# University of Iowa Center for Advancement

University of Iowa Center for Advancement is a Foundation based in Iowa City, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Iowa City, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Iowa City, IA, United States
- **Founded:** 1956
- **Assets under management:** $1.7B (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** foriowa.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.foriowa.org

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The University of Iowa Center for Advancement was formed in 2017 through the merger of the University of Iowa Foundation, founded in 1956, and the UI Alumni Association. The organization operates as an independent 501(c)(3) supporting the university, with its endowment funded by contributions from donors including the late John Pappajohn and Jerre Stead. President and CEO Lynette L. Marshall leads the institution alongside CIO Jim Bethea. The endowment deploys across private equity, venture capital, real estate, natural resources, hedge funds, private credit, and commodities. Positions span buyout, growth, seed, and startup stages, with a portfolio reaching into direct co-investments and SPVs. Confirmed holdings include the North Liberty Healthcare Facility, the University of Iowa Facilities Corporation properties, and the Jackson Pollock 'Mural' housed at the Stanley Museum of Art. The foundation also holds music and entertainment royalties and gold exposure. Its investment footprint is concentrated in North America, with specialized exposures to AI/ML and biotech. Chair Andrew W. Code, a founder of Promus and co-founder of CHS Capital, and board member Suzanne Yoon of Kinzie Capital Partners bring private equity operating experience to governance. The foundation maintains affiliations with peer networks including NACUBO, AGB Council of Foundation Leaders, and PEWIN. In 2022, the UI Center for Advancement embarked on the 'Together, Hawkeyes' campaign, anchored by a major commitment from Jerre Stead as honorary chair. The foundation's legal separation from the university enables a governance model where investment decisions sit with an independent board rather than university administration. This structure allows for alternatives-heavy allocations and direct real-estate development — a posture more commonly associated with private foundations than public university endowments.

## Sectors

- Digital Health
- Healthcare Services
- AI/ML
- Real Estate
- Natural Resources

## People

- Lynette L. Marshall — President and CEO
- Jim Bethea — Chief Investment Officer
- Andrew W. Code — Chair of the Board of Directors
- Andrew W. Code — Vice Chair of the Board
- Suzanne Yoon — Board Member

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement?

Jim Bethea serves as Chief Investment Officer, having led the investment strategy for over 14 years. He reports to President and CEO Lynette Marshall and works alongside a board that includes private equity operators Andrew Code and Suzanne Yoon.

### How is the University of Iowa Center for Advancement related to the University of Iowa?

The Center for Advancement is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, not a department or controlled entity of the university. It was formed in 2017 through a merger of the University of Iowa Foundation and the UI Alumni Association. The foundation exists to advance the university but maintains separate governance and investment authority.

### What is the endowment's investment strategy?

The portfolio spans private equity, venture capital, real estate, natural resources, hedge funds, private credit, commodities, and direct co-investments. Confirmed exposures include buyout, growth, seed, and startup-stage venture, with sector focuses in digital health, healthcare services, AI/ML, and biotech.

### Does the foundation participate in direct deals or only fund commitments?

The foundation engages in both fund commitments and direct co-investments/SPVs. Real estate holdings such as the North Liberty Healthcare Facility and University of Iowa Facilities Corporation properties indicate direct asset ownership alongside pooled fund exposures.

### Which sectors does the University of Iowa endowment explicitly avoid?

No explicit exclusionary sectors are publicly disclosed. The known portfolio concentrates on healthcare, technology, and hard assets; fossil fuel exposure and other common divestment categories are not addressed in publicly available materials.

### Where does the underlying capital come from?

The endowment is built from philanthropic contributions directed to the University of Iowa. Notable donors have included the late John Pappajohn, whose name is attached to the business school and art museum, and Jerre Stead, honorary chair of the 'Together, Hawkeyes' campaign.

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

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