October 8, 2025

This message is distributed to Academic Department Chairs & Deans, Senate Faculty, Academic Assistant Deans, and Academic Business Officers & ASC Directors. (Click here to view description of distribution groups.)

The attached message is being sent on behalf of Chris Pizzinat, Associate Vice Chancellor for Development and Christian Treitler, Chief Financial Officer, UCSB Foundation.

Communication to Academic Departments re Gift Solicitations

October 1, 2025

Dear Academic Department colleagues,

UC Santa Barbara's Audit and Advisory Services recently conducted an internal audit evaluating the University's current controls over donor proposals and the coordination among campus offices to ensure that appropriate reviews and approvals are in place. Audit and Advisory Services subsequently issued an audit report on July 29, 2025 highlighting a series of recommendations to tighten such controls.

The Office of Development is sharing these recommendations with the campus academic departments emphasizing the following points:

  1. Please avoid accepting or proposing contractual commitments when soliciting or discussing gift proposals with donors or funders until the campus officially vets them. This is particularly important for corporate funders. This involves review by the Office of Development to ensure compliance with University and UC gift policies.
  2. Please note that specific deliverables as a component of a gift are not acceptable and will redefine such agreements as sponsored research. Additionally, any stipulation by the donor regarding the use of University-created intellectual property, including any mandates to disseminate in Open Source channels, will likewise redefine such arrangements as sponsored research and not gifts.
  3. Please engage academic department business officers early in negotiations to make sure they are aware of all potential donor proposals and opportunities. They will then be able to support you by checking with the Office of Research or Office of Development if further clarity is needed.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Chris Pizzinat
Associate Vice Chancellor, Development

Christian Treitler
CFO, UCSB Foundation