours the facility to analyze what should be named.
The analysis conducted includes the following: ● Identification of key rooms or spaces
● Identification of attractive rooms or spaces
● Where signs will be installed and whether naming one facility will create a conflict with another ○ E.g., if their respective signs are too close to one another, the naming of a lobby could clash with the naming of a department and create confusion.
● Whether the facility’s purpose aligns with the current floor plan
● The current physical state of the facility ○ E.g., is the facility outdated? Is the facility located in a basement near a leaky pipe? Has the facility been recently renovated or had new technology added to it in the past few years?
● Previously approved namings or undocumented namings
● Whether a facility should or should not be name
3. After completing this analysis, the Director of Donor Services meets with the college/unit to review the results and to finalize the list of naming opportunities.
Selecting Facilities: for Capital Projects (New Construction and Renovation)
Suggestions for Capital Projects (New Construction and Renovation) 1. It is recommended that the college/unit contact Donor Services once approval to pursue fundraising efforts for the capital project has been obtained.
2. In projects involving new construction or major renovations, Donor Services should be included in building committee meetings when donor-funded naming opportunities are on the agenda. It is highly important that Donor Services is included in these design conversations. because these discussions will assist the office in identifying: ○ Potential naming opportunities ○ Key features of the facility ○ Square footage of maintenance areas vs. usable space ○ Features that might be value-engineered out of the project
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Best Practice: Colleges/units can pursue fundraising efforts prior to receiving a list of naming opportunities, but should not promise donors specific features, rooms or spaces until the college/unit is provided with a list of BoT-approved naming opportunities by Donor Services. If in need of incentives before the list is available, it is recommended that colleges/units tell donors that committing to a certain gift level will allow them to be one of the first to choose what they would like to name at their level of their giving.
3. Expect value engineering! Value engineering occurs when cost estimates or bids are greater than the budgeted amount for the cost of work, potentially requiring reductions and/or elimination of spaces, features, qualities of finish level, etc. in order to reduce costs. In addition, “add alternates”—tools for allowing some flexibility in the cost of work—may or may not be accepted during the bid and award phase. When showing preliminary design renderings to donors, keep in mind that the completed facility will likely look significantly different.
Developing Donor-Funded Naming Opportunities for New Capital Projects Donor Services cannot produce a list of naming opportunities until 50% of the Design Development Phase has been completed because design is a process that evolves from one phase to the next. Design changes continue until the Construction Documents Phase, at which time the design should be more solidified.
The Four Phases of Design
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Four Phases of Design and Donor Services Action
Design Phase Donor Services Action
Advance Planning Phase (AP) Partner with college/unit, Office of the University Architect and Capital Project Management to gather information.
Schematic Design Phase (SD) Still partnering with college/unit, Office of the University Architect and Capital Project Management to gather information.
Design Development Phase (DD) At 50% DD, Donor Services can start selecting rooms and spaces to develop calculated ranges to present to the BoT.
Construction Document Phase (CD) At 50% CD, Donor Services can start selecting rooms and spaces to develop minimum gift values to present to the BoT.
Facility Naming Opportunity Types For the purposes of donor-funded naming opportunities, the term “facility” includes rooms, spaces, buildings and other tangible and relatively permanent features owned, operated or controlled by NC State.
Donor Services calculates the minimum gift value for three types of facilities: ● New Construction: A building that is in the planning phase for construction or currently under construction. ● Renovation: A room, space or building that is being renovated. ● Existing Facility: A room, space or building where no recent renovations have occurred and there are currently no future plans to renovate.
What Can Be Named Decisions about which rooms and spaces may be named are determined in partnership by Donor Services and the Office of the University Architect. Together they review floor plans to ensure that rooms and spaces are marketable and accessible, that the naming will be aesthetically appropriate and that there are no conflicts with prior namings.
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All proposed namings are subject to review and can be disqualified based on the analysis provided by Donor Services and the Office of the University Architect. The following rooms and spaces are examples of naming opportunities that might be approved: ● Buildings or complexes of buildings ● Wings and floors of buildings ● Specific rooms or suites of rooms ● Offices of director, department head or above ● Specific interior and exterior spaces ● Specific significant architectural features ● Specific gardens or water features ● Specific significant sculptures or fountains ● Specific significant agricultural or forestry plots ● Specific athletic fields ● Specific NC State-allocated bridges and boardwalks ● Programs associated with academic functions (programs, units, departments, centers, institutes or colleges)
What Cannot Be Named Advancement efforts at NC State focus on appropriate donor-funded naming opportunities to ensure that the ratio of gift to maintenance is appropriate and that rooms, spaces and (rarely) objects are tastefully named. This ensures that NC State’s design aesthetic is kept intact.
The following rooms and spaces cannot be named: ● Spaces designated for maintenance or facilities use only ● Storage spaces and closets ● Drainage systems ● Roofs ● Restrooms and Nursing Mothers Rooms ● Small offices (100 square feet or less) ● Animals ● Utility areas such as copy rooms, equipment rooms, etc ● Temporary features ● Leased spaces ● Events ● In general, objects and equipment including: ○ Indoor or outdoor furniture (benches, tables) ○ Musical instruments ○ Interior or exterior fixtures (doors, lights, sundials, steps, ramps, etc) ○ Equipment (industrial, hardware, research, sports, musical, etc) ○ Bike racks, parking spots and bus stops ○ Trees, bushes or other plantings ○ Bricks or pavers
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Considerations for these limitations also may include: ● Inventory management ● Lifespan of the object, tree or animal ● Donor relations issues ● General devaluation of the overall naming program
The minimum gift for donor-funded naming opportunities is $25,000. Alternative giving options to suggest to donors may include: ● Contributing to a beautification fund or other existing fund. ● Creating a named restricted fund for $10,000 or more.
Note: Some current tribute programs have been “grandfathered” regarding bricks, pavers, benches or chairs.
Hallowed Places Over time, certain places on campus have accrued a special meaning and are considered to be “hallowed places”.
NC State’s Hallowed Places: ● The Memorial Belltower ● Holladay Hall ● Reynolds Coliseum ● Mary Yarbrough Courtyard ● The Free Expression Tunnel ● University Plaza (The Brickyard) ● The Court of North Carolina ● College of Veterinary Medicine Pastures ● Lake Raleigh Woods
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Chapter 7: Board of Trustees Approval
The responsibility for naming facilities or programs lies primarily with the BoT. Preparation for the BoT review process may begin a few months or years before the group meets, depending upon the type of project. The BoT reviews naming proposals at its February, April, September and November meetings, which are usually held during the third week of those months.
BoT approval is required at two stages of the naming process:
● First Approval - Naming Opportunity Proposal: The BoT gives approval to the college/unit to solicit a donor-funded naming for an approved facility or program.
● Second Approval - Donor Naming Proposal: The BoT approves the specific donor naming of and gift commitment to the facility or program.
○ Donor Naming Proposals are reviewed and approved by the Naming Opportunities Committee before submission to the BoT. The Naming Opportunities Committee is not involved at the Naming Opportunity Proposal stage.
○ Although rare, the Naming Opportunities Committee can deny a donor naming proposal and prevent it from moving forward in the process.
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Chapter 8: Donor Recognition Signage
Selecting Signage Once a sign proof has been approved by the Donor Signage Committee, the college/unit should purchase the sign and then contact Facilities Customer Service Center to install. Signage can be identification purchased through the Office of the University Architect or through a third party vendor. All identification signs must follow exterior and interior signage standards.
Note: All signage must be reviewed and approved by the Office of the University Architect and installed by personal that has been approved by the Facilities Division. The cost of all donor signage is the responsibility of the college/unit supported by the gift (refer to Rule 40).
Why are Donor Recognition Walls, Plaques and Signs Effective? 1. Shows appreciation to the donor A key element of good donor stewardship is showing supporters appreciation for their contributions. An easy way to celebrate donors is to post their names in a public place where everyone can see them.
2. Builds a legacy A wall, sign or plaque will remain visible for a long time, sometimes as long as the life of the building. This long-term show of appreciation speaks to donors, especially those leaving planned gifts.
3. Inspires others to give It is not only existing donors who see the walls, signs and plaques—prospective donors see them as well. Seeing the public commendation a donor receives will encourage others to give.
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Signage Types There are four types of signage for donors:
1. Identification Signs (Required) Identification signs identify the location and are used to direct people on campus. Named buildings, rooms and spaces should have identification signs.
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2. Donor Walls Donor recognition walls honor the major financial contributors to a project and serve as an incentive for potential donors to make sizable gifts below the minimum level of $25,000 required to name a facility.
For large capital projects, it is recommended that donor walls be located and designed early in the building design process so that they can be appropriately integrated with the building's aesthetic and material palette.
Types of Donor Walls: ● Glass ● Digital ● Brick ● Metal ● Art installation
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3. Donor Plaques. These are cast metal—typically bronze—signs that recognize donors who have named a building.
4. Donor Recognition Signs Donor recognition signs can be in the form of a plaque, glass, picture or electronic sign. These signs are meant to fully recognize and honor the donor or designated individual. The signs can also include details about the donor to preserve and honor their legacy. These can be displayed next to the identification sign identifying the room or space or on the interior of the building, room or space.
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Statues and Works of Art Colleges/units should avoid at all costs the placement of statues or works of art to recognize donors, for the following reasons:
● Statues and works of art can result in bad results causing donor and public relation issues. ○ E.g., a statue of Lucille Ball commissioned by her hometown in Coloron, NY (below left) was received poorly by residents, causing the town to spend additional funds to hire a new sculptor to make a replacement (below right).
● Statues and works of art are extremely expensive and can cost more than the value of the gift.
● It is difficult to commission statues and works of art that align with NC State’s Guidelines for Public Art Acquisition.
Approval Process Colleges/Units should not commission statues or significant works of art of donor(s) in recognition of a gift without following the Guidelines for Public Art Acquisition and/or receiving approval from the Office of the University Architect before even discussing with the donor.
Vendor Selection It is important to select a vendor capable of designing and fabricating signage that complements the building's aesthetic and material palette. Signage should never detract from the architectural intent of the building. Clear communication with potential vendors is critical to relay this intent. Provide vendors with design drawings, renderings, narratives, material descriptions, and anything else that can help them to produce the finest product possible with the budget available. Donor walls, plaques and electronic displays can be expensive and time-consuming to design and fabricate; therefore, sign vendors need to be creative and thrifty in using renewable materials and duplicating high-end imagery.
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Note: Select either the Office of the University Architect or an approved external vendor to produce the sign.
Signage Best Practices 1. Refer to the external and internal signage standards.
2. Avoid wall projects that require annual updates may place significant administrative burden on the college/unit.
3. When selecting materials, try to select materials that are renewable, convenient and inexpensive to edit.
4. When selecting electronic displays, consider who will be responsible for maintaining the donor data, the cost of annual licensing fees, what will be done if and when the software becomes obsolete, and alternative maintenance options if the original vendor goes out of business.
5. Avoid permanently crafting or etching the donor’s (or donors’) image into a sign. The donor’s image can become quickly outdated, or may be seen as poorly designed, resulting in donor relations issues.
6. When selecting signage work with the Office of the Architect to find signage that will integrate well into the environmental design of the building and will stand the test of time. Avoid signage fads that can date the sign over time.
7. Ensure that design is guided by the need for signage to complement its surroundings and not by the size of the donor’s gift.
8. Other questions to consider when determining the size and design of signage: ● What is the life expectancy of the sign? ● Is the sign design a part of a trend or will it stand the test of time? ● Does the sign enhance or complement the environment in which it will be placed? ○ E.g., is it a very modern sign in a century-old building that has not been updated? Or does the sign match its surroundings? ● Does the sign being purchase match other donor recognition signs within the area it is being installed? ● Does the sign align with NC State branding guidelines? ● What is the title for the display as a whole? ● Will there be multiple levels of donors recognized on one display? ● Initially, how many donors will be recognized? ● Will the display add future donors? If so, how frequently?
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● Is there a preferred order for how donors are listed on the display? ● What type of information will be included about each donor? ● Are there required materials that should be used to complement the existing environment? ● How much space is allotted for the display? ● Will interactive elements be included? ● What is the budget for the donor recognition display?
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Chapter 9: Naming Standards
When proposing a donor-funded naming opportunity to a donor, the development officer should present both the proposed identification name and the proposed donor recognition name. It is important to explain the distinction between the two names to the donor:
● The identification name refers to what the Facilities Division uses to code the room and for room listings, campus maps and Google Maps. This name is what identifies the building room or space and how students and faculty will refer to it.
● The donor recognition name is what will be placed on donor walls, donor plaques and/or donor recognition signs. This naming standard can also be applied to printed materials.
Best Practice: It is considered a best practice to include a donor recognition sign, either next to the identification nameplate or within the room.
Each of the two names will be developed according to the practices below. This will accelerate the approval process and reduce the likelihood of future donor relations issues..
Identification Naming Standards
Common Issues with Identification Names If the name on the identification sign is too long or complicated, one of the following issues may arise:
● Students shorten the facility name, impacting the donor’s legacy. ○ E.g., Anastasia Genevieve Mahershalalhashbaz Lab can become the AGM Lab.
● Students abbreviate or develop an acronym of the facility name because the donor’s initials spell an inappropriate word, damaging the donor’s legacy. ○ E.g., Amanda Sandra Sanders Lab can become the ASS Lab.
● The name does not fit on a sign because it incorporates the names of multiple donors or honors multiple people or animals. ○ E.g., In Memory of my dog Mr. Fluffy Monster, my horse Mr. Ed and my goldfish Goldie.
● The name causes identification issues. ○ E.g., Light Lab or Crystal Lab, named after Julie Light or Julie Crystal, could create confusion in a physics building regarding the subject matter taught in the room vs. the donor’s name.
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In addition, please discuss with the donor that they are naming the room and the space itself and not the current purpose of the room. Thus, if the donor named the room used for concrete research and in five years the concrete research lab is moved to a different location, the donor’s name recognition remains associated with the original room.
Donor Services recommends checking acronyms and names by using Google and Urban Dictionary.
WARNING: Searches in Urban Dictionary can produce offensive results. However, that is why it is important to check these results: to ensure facilities or programs are not named in ways that resemble derogatory or offensive slang words. If you feel uncomfortable with this search, please contact Donor Services and we will conduct this search for you.
Full List of Identification Naming Standards The identification naming standards listed in the tables below have been established for continuity, clarity and practicality in signage and communications. The standard preferred identification naming is a last name followed by the facility/program purpose, type or function (e.g., Jones Auditorium, Smith Department of Animal Science).
Single Name Preference Level Identification Standard Example
First Preference Last Name and Facility/Program Tufaro Department of Purpose Type English
Second Preference First name/Last Name and Brently Tufaro Department Facility/Program Purpose Type of English
Couple with Same Last Name Preference Level Identification Standard Example
First Preference Last Name and Facility/Program Tufaro Department of Purpose Type English
Second Preference First Name and First Name Last Brently and Bellarose Tufaro Name and Facility/Program Department of English Purpose Type
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Couple with Different Last Names Preference Level Identification Standard Example
First Preference Last Name-Last Name and Tufaro-Yom Department of Facility/Program Purpose Type English
Second Preference First Name Last Name and First Brently Tufaro and Bellarose Name Last Name and Yom Department of English Facility/Program Purpose Type
Dual Name Preference Level Identification Standard Example
First Preference Last Name-Last Name and Novell-Midcap Department Facility/Program Purpose Type of English
Second Preference First Name Last Name and First Samuel Novell and Dante Name Last Name and Midcap Department of Facility/Program Purpose Type English
Family Name Preference Level Identification Standard Example
First Preference Last Name and Facility/Program Tufaro Department of Purpose Type English
Second Preference Last Name Family and Tufaro Family Department of Facility/Program Purpose Type English
Pet Name Preference Level Identification Standard Example
Preference Animal Name and Sir Snuggles Auditorium Facility/Program Purpose Type
Corporate, Foundation or Organizational Name Preference Level Identification Standard Example
Preference Corporate, Foundation or Bob’s Burgers Inc. Test Organizational Name and Kitchen Facility/Program Purpose Type
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Discouraged Formats for Identification Signage Some naming elements or formats are discouraged for identification signage. They may, however, be applicable for other types of signage.
Discouraged for Example Applicable To Identification
Prefixes, middle names or Dr. Brently Rothers Tufaro Donor recognition such as initials, suffixes Department of English plaques and donor walls
In Honor of… In Honor of Brently Rothers Donor recognition such as Tufaro Department of plaques and donor walls English
In Memory of… In Memory of Brently Donor recognition such as Rothers Tufaro Department plaques and donor walls of English
In Loving Memory of... In Loving Memory of None, but simply “In Brently Rothers Tufaro Memory of...” may be used Department of English for donor recognition such as plaques and donor walls
Nicknames in quotes Brently “Brent” Rothers Donor recognition such as Tufaro Department of plaques and donor walls English
Donor Recognition Naming Standards Donor recognition naming standards have been established for continuity, clarity and practicality in signage and communications. These standards, outlined in the tables below, guide the formatting of names displayed on donor walls, plaques and donor recognition signs.
Single Name Preference Level Donor Recognition Standard Example
First Preference First Name/Last Name and Jane Jones Lab Facility/Program Purpose Type
Second Preference First Name/Initial/Last Name and Jane R. Jones Lab Facility/Program Purpose Type
Third Preference Prefix/First Name/Initial/Last Ms. Jane R. Jones Lab Name and Facility/Program Purpose Type
Naming Opportunities Toolkit 45 | Page The Office of Donor Services, 8/12/19
Couple with Same Last Name Preference Level Donor Recognition Standard Example
First Preference First Name and First Name/Last John and Jane Jones Name and Facility/Program Lecture Hall Purpose Type
Second Preference First Name/Initial and First John B. and Jane R. Jones Name/Initial/Last Name and Lecture Hall Facility/Program Purpose Type
Third Preference Prefix/First Name/Initial and Dr. John B. and Dr. Jane R. Prefix/First Name/Initial/Last Jones Lecture Hall Name and Facility/Program Purpose Type
Couple with Different Last Names Preference Level Donor Recognition Standard Example
First Preference First Name/Last Name and First John Jones and Jane Wilson Name/Last Name and Lecture Hall Lab Facility/Program Purpose Type
Second Preference First Name/Initial/Last Name and John B. Jones and Jane R. First Name/Initial/Last Name and Wilson Lecture Hall Lab Facility/Program Purpose Type
Third Preference Prefix/First Name/Initial/Last Dr. John B. Jones and Dr. Name and Prefix/First Jane R. Wilson Lecture Hall Name/Initial/Last Name and Facility/Program Purpose Type
Naming Opportunities Toolkit 46 | Page The Office of Donor Services, 8/12/19
Dual Name Preference Level Donor Recognition Standard Example
First Preference First Name/Last Name and First Campbell Yom and Cade Name/Last Name and Zavier English Department Facility/Program Purpose Type
Second Preference First Name/Initial/Last Name and Campbell B. Yom and Cade First Name Initial/Last Name and R. Zavier English Facility/Program Purpose Type Department
Third Preference Prefix/First Name/Initial/ Last Dr. Campbell B. Yom and Name and Prefix/First Dr. Cade R. Zavier English Name/Initial/Last Name and Department Facility/Program Purpose Type
Family Name Preference Level Donor Recognition Standard Example
First Preference Last Name Family and Finnicum Family Department Facility/Program Purpose Type of Water
Second Preference First Names, Last Name and Lee, Mara, Cody and Brie Facility/Program Purpose Type Finnicum Department of Water
Pet Name Preference Level Donor Recognition Standard Example
Preference Pet’s Name and Facility/Program Sir Snuggles Auditorium Purpose Type
Corporate, Foundation or Organizational Name Preference Level Donor Recognition Standard Example
Preference Corporate, Foundation or Bob’s Burger Inc. Auditorium Organizational Name and Facility/Program Purpose Type
Naming Opportunities Toolkit 47 | Page The Office of Donor Services, 8/12/19
In Memory of or In Honor of Preference Level Donor Recognition Standard Example
Preference In Memory of First Name/ Last In Memory of Harris Name Dromgoole
Naming Opportunities Toolkit 48 | Page The Office of Donor Services, 8/12/19
Appendix A: Reference
Policies
POL 3.00.02 Criteria and Procedures for Naming Facilities, Programs and Funds
POL 03.00.01 – Coordination of Fundraising Activities and Acceptance of Private Donations (Gifts)
Other University Manuals or Standards to Reference
Manuals for Exterior and Interior Signage (MEIS)
Guidelines for Public Art Acquisition
Forms
Step 1: Naming Recommendation Letter Request: Facilities
Step 1: Naming Recommendation Letter Request: Program
Step 2: Donor Naming Proposal Request (DNPR)
Naming Commitment Intent Form (NCIF)
Templates and Tools
Naming Opportunity Planning Worksheet
Prospect Pool Worksheet: Naming Opportunities
Stewardship Plan Template
Capital Project Concept Approval Form (CPCAF)
BoT Naming Deadline Calendar
Campaign Toolkit
NC State Branding Guidelines
Chart: 8 Phases of Donor Naming Opportunities 2.18.19
Naming Opportunities Toolkit 49 | Page The Office of Donor Services, 8/12/19
Queues
Queue Naming Recommendation Letter Request: Facilities
Queue Naming Recommendation Letter Request: Program
Queue Donor Naming Proposal
Naming Opportunities Toolkit 50 | Page The Office of Donor Services, 8/12/19