Commentary: Philanthropy Roundtable calls for stronger safeguards amid growing donor intent lawsuits

In a commentary published by the Philanthropy Roundtable, Joanne Florino–the Roundtable’s Adam Meyerson distinguished fellow in philanthropic excellence–is calling for stronger legal and policy safeguards to protect donor intent as courts increasingly reshape how nominally permanent charitable gifts are interpreted. Florino highlights a growing wave of disputes involving closed or downsized institutions and donor-advised funds where courts are testing the limits of endowment permanence. Recent cases include Concordia University Ann Arbor in Michigan, where a $126 million system endowment dispute included a $1.5 million restricted gift tied to a now-closed campus, and NYU Langone Health in New York City, where naming rights tied to a $250 million renovation are being challenged. These conflicts underscore rising legal uncertainty over restricted gifts as colleges close and institutions seek financial flexibility, prompting renewed calls for clearer donor protections and enforcement standards.