Policy 1212: Gifts to Non-Employees

Subject Area: Procurement/Disbursement
Responsible Office: Financial Services
Sponsor: Chief Financial Officer
Originally Issued: July 2014
Revised:
Refer Questions To: Shared Services Help Desk, 773-702-5800

Purpose: To specify the type of gift that may be made to an individual who is not a University employee; with the exception of gifts to donors and volunteers given by University Alumni Relation & Development which should follow the guidelines stated in Policy 1217.

Policy

University departments are allowed to give a modest ($100 or less) gift to a non-employee for reasons such as:

1. In lieu of an Honorarium

2. In lieu of a Lecture Fee

3. Prizes/Awards – Given at a fund raising event, etc.

Gifts of $100 or less to non-employees may be in the form of a University check, gift card, or non-cash items. Gifts greater than $100 must be approved in advance by the Associate Vice President for Finance.

Regardless of amount, all gifts are considered taxable income. Under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, the University is required to report such payments if they equal, or exceed, $600 in a calendar year.