# La Salle University

La Salle University is an Endowment / Foundation based in Philadelphia, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Philadelphia, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Philadelphia, PA, United States
- **Founded:** 1863
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** lasalle.edu
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/school/lasalleuniversity/

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, La Salle University is a private Catholic university anchored by a 100-plus-acre main campus in Philadelphia. The endowment, managed under the governance of a Board of Trustees chaired by former Vanguard principal Pauline Scalvino, supports the institution's educational mission. While the university does not publicly disclose its asset base, Altss research estimates the endowment at approximately $72 million. The portfolio spans venture capital, buyout, natural resources, special situations, and fund-of-funds commitments. It also maintains a sizable direct real estate footprint — the university's holdings include the main campus on West Olney Avenue, Belfield Estate, South Campus, the Peale House, and the Mary & Frances Wister Studio. The La Salle University Art Museum collection, featuring Henry Ossawa Tanner's "Mary," represents another hard asset. This mix of financial commitments and directly held Philadelphia property differentiates its deployment pattern from endowments that outsource all real-asset exposure. Board members with finance-operating backgrounds shape investment oversight. Alongside Scalvino, the board includes Terrance Coyne, CFO of Royalty Pharma, and Al Miralles, CFO and EVP of CDW Corporation. La Salle is also a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Philadelphia Big 5, athletic associations that generate auxiliary revenue and brand visibility. The university maintains a separate La Salle University Foundation for philanthropic activity, structurally distinct from the operating budget and endowment. What distinguishes La Salle's architecture is its governance model: no named chief investment officer, no dedicated investment office webpage, and no public-facing asset allocation policy. Investment decisions appear to flow through a board committee whose members hold day jobs at large public companies — a lean, committee-driven structure more common among small private universities than among professionally staffed endowed institutions.

## Sectors

- Education
- Buyout
- Venture (General)
- Natural Resources
- Real Estate
- Fund of Funds
- Special Situations

## People

- Pauline Scalvino — Chair of the Board of Trustees
- Terrance Coyne — Board Member
- Al Miralles — Board Member

## Questions

### Does La Salle's endowment invest directly or through external managers?

The endowment deploys capital across both direct and fund structures. Its strategy spans direct private equity, venture capital, and hard real estate assets, as well as fund-of-funds commitments. This hybrid approach allows it to own campus-adjacent Philadelphia property while accessing specialized managers for venture and buyout exposure.

### How large is the La Salle University endowment?

La Salle University does not publicly disclose a specific endowment value. Altss research estimates the endowment at approximately $72 million, though that figure is not confirmed by the university.

### Who are the key people overseeing La Salle's financial governance?

The most senior governance role is held by Pauline Scalvino, Chair of the Board of Trustees and a former principal at The Vanguard Group. Other board members bringing financial-operating experience include Terrance Coyne, CFO of Royalty Pharma, and Al Miralles, CFO and EVP of CDW Corporation.

## Related profiles

- [Judd Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/judd-foundation)
- [Morehead State University Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/morehead-state-university-foundation)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/la-salle-university

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