NATIONAL BRIEFING / AND FINALLY . . .

A mystery is unfolding in the world of college fundraising: During the past few weeks, at least nine universities have received gifts totaling more than $45 million, and the schools had to promise not to try to learn the giver’s identity.

One school checked with the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security to ensure the $1.5 million gift didn’t come from illegal sources.

The gifts ranged from $8 million at Purdue to $1.5 million to the University of North Carolina at Asheville. The University of Iowa received $7 million; the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of Maryland University College, $6 million each; the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, $5.5 million; and Penn State-Harrisburg, $3 million.

Each donation stipulated that most of the money be used for scholarships, and the remainder could be spent on various costs such as research, equipment, strategic goals and operating support. The schools had to agree not to investigate the giver’s identity.

“Our chancellor was called to a Denver law office and had to sign a confidentiality agreement that she would not try to find out,” said Tom Hutton, spokesman at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.