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Saint Mary's College of California
Founded in 1863 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Saint Mary's College of California's endowment anchors the financial life of the Moraga campus.
Saint Mary's College of California
Founded in 1863 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Saint Mary's College of California's endowment anchors the financial life of the Moraga campus. The fund supports scholarships, professorships, academic programs, operations, and capital projects. The college issued tax-exempt revenue bonds through the California Educational Facilities Authority (CEFA), reinforcing its infrastructure. Major donors, including Marilyn J. Bohl, who gifted $1 million for athletics and a baseball stadium, supplement the endowment's core mission. The endowment allocates across equities, fixed income, real assets, hedge funds, private credit, private equity, venture capital, and real estate. Investment stages span seed, early-stage, growth, and expansion. The portfolio includes direct co-investments and an SMC Responsible Investment Fund. Geographic exposure reaches the Middle East, Central Asia, and North America. Publicly confirmed positions include several real estate assets — among them the Rheem Center, Legacy Garden, and Brother Ronald Gallagher Stadium — alongside a global private real estate funds portfolio and collections at the Saint Mary's College Museum of Art. The investment strategy emphasizes socially responsible practices, reflected in its membership in the Laudato Si Action Platform and EPA Green Power Partnership, where the college uses 97% green power. The endowment reports to the Board of Trustees, chaired by Kevin Nagle. The institution participates in NACUBO, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and the International Association of Lasallian Universities. The college excludes digital assets entirely from its investment universe. The endowment's dual character — a traditional long-only pool for operations and an active portfolio extending into venture capital and natural resources — sets it apart from many peers. This hybrid approach, guided by the De La Salle Christian Brothers' governance, allows the college to pursue impact alongside return, anchoring a mission-driven model that integrates art collections, land holdings, and early-stage investing into one financial structure.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1863
AUM
$215 million (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Moraga
Corporate office
Moraga, CA, United States
Principals
Roger J. Thompson
President
Kevin Nagle
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who governs the endowment's investment policy?
The Board of Trustees, chaired by Kevin Nagle, sets the investment policy. President Roger J. Thompson and the college's administration execute the strategy. The De La Salle Christian Brothers provide the overarching governance framework that aligns investments with the college's Catholic and educational mission.
Does Saint Mary's College invest directly in startups or only through funds?
The endowment invests both directly and through funds. It operates a venture capital program covering seed through late-stage rounds, alongside a fund-of-funds approach for private equity, private credit, real estate, and hedge funds. The college also maintains an SMC Responsible Investment Fund for targeted impact allocations.
What is the endowment's policy on fossil fuels and ESG?
The college commits to socially responsible investing through its membership in the Laudato Si Action Platform, the EPA Green Power Partnership, and by sourcing 97% green power. It tags ClimateTech as a priority sector and allocates to real assets and energy transition, though the specific degree of fossil-fuel exclusion is not publicly codified.
Does the endowment invest in digital assets or cryptocurrencies?
No. Saint Mary's College explicitly lists digital assets as a negative investment type. The portfolio avoids the entire asset class, according to its disclosed investment parameters.
How does Saint Mary's College's endowment relate to its museum and real estate assets?
The endowment's assets include the Saint Mary's College Museum of Art permanent collections — such as the William Keith, Beekhuis, and African Art collections — along with physical properties like the Rheem Center, Legacy Garden, and Brother Ronald Gallagher Stadium. These holdings blend cultural stewardship and commercial land into the investment portfolio.
What external investment networks does the endowment participate in?
The endowment reports through NACUBO and engages with the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. It collaborates with the International Association of Lasallian Universities. The college also leverages its West Coast Conference athletic membership and North American Reciprocal Museum Association affiliation for indirect network benefits.
How is the endowment funded outside of investment returns?
The endowment grows through targeted fundraising and major gifts. For example, Marilyn J. Bohl donated $1 million specifically for athletics and the baseball stadium. The college also accesses tax-exempt financing through the California Educational Facilities Authority (CEFA) for capital needs, keeping the endowment liquid for mission-driven investments.
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.
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