University of Washington College of Engineering — Local services in Seattle

Do not donate. The Dean's office has a policy of keeping endowed programs' budgets constant, while retaining money from growth. For example, a big gift can generate, say, $50k annually. The core of that big gift money grows in UW's CEF. Programs that have received $50k/yr for ten years still get $50k now instead of $65k, $75k, or more depending on CEF investment performance and regulations. The Dean's office keeps the difference to pay for poor decisions, questionable "strategic" activities, or other things obviously not within the donors' intent. For smaller donations, do not sign anything that allows for any official's "discretion" to in how the money...

Weak leadership. Major financial waste due to letting terrible Aero Astro chair make disastrous decisions. Several ethics complaints sustained. Do not donate money unless it is contractually protected to be spent on EXACTLY what you want. Scholarship and fellowship money is generally protected but check. My info comes from experience through Boeing's dealings with UW and from a family member who...

Incompetent, disorganized micromanagers hiding behind the veil of long-gone prestige and information silos.

Most people seem to more concerned about renewing research and service contracts via political means rather than making real impact...