University of Cincinnati Endowment

University of Cincinnati Endowment

The University of Cincinnati Endowment traces its legal origin to the university's founding in 1819, making it one of the oldest public-university investment pools in the Midwest. Karl Scheer has led the investment office as Chief Investment Officer since 2011, supported by Investment Director Sam Ekis. The endowment derives its corpus from decades of donor contributions and university operating surpluses — not a single-family wealth event — and functions as a permanent capital base for student scholarships, faculty chairs, and research infrastructure. The portfolio is built across traditional long-only equity, fixed income, private equity, venture capital, and real estate. Confirmed positions include digital health, climate technology, and space technology ventures, alongside a direct real estate portfolio anchored by assets such as University Hall and the 1819 Innovation Hub in Cincinnati. The office participates in early-stage venture, fund-of-funds commitments, secondaries, and distressed debt, with a North American geographic focus. AI/ML and enterprise software positions round out the technology exposure, and a municipal-bond sleeve provides in-state fixed-income ballast. The endowment operates in close proximity to UC Health, the university's affiliated healthcare system, and holds an affiliated interest in that entity. Philanthropic structures include the Kautz-Uible Economics Institute, backed by donors Dan Kautz and Woodrow Uible. Scheer was named CIO of the Year by Institutional Investor, and he maintains professional-network ties through NACUBO and the Accelerate Investors CIO Council. In April 2025, the office was actively sourcing managers across digital health, climate, and space tech verticals. The University of Cincinnati Endowment differs from a family office in its governance: the investment staff answers to a university foundation board and must satisfy both current spending needs and perpetual growth mandates. Its hybrid model — blending internal direct real estate holdings, fund commitments, and targeted co-investments — gives it sourcing flexibility while preserving the liquidity needed to support a large public research university's operating budget.