Gifts for Non-employees

These individuals and organizations are eligible to receive non-cash gifts on behalf of the University:

  • Donors, to acknowledge a contribution, recognize service, or express sympathy in the event of the death or major illness of a family member
  • Potential donors, to promote the University’s programs or to express the University’s goodwill toward the community
  • Visiting dignitaries and scholars, to express appreciation
  • Volunteers, including students, to honor the contribution of time or other resources
  • A civic or cultural organization or member of the local community, to promote goodwill
  • A foreign dignitary or university official, to promote goodwill
  • A client, to promote good customer relations.

These non-cash gifts are allowable – value limits don’t include incidental costs (engraving, packaging, sales tax, mailing, gift wrapping):

  • Promotional items – gifts of tangible personal property that bear the University or Berkeley Law logo, limited to $75 per individual.
  • Appreciation or recognition – gifts of tangible personal property, a service (tickets to a sporting, theatrical or musical event), a meal, a non-negotiable gift certificate (cannot be redeemed for cash), and mementos (plaque, watch, logo item, book), limited to $600 per individual.
  • Sympathy gifts – gifts of tangible personal property (flowers, candy, book) presented as an expression of sympathy in the event of the death or major illness of an individual or member of the individual’s family or household, limited to $200 per individual. Alternatively, this policy allows for a cash contribution to a charity in lieu of a gift of tangible personalproperty. Such contributions must be accompanied by a transmittal letter on official University letterhead which states that the donation was made on behalf of the University.