A Word from Wayne

As the 2008-09 school year winds down, it’s worth revisiting—and being proud of—your achievements on behalf of CU’s 50,000-plus students. While tough economic times can cloud our vision and turn us inward, this is the time to spread the news throughout our networks about the value and scope of this great university. In fact, we must do this, to attract the private support required to keep CU thriving.

At the CU Foundation, we’ve seen challenges but also hope in our two primary areas of focus: fundraising and endowment management.

This fiscal year through April 23, total dollars raised for CU have declined 18 percent. But we’re substantially outperforming our peers—colleges undergoing major fundraising campaigns have seen a 32 percent drop—and with over $80 million raised to date, this year still ranks among CU’s best ever for private support. Our endowment is also down, 25.3 percent, but less than key benchmarks and most peer institutions. In fact, $100 invested in CU's endowment on Sept 30, 2004 has grown to $118, while a similar investment in the S&P 500 has shrunk to $79.

In response, the CU Foundation has pursued reduced expenses. Top Foundation staff have taken a 5 percent pay reduction. We are on track to have reduced operating expenses by 9.3 percent by our June 30 year end. Yet amid these cost savings, we will keep our fundraisers on the frontlines: it’s crucial that we make the case for CU’s achievements and potential at every turn.

Meanwhile, there are silver linings. More people are giving to CU—our total number of donors is up 5.6 percent, with alumni donors up 5.9 percent. And in a world in which it’s hard to know where to put your money, CU’s stock is stronger than ever. There is no better time to vigorously promote CU’s people, places, and programs, providing essential education and service throughout Colorado and far beyond. Together, we’ll get CU through the storm.

J. Wayne Hutchens
President and CEO
CU Foundation

How to Fundraise in Turbulent Times

On April 1, Brian Winkelbauer took the development reins at UCCS—fresh off his recent fundraising efforts for CU-Boulder campus programs. Winkelbauer took a moment to share his fundraising approach during challenging times.

What are UCCS’s top fundraising priorities?

Our development staff will focus on Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak’s top priorities, including: scholarships to meet the needs of a growing campus; professorships and endowed chairs; funding for capital projects such as remodeling the Science Building; an Event and Conference Center; and support for programs and initiatives in each school and college, many of which connect UCCS with the community.

How does this economy affect your approach toward fundraising?

Read More >>

How is CU’s Endowment Doing?

It would be hard to find a more seasoned investment professional than Richard M. Burridge (Bus ’51), chair of the CU Foundation Investment Policy Committee. He has managed billion dollar portfolios at the University of Chicago, UBS, Inc., and the Northern Trust Company, just to name a few. Today, he works for RMB Capital Management, an investment firm owned by his son who is also a CU graduate.

We spoke with him recently about the CU Foundation’s endowment and his strategy to keep it strong during turbulent times.

How is the CU Foundation’s endowment doing compared to other university endowments?

We are doing extremely well. The latest numbers show that we have outperformed 97 percent of our peers over the past five years. We outperformed the market when it was doing well, and we lost less in the current decline than other institutions. Of course, that doesn’t mean that we didn’t have significant dollar losses in the portfolio. In this decline, there was nowhere to hide unless you were all in cash.

Tell me about the role of the Investment Policy Committee?

The Investment Policy Committee oversees the management of the endowment. We restructured the committee so the work is divided between deciding the broad asset allocation ranges for the portfolio (stocks versus bonds and other asset classes) and letting [Chief Investment Officer] Chris Bittman and his team make the decisions on which investment managers to employ in each asset class. Read More >>

Gifts in Brief: Donors Making an Impact

UC Denver Downtown Campus: America needs more mathematicians, and Marilyn and Warren Bateman are helping. They gave more than $440,000 for scholarships, teaching awards and established a teaching fellowship in mathematics to honor the memory of Warren’s daughter, Lynn. Listen to teaching fellow recipient Tim Vis, PhD student, tell his story by clicking here.

UC Denver Anschutz Medical Campus: Grateful patients Martha and Tom Dillenberg donated $1.87 million to UC Denver, inspired by the compassionate care they received from cardiologist Peter Buttrick, MD. This gift will support Buttrick’s cardiology research, the cardiology department, and establish a scholarship program.

UCCS: A most generous but anonymous donor contributed a $5.5 million gift to benefit students at UCCS. This is the largest cash gift in the campus's history. $5 million will be used to boost student scholarships. Click here for a first-hand account of how scholarships are enabling students to pursue an education and realize their dreams.

CU-Boulder: The CU Art Museum will have a new home, thanks to private support like the Boettcher Foundation’s gift of $500,000 for the new Visual Arts Complex. Scheduled to open in January, the complex will also be the home to the art and art history department. To find out why Professor Garrison Roots is so excited, click here

Planned Giving

When One Size Isn’t Enough

The University of Colorado Law School, like much of the university, is facing a two-front war as a result of the ailing economy. Current students have greater scholarship needs, but the school’s endowed scholarship funds are decreasing. It’s a challenging predicament, but Dean David Getches is working to make alumni aware of creative solutions.

"In tight economic times, donors might be more hesitant to give an outright gift of cash," said Getches. "Planned giving allows donors to make an impact on CU in the future without putting a strain on finances now. "

That's why Getches recently sent a letter to Colorado Law grads and donors about charitable gift annuities. Gift annuities are innovative giving options that ensure a fixed income to donors for the rest of their lives, after which the remaining funds will be transferred to the university to benefit a program or fund designated by the donor. The fixed income provides annuity donors with financial stability, while donors have peace of mind knowing that their gift will benefit future generations at CU. It's just one of the many creative giving options that fall under the umbrella of "planned giving."

So exactly what is planned giving? Read More >>

Attract donors--right at home!

To set up a custom Giving button for your home page linked directly to your CU Foundation online-giving area email tina.troxel@cufund.org.