# Santa Clara University (SCU)

Santa Clara University (SCU) is an Endowment based in Santa Clara, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment
- **Headquarters:** Santa Clara, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Founded:** 1851
- **Assets under management:** 1800 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** scu.edu
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/school/santa-clara-university/

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Santa Clara University was established in 1851 as the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California. Its endowment, formed the same year, supplies permanent capital for scholarships, professorships, and university programs. The pool distributed $54.66 million in fiscal 2023-24. The endowment deploys capital through venture capital, private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and direct co-investments or SPVs. Confirmed limited-partner positions include The Carlyle Group, Sequoia Capital, Makena Capital Management, and Institutional Venture Partners. Geographic exposure centers on North America with additional activity in technology sectors such as AI/ML, cybersecurity, and enterprise software. The university maintains 911 employees and holds membership in NACUBO and the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. It retains Cambridge Associates as investment advisor since 2015 and KPMG LLP as auditor since 2023. No recent operational events from the last 24 months appear in available records. The endowment operates under a Jesuit educational mandate that separates mission-related investing from standard portfolio construction, with explicit avoidance of issuers tied to gross ecological violations.

## Sectors

- Venture Capital
- Private Equity
- Real Estate
- ClimateTech
- AI/ML

## People

- Larry W. Sonsini — Chair of the Board of Trustees
- Debora Shoquist — Trustee
- John Torrey — Trustee

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Santa Clara University?

The Board of Trustees oversees endowment policy. Larry W. Sonsini serves as Chair. Cambridge Associates has acted as investment advisor since 2015.

### Does Santa Clara University participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The endowment uses both fund commitments and direct co-investments or SPVs. It holds positions in multiple external managers including Sequoia Capital and The Carlyle Group.

### What investment stages does Santa Clara University typically target?

The endowment targets seed, Series A, and later venture capital stages along with private equity and real estate.

### Which sectors does Santa Clara University explicitly avoid?

The endowment avoids corporations with track records of gross ecological violations or discrimination under its socially responsible investment policy.

### How is Santa Clara University related to its endowment vehicle?

The Santa Clara University Endowment functions as the permanent capital pool within the university structure, established in 1851 to support scholarships and operations.

## Related profiles

- [Overbay Capital Partners](https://altss.com/profile/overbay-capital-partners)
- [The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/the-eli-and-edythe-broad-foundation)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/santa-clara-university-scu

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