Dilemma: Right vs. Right
Aid a Student or Stick by the Rules?
Allen is the director of a family foundation and grandson of the founder. He and his foundation are well known within his small Midwestern community as supporters of higher education. Their grant guidelines emphasize the importance of continuing education for young people and the pursuit of intellectual research.
One spring, close family friends approach him asking for financial support for their son, Tom, who is about to enter college. They are delighted to report that Tom’s first-choice college accepted him. However, the financial aid package offered by the institution is not enough to allow him to attend. Because of his long-standing friendship with the family, Allen is well aware of their financial and personal situation. The son lives with his mother and stepfather, both well-educated and committed parents, who have only modest financial resources. Tom is a bright young man — in the top five percent of his class. Yet, after living with his mother and stepfather for many years, he has expressed a strong desire to reconnect with his natural father. If he can’t attend college, Tom may go live with his father who runs a farm far out in the country. On the farm there would be little opportunity for him to experience a full higher education.
Allen quickly realizes that Tom's chosen college is his own alma mater! Over the past few years, Allen's family foundation has made several generous donations to the school. Knowing that his foundation can only give money to a 501(c)(3) organization, Allen approaches the college to see what might be done for Tom. After some consideration, the college development director tells Allen that his foundation can make a restricted donation to the college, which — if worded just right — could be used for Tom's tuition.
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