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University of Oregon Foundation
The University of Oregon Foundation was established in 1922 as a separate nonprofit corporation to manage and disburse private gifts for the university.
University of Oregon Foundation
The University of Oregon Foundation was established in 1922 as a separate nonprofit corporation to manage and disburse private gifts for the university. Paul Weinhold, President and CEO, runs day-to-day operations, while Board Chair Steve Holwerda, a Managing Director at Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, and Trustee Tim Boyle, CEO of Columbia Sportswear, anchor the board. The Foundation's corpus derives from decades of donor gifts, most notably from Nike co-founder Phil Knight, whose contributions have shaped marquee campus assets. The Foundation runs a diversified portfolio spanning venture capital, buyouts, distressed debt, natural resources, and secondaries. Its mandate extends beyond public-market allocations — it provides seed and early-stage funding, writes growth-equity checks, and participates in fund-of-funds structures. Confirmed real property holdings include the White Stag Building and the former Concordia University campus in Portland, along with the EWEB riverfront redevelopment site and Hayward Field complex in Eugene. Direct investing activity channels through the Villard Investment Pool, a vehicle conduit for deploying foundation capital. The Foundation operates from Eugene with an active presence in Portland, where it owns several development parcels. Its Launch Oregon program — directed by Nate Costa — functions as an adjacent vehicle bridging university research and commercial ventures. Multiple Foundation principals, including Weinhold, also serve on the board of Summit Bank, reinforcing local financial-network density. The Foundation added cryptocurrency gift acceptance to its donor toolkit, reflecting an operational rather than traditional endowment posture. Unlike most university-affiliated endowments, the University of Oregon Foundation structures its capital deployment through a dedicated affiliated investment pool with direct real estate development capacity. The board overlaps with Oregon-based operating companies and regional banking leadership, creating a local concentration that most peer endowments distribute across national consultants. This governance arrangement keeps allocation decisions closely tied to regional economic outcomes and university real estate needs.
General information
Firm type
Foundation
Year founded
1922
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Eugene
Corporate office
Eugene, OR, United States
Additional offices
Portland, OR, United States
Principals
Paul Weinhold
President & CEO
Steve Holwerda
Trustee
Tim Boyle
Trustee
Nate Costa
Director of Launch Oregon
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How is the University of Oregon Foundation structured relative to the university itself?
The Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation established in 1922, not a division of the university. It receives, invests, and disburses private gifts according to donor intent, providing a legal and operational buffer between donors and the public institution. The Foundation's board includes Steve Holwerda of Ferguson Wellman Capital Management and Tim Boyle of Columbia Sportswear.
What is the Villard Investment Pool and how does it function?
The Villard Investment Pool is the Foundation's primary deployment vehicle, aggregating donor funds for diversified investment across asset classes. Through the pool, the Foundation makes direct investments, fund commitments, and real estate allocations. It serves as a consolidated capital stack that lets smaller endowed funds access strategies typically reserved for large-scale limited partners.
Does the Foundation make direct investments alongside its fund commitments?
Yes. The Foundation's strategy includes direct investments across stages from seed to growth, as well as direct real estate development. Holdings include the White Stag Building in Portland, Hayward Field complex in Eugene, and the former Concordia University campus. Its co-investment posture places it among the more hands-on university-affiliated endowments.
What role does Launch Oregon play under the Foundation?
Launch Oregon, directed by Nate Costa, operates as a Foundation program bridging university research and commercial ventures. It represents a deliberate move into technology transfer and startup formation, giving the Foundation exposure to ventures that emerge from university intellectual property. The program sits alongside traditional fund commitments in the Foundation's venture allocation.
How does the Foundation handle cryptocurrency gifts?
The Foundation established a cryptocurrency gift acceptance program enabling donors to contribute digital assets directly. The program liquidates received crypto through a conversion partner, treating proceeds as standard charitable gifts for endowment or current-use allocation. It reflects an operational posture that adapts to donor asset profiles rather than waiting for donors to liquidate themselves.
Who makes the investment decisions at the Foundation?
President and CEO Paul Weinhold leads the investment function, reporting to a board chaired by Steve Holwerda, a managing director at Ferguson Wellman Capital Management. Trustee Tim Boyle, CEO of Columbia Sportswear, adds substantial operating-company perspective. The overlap between Foundation board members and Summit Bank's board creates an unusually concentrated regional governance network.
What is the Foundation's real estate footprint beyond campus?
The Foundation holds significant real property in both Eugene and Portland. The Eugene portfolio includes the EWEB riverfront redevelopment, Treetops residential development, Millrace property, and university athletic facilities. Portland holdings include the White Stag Building and the former Concordia University campus, positioning the Foundation as one of Oregon's more active institutional landholders.
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