A Strong Collaborative Partner

The University of Colorado Foundation is a strong, collaborative partner that applies private business strategy and principles toward fund-raising and funds management to benefit the public education needs of our state's preeminent university. It is strong and secure enough to continually be evaluating the purpose and the potential of its course. The past year has been a good example.

June 2003 brought the culmination of the billion-dollar Beyond Boundaries Campaign for Colorado. With the successful completion of this seven-year capital campaign, The CU Foundation put CU on the map as one of only eleven public institutions of higher education at that time to have completed a campaign of this magnitude.

While at this pinnacle of achievement, however, the Foundation was simultaneously faced with the need for reevaluation and change precipitated by the impact on investment revenue by the economic downturn of the last several years. Decisive steps were taken to reorganize, primary operations of fund-raising and funds management were sustained without interruption, and opportunities were seized to further improve operational and cost efficiencies.

In the past fiscal year the CU Foundation has transferred more than $76 million in donor-related assets and gifts to the University. The financial strength we have gained through donor support over the years culminated in the opening of the newest phase of Williams Village ó Bear Creek student residences ($69 million in Foundation-backed bonds); the Faculty Housing Assistance Program was increased to a total of $7 million over all four campuses; and much-needed classroom space for the Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences (Colorado Springs) was provided when the Foundation purchased, renovated and sold a building to the University for this purpose.

The Foundation remains aggressively committed to being a responsive partner with the University and a trusted steward for the thousands of donors who give their financial support to make a difference at CU.