# Golden Gate University Endowment

Golden Gate University Endowment is an Endowment / Foundation based in San Francisco, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** San Francisco, CA, United States
- **Founded:** 1901
- **Assets under management:** $48.9M (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** ggu.edu
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.ggu.edu

## About

Founded in 1901, Golden Gate University Endowment supports a private San Francisco institution built for working professionals in law, business, and technology. Board Chair Melinda Dunn joined after retiring as global CFO and CCO of Sequoia Capital; fellow board members bring ties to Microsoft Corporation and real estate investment firm Uris Acquisitions. The endowment's governance is anchored by Barbara Mendelson, immediate past-chair and chair of the Finance & Operations & Investment Committee. The endowment deploys a mezzanine strategy. The university's physical footprint in San Francisco holds meaningful real estate exposure across four properties: the main campus at 536 Mission Street, a commercial building at 40 Jessie Street, a residential asset at 333 12th Street, and a mixed-use property at 333 Golden Gate Avenue. These holdings sit alongside the financial investment portfolio. Altss research confirms a $48.9 million estimated total portfolio, though the endowment does not publicly disclose the number or break out deployment across asset classes. Professional and accreditation relationships extend the endowment's network. The university holds AACSB accreditation for its Ageno School of Business and maintains WSCUC accreditation, with membership in the Council of Independent Colleges. The Bridge Society, a group of sustaining donors, supports fundraising. Board member Dr. Robert H. Patterson leads the worldwide tax and customs controllership team at Microsoft Corporation. No additional offices or dedicated investment staff have been publicly identified. The endowment's structural differentiator is direct governance by senior operators at Sequoia Capital and Microsoft. The succession question lingers: the board lacks a visible next-generation investment lead, and no publicly reported hiring or investment mandate change has surfaced in the last 24 months.

## Sectors

- Education
- Real Estate
- Mezzanine

## People

- Melinda Dunn — Chair of the Board of Trustees; retired Global CFO and CCO of Sequoia Capital
- Barbara Mendelson — Past-Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Finance & Operations & Investment Committee
- Max Raskin — Board Member; co-founder of Uris Acquisitions
- Dr. Robert H. Patterson — Board Member; Leader of the Worldwide Tax & Customs Controllership Team at Microsoft Corporation

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at the Golden Gate University Endowment?

The Finance & Operations & Investment Committee, chaired by Barbara Mendelson, oversees investment decisions. Board Chair Melinda Dunn, retired global CFO and CCO of Sequoia Capital, also shapes investment posture through the full board. No dedicated chief investment officer or internal investment staff has been publicly identified.

### How large is the Golden Gate University Endowment?

The endowment does not publicly disclose its assets under management. Altss research estimates the portfolio at roughly $48.9 million, inclusive of financial investments and university-held real estate. The figure should be treated as an estimate absent direct confirmation from the institution.

### What real estate does the endowment or university hold?

Golden Gate University holds four San Francisco properties: the main campus at 536 Mission Street, a commercial building at 40 Jessie Street, a residential asset at 333 12th Street, and a mixed-use property at 333 Golden Gate Avenue. It is not confirmed how much of this real estate sits inside the formal endowment versus general university assets.

### How is the endowment governed?

Governance falls to the Board of Trustees and the Finance & Operations & Investment Committee. Melinda Dunn chairs the board, and Barbara Mendelson chairs the investment committee. Board member Robert Patterson is the worldwide tax and customs controllership lead at Microsoft Corporation, and Max Raskin co-founded real estate firm Uris Acquisitions.

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- [Sierra Health Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/sierra-health-foundation)
- [Cassiopeia Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/cassiopeia-foundation-inc)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T02:43:31.692Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/golden-gate-university-endowment

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