Endowment / Foundation

Updated:

McGill University

McGill University was established in 1821 by royal charter in Montreal. Its endowment operates through the McGill Investment Pool, which holds a mix of public...

McGill University logo

McGill University

McGill University was established in 1821 by royal charter in Montreal. Its endowment operates through the McGill Investment Pool, which holds a mix of public equities and real estate assets. The pool deploys capital across listed equities and private real estate vehicles. Confirmed holdings include positions in Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Shopify, and Canadian National Railway as of June 2023. It also maintains exposure to Woodbourne Canada Partners Fund IV and Desautels Capital Management SRI Fund. Geographic reach centers on Canada with additional activity through the McGill University Trust in the United Kingdom. The university employs 7803 staff across its main operations. It maintains the McGill University Health Centre Foundation and the McGill University Trust as adjacent philanthropic vehicles. November 2024: Sponsored the McGill Desautels International Portfolio Challenge focused on institutional asset management. Governance flows through the Board of Governors and a dedicated Investment Committee. The structure separates endowment management from the university's operating budget while coordinating with external custodians such as CIBC Mellon.

General information

Firm type

Endowment / Foundation

Year founded

1821

Location

Region

North America

Country

Canada

City

Montreal

Corporate office

845 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Principals

Sophie Leblanc

Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer

Maryse Bertrand

Chair of the Board of Governors

Don Lewtas

Chair of the Investment Committee

Sector focus

EducationReal EstateFinancials

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at McGill University?

Sophie Leblanc serves as Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer. Don Lewtas chairs the Investment Committee.

Does McGill University participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The McGill Investment Pool holds both public equities and limited partnership interests such as Woodbourne Canada Partners Fund IV.

What asset classes does the McGill Investment Pool hold?

Holdings include Canadian bank equities, technology stocks, railway shares, and real estate funds.

Where does McGill University maintain real estate assets?

Direct holdings cover the Downtown Campus in Montreal, Macdonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, and Gault Nature Reserve.

How is McGill University related to the McGill University Health Centre Foundation?

The foundation supports patient care, research, and teaching at the MUHC with ties to the Glen Yards redevelopment.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

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