Furman University Endowment

Furman University Endowment

Furman University was founded in 1826. Its endowment exists solely to provide ongoing financial support to the university in Greenville, South Carolina. The structure routes distributions through the separate Furman University Foundation for real estate holdings. The endowment targets 25 percent private equity and maintains positions in hedge funds, private credit, real estate and commodities. Confirmed exposures include a gold allocation at 11 percent of the fund and a futures-based commodity strategy benchmarked to the Bloomberg Commodity Index. Geographic coverage spans North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Oceania and the Middle East. Direct holdings include the 750-acre main campus, Lakeview Residence Hall, Timmons Arena and the Furman Solar Farm. The endowment lists 828 million dollars under management. It operates additional vehicles through the Furman University Foundation and maintains relationships with Hollingsworth Funds, where Furman receives 45 percent of annual distributions. March 2024: Spoke at the Spring Academy Investment Forum on endowment management and asset allocation. The office participates in the Intentional Endowments Network and NACUBO. The endowment maintains a student-managed investment vehicle called the Furman University Investment Club Fund carved from the main pool for educational purposes. Governance flows through the university Board of Trustees investment committee with external advisors including Prime Buchholz and William Blair.