The University of Findlay

The University of Findlay

The University of Findlay's endowment traces its institutional roots to an 1882 partnership between the Churches of God General Conference and the City of Findlay, Ohio. Chair Chris Ostrander and the Board of Trustees steward assets generated through the operations of the largest private university in northwest Ohio, whose academic footprint encompasses over 85 undergraduate programs and multiple graduate schools. The university's resources include the Mazza Museum Collection, a dedicated equestrian center, and a mixed-use off-campus development, each functioning as a distinct capital asset within the endowment's real asset base. The endowment's investment posture combines physical property with a fund-of-funds strategy that reaches into natural resources and hybrid structures. The balance sheet is anchored by a portfolio of holdings anchored in Hancock County: the Main Campus at 1000 N. Main Street, the All Hazards Training Center, an animal sciences center on State Route 68, and residential holdings like Derrick's Square. These direct real estate positions sit alongside externally managed allocations, creating a mix of internally held operating assets and third-party fund commitments. Philanthropic flows are channeled through the University of Findlay Foundation, which operates alongside the endowment to support capital projects and scholarship funding. The board draws governance heft from the surrounding corporate ecosystem. Board members hold or have held leadership roles at Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Blanchard Valley Health System, and Ohio Logistics, reflecting the deep ties between the university and the economic anchor institutions of Findlay. These relationships inform donor stewardship and, indirectly, the endowment's risk posture. The Mazza Museum further connects the university to a network of academic museums and galleries through the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries. The endowment's structural character is defined by its commingling of mission-driven real estate with a modest third-party fund allocation. Unlike large endowments that operate separate investment offices, Findlay's governance structure embeds investment oversight within the Board of Trustees, blurring the line between university operations and capital deployment. The foundation vehicle adds a second layer of fiduciary governance for donations, creating a bifurcated but interdependent financial architecture.