The legal terrain regarding institutions' rights for use of major charitable gifts has clarified somewhat in recent months. While this may encourage institutional fundraisers, it is also clear that extreme care still must be taken about the acceptance and terms set for use of transformational gifts. As recent lawsuits demonstrate, careful planning is essential to a successful outcome for colleges negotiating with donors for transformational gifts. In this article, the author discusses how to avoid controversy over donors' wishes. The author suggests that academic administrators and professors should seek clearer understanding of what a donor hopes for, which could lead to possibly less intrusive approaches than might be originally proposed. In this regard, trustees are uniquely equipped to bridge the potential gap between donors and beneficiaries, understanding the thought processes of both donors and university and faculty leaders.