An upcoming ruling in a protracted legal battle between Princeton University and an alumnus who claims the school misused the funds his family left it nearly 50 years ago could have repercussions for the way US colleges and other charitable groups raise and spend money from donors.

The case centres on a $35m (£17m) donation made in 1961 by Charles and Marie Robertson, heirs to the A&P grocery fortune, to establish an eponymous foundation. William Robertson, the couple’s son, filed a suit against the university in 2002 claiming that Princeton has failed to hold up its end of the deal since the money was given specifically to train students to work for the US government. Mr Robertson wants to be able to spend the foundation’s money somewhere else.