Saint Francis University Endowment

Oversight rests with the Board of Trustees and its investment or finance committee. President Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassell and board members with financial backgrounds — including Wayne Dedrick of Truist and Lisa Koehl of JPMorgan — provide operational and markets input. No standalone investment office or outsourced CIO relationship is publicly disclosed, suggesting committee-driven governance.

The endowment combines traditional diversified holdings with direct real assets. Disclosed assets include the main campus, a U.S. multifamily residential portfolio, the Immergrun Golf Course, and a global alternative investment allocation. The hybrid approach reflects both the university's Franciscan mission and the practical constraints of an endowment supporting a small, tuition-dependent rural institution.

Saint Francis University does not publicly disclose a precise endowment value. Based on the institution's size, enrollment, and asset holdings, the endowment is estimated in the $50 million to $150 million range. This places it among smaller college endowments, where investment committees rather than dedicated staff typically manage allocations.

Yes. Advancement efforts run through Vice President Robert Crusciel, who oversees endowed gifts and donor relations. Like most university endowments, Saint Francis manages a mix of unrestricted and donor-restricted funds that support scholarships, academic programs, and facilities.

Saint Francis University is a Catholic institution founded in 1847 by six Franciscan friars of the Third Order Regular (T.O.R.). The university remains under Franciscan governance, with T.O.R. priests holding key leadership roles including the presidency and board chairmanship. The endowment operates within this faith-based institutional framework.

Disclosed holdings include the main campus at 117 Evergreen Drive in Loretto, Pennsylvania; a multifamily residential portfolio across the United States; and the Immergrun Golf Course. Direct real estate ownership is a notable allocation alongside the more traditional alternative investment positions.

The July 2023 announcement to move from Division I to Division III athletics marks a structural shift that could alter enrollment composition and athletic-department operational costs. Division III does not permit athletic scholarships, potentially changing the mix of tuition revenue and student financial aid draws that influence net endowment spending rates.