The Massachusetts Institute of Technology faced widespread criticism in 2019 when it became clear the university had accepted gifts from the financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The right choice was obvious — the university never should have taken the money.
But the topic of “tainted money” is rarely so clear-cut. Before accepting money from some of the people on the Philanthropy 50, the Chronicle’s ranking of the donors who gave the most money in 2020, fundraisers and charitable boards would be wise to explore the gray areas.
