Universities are increasing dependency on private philanthropy even as scrutiny of donor sources and gift terms intensifies. Higher‑education leaders cited foreign gifting oversight and shrinking federal research dollars as drivers pushing advancement teams to vet gifts more closely and rethink donor pipelines. Board professionals told the Council of Board Professionals that trustees need orientation, clear data, and coordinated messaging to advocate effectively without exposing institutions to reputational or compliance risk. The guidance emphasized the role of board culture and fiduciary clarity in donor engagement. Development and governance teams now face a dual mandate: aggressively pursue philanthropy to fill funding gaps while strengthening risk assessments and transparency to protect institutional reputation and autonomy.