# James Madison University Foundation

James Madison University Foundation is a Foundation based in Harrisonburg, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Harrisonburg, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Harrisonburg, VA, United States
- **Founded:** 1969
- **Assets under management:** $135M (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** www.jmu.edu
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/james-madison-university-foundation-inc

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The James Madison University Foundation was established in 1969, concurrent with the university's founding, to raise and invest private gifts. Warren K. Coleman serves as President and CEO, while Jon E. Offley chairs the board. The foundation operates as a legally separate entity dedicated to supporting JMU's educational mission. Investment disclosures are minimal, but the foundation's asset base extends beyond liquid securities. Altss research identifies directly owned properties in Harrisonburg, including an office building at 1031 Harrison Street, the JMU President's House, a warehouse, and undeveloped land parcels. The foundation also stewards the Madison Art Collection, a numismatic collection, and university trademark royalties. Corporate engagement is evidenced by a $100,000 commitment from Ellucian for JMU X-Labs internships. Geographic focus remains centered on Virginia. The foundation's scale is estimated at $135M in total assets. No breakdown of public versus private fund commitments is publicly available. Board leadership has included individuals with significant institutional investment experience: past board chair Barry Purcell III is a Partner and COO at Blue Pool Capital, the family office for Joe Tsai and a backer of Alibaba and the Brooklyn Nets. A distinguishing architectural feature is the James Madison University Real Estate Foundation, a separate vehicle that holds title to some of the directly owned properties.

## Sectors

- Real Estate
- Education

## People

- Warren K. Coleman — President and CEO
- Jon E. Offley — Board Chair

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at the JMU Foundation?

Day-to-day leadership rests with President and CEO Warren K. Coleman. The board chair is Jon E. Offley. The foundation does not publicly name a dedicated chief investment officer, and the specific delegation of investment authority between the board and management is not disclosed.

### What is the relationship between the JMU Foundation and Blue Pool Capital?

Barry Purcell III, a past board chair of the JMU Foundation, is a Partner and COO at Blue Pool Capital, the family office for Joe Tsai. Blue Pool manages assets tied to Alibaba and the Brooklyn Nets. Purcell's board tenure created a governance link between a small public-university foundation and one of the most sophisticated Asian family offices.

### Does the JMU Foundation invest directly in real estate?

Yes. The foundation holds directly owned commercial and residential properties in Harrisonburg, Virginia, including Foundation Hall at 1031 Harrison Street, the JMU President's House, a warehouse, and undeveloped land parcels. Some of these assets appear to be held through a related entity, the James Madison University Real Estate Foundation.

### How large is the JMU Foundation's endowment?

The foundation has not publicly disclosed its assets under management. Based on Altss research into the foundation's known holdings, an estimate places total assets at approximately $135M.

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

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/james-madison-university-foundation

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology