The Annual Report on External Support to the California State University includes tables detailing “gift commitments.” Using a reporting convention that is a variation of the accrual system, these tables present what is thought to be the best perspective on the level of current philanthropic activity. The methodology includes new gifts, new pledges up to five years in duration and new documented testamentary provisions.

The data presented under “gift receipts” conforms to reporting standards employed by the national Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) Survey conducted by the Council for Aid to Education. This survey is completed by over 85 percent of all colleges and universities for comparative purposes. The VSE survey uses a cash-based methodology that includes new gifts and pledge payments (gift receipts), but does not include new pledges or revocable testamentary provisions. This reporting convention is thought to present the best cash flow perspective. The charitable gift source and purpose detail presented in this report utilizes data submitted through the VSE survey.

For the purposes of this report, deferred gifts, pledges and testamentary commitments are recorded at face value. This differs from accounting standards used to produce the annual audited financial statements. In audited financial statements, the gift asset is recorded at the discounted present value. Also based on an accrual method, financial statements record unconditional pledges on the revenue side at the time they are promised and balance the asset with receivable accounts that are reduced as pledge payments are recorded. Due to the difference in reporting conventions, data presented in this External Resources report will vary from the audited financial statements.

Grants and contract data represents figures submitted in the annual audited financial statements under “Grants and contracts, non-capital.” These numbers are the consolidated total of university and auxiliary income categories as defined below.

• University Definition
  Grants and contracts, non-capital — Includes all amounts for which eligibility requirements were met on grants and contracts from federal, state or private agencies that will be used for non-capital purposes. Examples for the CSU include student financial assistance grants such as Pell, SEOG and Work Study.
• Auxiliary Organization Definition
  Grants and contracts, non-capital [federal, state or non-governmental] — Includes all unrestricted amounts received or made available by grants and contracts for current operations and all amounts received or made available through restricted grants and contracts to the extent expended for current operations. The amount does not include gifts.