Chapter 112

112.11(4)(a) (a) Subject to the intent of a donor expressed in the gift instrument, an institution may appropriate for expenditure or accumulate so much of an endowment fund as the institution determines is prudent for the uses, benefits, purposes, and duration for which the endowment fund is established. Unless stated otherwise in the gift instrument, the assets in an endowment fund are donor-restricted assets until appropriated for expenditure by the institution. In making a determination to appropriate or accumulate, the institution shall act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances, and shall consider, if relevant, the following factors:

112.11(4)(a)1. 1. The duration and preservation of the endowment fund.

112.11(4)(a)2. 2. The purposes of the institution and the endowment fund.

112.11(4)(a)3. 3. General economic conditions.

112.11(4)(a)4. 4. The possible effect of inflation or deflation.

112.11(4)(a)5. 5. The expected total return from income and the appreciation of investments.

112.11(4)(a)6. 6. Other resources of the institution.

112.11(4)(a)7. 7. The investment policy of the institution.

112.11(4)(b) (b) To limit the authority to appropriate for expenditure or accumulate under par. (a), a gift instrument shall specifically state the limitation.

112.11(4)(c) (c) Terms in a gift instrument designating a gift as an endowment, or a direction or authorization in the gift instrument to use only “income,” “interest,” “dividends,” or “rents, issues, or profits,” or “to preserve the principal intact,” or words of similar import:

112.11(4)(c)1. 1. Create an endowment fund of permanent duration, unless other language in the gift instrument limits the duration or purpose of the fund.

112.11(4)(c)2. 2. Do not otherwise limit the authority to appropriate for expenditure or accumulate under par. (a).

112.11(5) (5) Delegation of management and investment functions.

112.11(5)(a) (a) Subject to any specific limitation set forth in a gift instrument or in law other than this section, an institution may delegate to an external agent the management and investment of an institutional fund to the extent that an institution could prudently delegate under the circumstances. An institution shall act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances, in all of the following:

112.11(5)(a)1. 1. Selecting an agent.

112.11(5)(a)2. 2. Establishing the scope and terms of the delegation, consistent with the purposes of the institution and the institutional fund.

112.11(5)(a)3. 3. Periodically reviewing the agent’s actions in order to monitor the agent’s performance and compliance with the scope and terms of the delegation.

112.11(5)(b) (b) In performing a delegated function, an agent owes a duty to the institution to exercise reasonable care to comply with the scope and terms of the delegation.

112.11(5)(c) (c) An institution that complies with par. (a) is not liable for the decisions or actions of an agent to which the function was delegated.

112.11(5)(d) (d) By accepting delegation of a management or investment function from an institution that is subject to the laws of this state, an agent submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state in all proceedings arising from or related to the delegation or the performance of the delegated function.

112.11(5)(e) (e) An institution may delegate management and investment functions to its committees, officers, or employees as authorized by law of this state other than this section.

112.11(6) (6) Release or modification of restrictions on management, investment, or purpose.

112.11(6)(a) (a) If the donor consents in a record, an institution may release or modify, in whole or in part, a restriction contained in a gift instrument on the management, investment, or purpose of an institutional fund. A release or modification may not allow a fund to be used for a purpose other than a charitable purpose of the institution.

112.11(6)(b) (b) The court, upon application of an institution, may modify a restriction contained in a gift instrument regarding the management or investment of an institutional fund if the restriction has become impracticable or wasteful, if it impairs the management or investment of the fund, or if, because of circumstances not anticipated by the donor, a modification of a restriction will further the purposes of the fund. The institution shall notify the attorney general of the application, and the attorney general shall be given an opportunity to be heard. To the extent practicable, any modification must be made in accordance with the donor’s probable intention.

112.11(6)(c) (c) If a particular charitable purpose or a restriction contained in a gift instrument on the use of an institutional fund becomes unlawful, impracticable, impossible to achieve, or wasteful, the court, upon application of an institution, may modify the purpose of the fund or the restriction on the use of the fund in a manner consistent with the charitable purposes expressed in the gift instrument. The institution shall notify the attorney general of the application, and the attorney general shall be given an opportunity to be heard.

112.11(6)(d) (d) If an institution determines that a restriction contained in a gift instrument on the management, investment, or purpose of an institutional fund is unlawful, impracticable, impossible to achieve, or wasteful, the institution, 60 days after notification to the attorney general, may release or modify the restriction, in whole or part, if all of the following occur:

112.11(6)(d)1. 1. The institutional fund subject to the restriction has a total value of less than $75,000.

112.11(6)(d)2. 2. More than 20 years have elapsed since the fund was established.

112.11(6)(d)3. 3. The institution uses the property in a manner consistent with the charitable purposes expressed in the gift instrument.

112.11(7) (7) Reviewing compliance. Compliance with this section is determined in light of the facts and circumstances existing at the time a decision is made or action is taken, and not by hindsight.

112.11(8) (8) Application to existing institutional funds. This section applies to institutional funds existing on or established after August 4, 2009. As applied to institutional funds existing on August 4, 2009, this section governs only decisions made or actions taken on or after that date.

112.11(9) (9) Relation to federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. This section modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 USC 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede section 101 of that act, 15 USC 7001 (a), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in section 103 of that act, 15 USC 7003 (b).

112.11(10) (10) Uniformity of application and construction. In applying and construing this section, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

112.11 History History: 2009 a. 33.