Updated:
Oregon Health & Science University Foundation (OHSUF)
Oregon Health & Science University Foundation (OHSUF) endowment, boosted by Phil Knight's $2B pledge, invests across alternatives for OHSU.
Oregon Health & Science University Foundation (OHSUF)
The Oregon Health & Science University Foundation (OHSUF) operates as the nonprofit endowment supporting OHSU, Oregon's only academic health center. Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike, is the foundation's most prominent donor, having pledged $2 billion in 2025 to the Knight Cancer Institute, a gift that significantly expanded the endowment base. The foundation's board includes trustees with legal and financial backgrounds, such as Damien Hall and Chris Magaña of the Oregon State Bar, and Garth Kahl, a former president of the CFA Society of Portland. The foundation maintains a diversified investment portfolio spanning public equities, fixed income, natural resources and energy funds, private real estate, and marketable alternative assets like hedge funds. Its real estate holdings include mixed-use properties in Portland, Oregon, and the OHSU Collection on Marquam Hill. Known co-investment partners include the Schlesinger Family Foundation, whose trustees Mark and Josh Schlesinger serve on OHSUF's board. The portfolio is managed internally with a long-term, total-return orientation typical of large endowments. OHSUF's scale is substantial but undisclosed publicly; Altss estimates the endowment exceeds $1 billion, supported by Knight's pledge and years of investment returns. The foundation employs no public listing of investment professionals, though trustee rosters indicate a governance-heavy model with external manager selection. Adjacent philanthropic vehicles include the Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation and the OHSU Medical Research Foundation, though these are separate legal entities. The foundation's structural differentiator is its close integration with a single academic medical center, making its investment mandate explicitly linked to OHSU's research and clinical needs. This creates a long-duration horizon absent from many foundations, as the university's capital demands are perpetual. Unlike some endowments, OHSUF does not operate a separate endowment manager or outsourced CIO, relying instead on its board and internal staff.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
—
AUM
Over $1 billion (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Portland
Corporate office
Portland, OR, United States
Principals
Phil Knight
Founder and Major Donor
Garth Kahl
Trustee
Damien Hall
Trustee
Chris Magaña
Trustee
Mark Schlesinger
Trustee
Josh Schlesinger
Trustee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at OHSUF?
The foundation's board of trustees oversees investment strategy, chaired by Garth Kahl. The board includes legal and financial professionals such as Damien Hall, Chris Magaña, and the Schlesinger family. There is no publicly named CIO or standalone investment team.
How is OHSUF structured as an endowment?
OHSUF is a single-purpose endowment supporting Oregon Health & Science University. It is a nonprofit foundation, not a family office or external manager. Its assets are managed internally with a diversified portfolio of public and private investments.
Does OHSUF participate in direct investments or only fund commitments?
Public records indicate the foundation invests across both public market securities and alternative assets, including private real estate and natural resources. The presence of real estate holdings suggests direct ownership alongside fund investments, but specific deal structures are not detailed.
Which sectors does OHSUF avoid?
The foundation does not publicly disclose any exclusionary investment policies. Given its mission to support medical research and education, it likely avoids sectors conflicting with OHSU's public health focus, such as tobacco or fossil fuels, but no explicit bans are documented.
What is Phil Knight's role beyond donating?
Phil Knight is a major donor and founder of the Knight Cancer Institute, but he does not hold an official board position at OHSUF. His influence is indirect through the financial commitments he has made, and his family office, Knight Enterprises, may engage the foundation on co-investments.
How does OHSUF source proprietary deal flow?
As an endowment, OHSUF relies on its professional network, including trustees' affiliations with the CFA Society and Oregon State Bar. The foundation likely receives deal flow from GPs it has relationships with, but no dedicated sourcing team is publicly identified.
What investment stages does OHSUF typically target?
The foundation's portfolio includes marketable alternatives, natural resources, and private real estate, indicating a preference for liquid and income-generating assets. There is no evidence of venture capital or early-stage investing in its public portfolio description.
Profile maintained by Altss 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.
Need institutional-grade insight on endowments & foundations?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: