On the morning of Nov. 18, 2018, donors to Colorado State University received a routine email from the institution’s fundraising arm. 

It was National Philanthropy Day, and the office of University Advancement was taking the opportunity to thank its donors for their generosity.

For one disgruntled donor, however, the email presented an opportunity to air some grievances about the department’s leader.

“Kim Tobin uses University Funds for private expenditures,” Caleb Ochs replied to the automated message. “You will never receive a dime from me until she is no longer employed at the university.”

Two hours later, Ochs submitted an identical message to the university’s misconduct hotline.

The report was one of four tips alleging financial misconduct by Tobin that CSU received between Sept. 5 and Nov. 16, 2018, which sparked an internal investigation into spending within advancement that concluded in February 2019. The contents of the investigation and relevant evidence, totaling 188 pages, were obtained by The State News through a public records request.

Other tips alleged similar financial misconduct and questioned Tobin’s leadership skills, with one stating that “frustration is growing out of not only misuse of funds, but also bullying, favoritism and fear of retaliation.”

Some tips sent into the hotline alleged Tobin had used university funds to throw “graduation celebrations” for herself after earning her Ph.D., while the investigation identified thousands in expenses for retirement and going-away parties for other advancement employees.  

While the internal investigation ultimately found “no evidence of anyone attempting to obtain an unauthorized financial benefit from any UA transactions,” it did find that the department was “not always in compliance with CSU Financial Rule.” Furthermore, the investigators determined that advancement management often failed to justify increased expenses, something they said contributed to “a perception that UA spending is high.”

Investigators zeroed in on a limited set of purchases expensed during fiscal years 2018 and 2019, interviewed relevant personnel, “data mined” financial transactions, and evaluated documentation. The resulting report gave six recommendations to improve internal controls within UA, including eliminating university-provided alcohol at staff meetings, reining in spending, and requiring Tobin to request expenses from a superior, rather than her subordinates.