When Gifts Come With Strings Attached: Philanthropic coercion strikes Jewish studies — and the academy at large.

"I was not surprised that StandWithUs would instruct university donors to try to extract promises like the public condemnation of BDS (demand No. 5) or the allowance of the donor’s “personal oversight” over faculty appointments and curricular decisions (demand No. 6). I was surprised, though, that they would show me, a faculty member, their cards — effectively ending the game. “Can I keep this?” I asked, knowing it was the only gift my university could possibly take from them....

Recently, StandWithUs has emerged as a playmaker in reports about the University of Washington’s decision to return an endowment to a displeased donor. Six years ago, Becky Benaroya gave a $5-million gift to endow a chair and program in Israel studies. But after the holder of the chair, Professor Liora Halperin, signed a statement critical of Israel during the May 2021 conflict with Gaza, Benaroya complained to the university and, eventually, accepted the university’s offer to refund the endowment...."

[PS: I dislike what these donors do, and I'd encourage universities to reject their terms (hence, if need by, their money). But I tag this article because the subtitle uses the word "coercion". Good discussion topic: Is this practice coercive? Or in what sense is it coercive? Is an unacceptable offer of money coercive just because we're strongly tempted to accept?]