McPherson College Endowment

McPherson College Endowment

The McPherson College Endowment was formally established in 2023 as the Ward-Burkholder Endowment. It honors late alumni and professors Drs. John Ward and John Burkholder. An anonymous donor provided the primary capital increase that year. The endowment holds direct ownership of campus land, buildings, and mixed-use facilities in McPherson, Kansas. Confirmed holdings include the Wise Campus Commons, Holman Fieldhouse, and multiple residential halls. A student-managed investment fund maintains positions in approximately 30 public equities and has produced an 11 percent average annual return. Geographic exposure centers on the United States Midwest with additional classic-car assets exhibited nationally. TIFF Investment Management acts as the primary investment advisor. The college maintains relationships with the Dalke Charitable Foundation and the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation for matching grants. August 2023: A student-restored 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet placed second in its class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Governance ties the endowment to the Church of the Brethren and a board that includes family members of the namesake donors. This structure channels capital directly into campus operations and educational programs rather than external fund commitments.