Our University Foundation is a separately incorporated entity, with its
own board, etc.
They did believe for years that they were "private" and not considered a
"state government entity" until a nasty public records  suit fifteen
years ago.   At that point,
they had to do an about face and make their records public.   However we
do have
an exemption in the state public records law that says donors may choose
be anonymous.   So the Foundation is obligated on demand to release
names of donors
and amounts unless the donor specifically requested anonymity.   Many
personal donors actually donate through trusts, corporations, banks,
etc., so the list of donors
would not include their personal names.

It would depend upon Ohio law.    Wasn't there some legal cases many
years ago about Ohio State and its separate "booster" organizations,
some scandals about the
perks these groups gave players and coaches, and questions about whether
or whether or not they were "state" organizations?   Seems like there'd
be some state
law on that kind of issue similar to Foundations which are often ruled
as "direct support" organizations for universities.

Dean


Dean DeBolt
University Librarian, Special Collections
John C. Pace Library, University of West Florida
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL  32514-5750
850-474-2213
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