Front Quad of Lincoln College, the walls covered in bright green ivy

Donor Charter

Lincoln College was established in 1427 by Richard Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln. Its growth and development since that time has been heavily dependent on philanthropic support from its Fellows, Rectors, alumni, and other friends. These gifts, which are celebrated by the College at its Chapter or Commemoration Days, have enabled Lincoln to evolve while retaining its autonomy with respect to governance and academic values.

Philanthropy remains an essential part of Lincoln, and the College is committed to treating all of its donors with consideration and respect. If, in the opinion of the Trustees of the College, a proposed donation may conflict with the College’s values or strategy, we shall discuss this with the donor and such a gift may not be accepted.

When a gift is received by the College, regardless of size, we undertake the following:

Acknowledge every gift swiftly, and provide appropriate recognition and publicity in consultation with the donor. If a donor prefers to give anonymously, this wish will be respected.
Apply the donation to the purpose specified by the donor (subject to it being accepted for that purpose by the College). All donor funds are examined by the College’s Finance Committee and by its auditors on an annual basis. Unrestricted funds will be used by the College for its current priorities, as determined by the Trustees of the College.
Keep donors informed about the impact of their gift and the progress of the College’s fundraising more generally through an annual donor report.
In the case of legacies to Lincoln, we will liaise with the executors of the estate to ensure that the legacy is used in the manner intended; if there are any difficulties in applying a restricted donation, alternative uses for the donation will be discussed with the executors.

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