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This case tells the story of one of the most difficult situations which a non-profit organization''s management can face: the withdrawal, by its donor, of what had appeared to be a major gift. At issue here is the Wildlife Conservation Society handling of a $3 million gift by the Everett Foundation to rebuild the Central Park Children''s Zoo. Negotiation over terms, credit and timetable ultimately leads to a series of charges and counter-charges and the withdrawal of the gift. The case does not fix blame for a debacle which attracted much attention in the New York tabloids. It does, however, seek to raise the factors which may have played a role and which could figure in similar situations in other philanthropic contexts. These factors may have included misunderstanding of donor intent; appropriate or inappropriate credit; obligations to previous donors; social and personal rivalries and a mismatch between the interests of the donor and those of the receiving organization. The case examines the actions and statements of fundraising officers, board members and the donors themselves. Written for the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Management.