A decade or so ago, I learned of a story that seemed edifying, if not powerful. A private school determined that its physical plant was in need of improvement, so launched a fund-raising campaign to achieve its objectives. Ultimately, the school's leadership identified a family that had the financial wherewithal to make the difference between success and failure. The head of the school and the board's officers spent the time and energy preparing to educate the potential donor about the school's needs and their dreams.

As the tale goes, the "ask" was made, and the donor said that the family would gladly make the gift, but had one condition: They would give a donation to the school only if the name of the chief administrator was affixed to the front of the new building. The head was stunned, but managed to respond, indicating that he was deeply appreciative of the family's generosity, yet had a condition of his own. He declined to allow his name to be placed on the new edifice until several years after he departed the school. Under no circumstance did he want students, faculty, staff, and parents to have to enter a building........

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