ND College Groups Must Disclose Software Contract

The two organizations "are subject to the open records law with regard to records that may be received or prepared for use in connection with public business, or contain information relating to public business," the opinion says.

In an interview, Stenehjem said the contract did not include anyone's personal financial data, or any information that the two organizations were entitled to keep private.

"I don't know how useful looking at the contract would be," Stenehjem said. "But (Narum) wanted a copy of it, and he's entitled to have it ... It is not a lengthy contract."

Tim O'Keefe, the executive vice president of the alumni association and foundation, could not be reached for comment Monday about the opinion. He has declined to identify the software vendor or say where the theft happened.

Stenehjem on Monday said the company was Blackbaud. Based in Charleston, S.C., the company makes software for managing fundraising for nonprofit organizations. It counts a number of universities among its clients, according to its Web site.

The theft was first reported to police last September. It has not been mentioned in Blackbaud's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.