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Cal Poly Pomona Philanthropic Foundation
The Cal Poly Pomona Philanthropic Foundation was established in 2019 to consolidate and professionalize the university's fundraising and endowment management,...
Cal Poly Pomona Philanthropic Foundation
The Cal Poly Pomona Philanthropic Foundation was established in 2019 to consolidate and professionalize the university's fundraising and endowment management, separating those functions from direct campus administration. Led by CEO Frances Teves, the foundation's board draws on hybrid expertise: Board Chair David Singelyn formerly served as CEO and trustee of American Homes 4 Rent, while Finance and Investment Committee Chair John Resich brings an operational background in ranching and law. Soraya Coley, president of the university, also sits as a business partner, linking the foundation's strategy directly to Cal Poly Pomona's educational mission. The foundation deploys capital through a fund-of-funds structure while maintaining a significant direct real estate portfolio that threads through campus life. Documented holdings include the Innovation Village Research Park, the Kellogg West Conference Center & Hotel, and a position in the Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust. The strategy spans market-rate student housing — Fair Oaks Walk and University Village provide residential capacity — alongside commercial and mixed-use assets that generate income for the endowment. With a campus situated within the broader California State University system, the foundation's geographic footprint concentrates on Southern California, anchored by multiple properties in Pomona. The foundation and its associated entity, Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, manage a broad asset base that extends beyond real property to include the university's permanent and thematic art collections — the W. Keith & Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery, the Don B. Huntley Gallery, and the Barber Western Art Collection among them. Institutional allies further shape the foundation's reach. A grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation supports student success initiatives, while Sean Yu, a managing director at Morgan Stanley's Graystone Consulting arm, serves on the board, signaling connections to institutional advisory networks and the foundation's participation in the California State University Risk Management Authority. What distinguishes the foundation's architecture is the marriage of a system-level university mandate with a boardroom chartered from the real estate and wealth-management sectors. Rather than investing solely through outside managers, the foundation retains direct oversight of commercial and residential campus-edge properties as revenue-generating allocations, creating an endowment model that functions partly as a captive real estate operating company — a structure uncommon among state university foundations.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2019
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Pomona
Corporate office
Pomona, CA, United States
Principals
Frances Teves
CEO
David Singelyn
Board Chair
Michele Gendreau
Board Vice Chair
John Resich
Finance and Investment Committee Chair
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does the foundation invest the Cal Poly Pomona endowment?
The foundation uses a fund-of-funds approach for a portion of its assets while directly holding commercial and residential real estate. Known property investments include the Innovation Village Research Park, Kellogg West Conference Center & Hotel, and the Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust. This hybrid structure generates returns from both external fund managers and income-producing properties adjacent to the campus.
What governance separates the foundation from Cal Poly Pomona?
The Philanthropic Foundation was formed in 2019 as a distinct entity to professionalize fundraising and endowment management outside the university's direct operational structure. Its board draws on external expertise, including David Singelyn, former CEO of American Homes 4 Rent, as Board Chair, and John Resich, an attorney and rancher, as Finance and Investment Committee Chair. University President Soraya Coley serves as a business partner, aligning investment strategy with campus objectives.
Where does the foundation's real estate portfolio concentrate?
Holdings are concentrated in Pomona, California, and include market-rate student housing at Fair Oaks Walk and University Village, as well as commercial properties like the Innovation Village Research Park. The foundation also maintains a stake in the Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, providing exposure to institutional-scale commercial real estate beyond the campus footprint.
Which outside organizations collaborate with the foundation?
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has provided major grant funding for student-success initiatives at Cal Poly Pomona. On the investment governance side, board member Sean Yu serves as a managing director at Morgan Stanley's Graystone Consulting, connecting the foundation to institutional advisory resources. The foundation is also a member of the California State University Risk Management Authority.
Does the foundation maintain any non-financial assets?
Yes — the foundation oversees several university art collections as part of its portfolio, including the W. Keith & Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery, the Don B. Huntley Gallery, the Barber Western Art Collection, and the Gladys Gray Collection. These holdings sit alongside the financial endowment and real estate assets.
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