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University of the Incarnate Word Endowment
The endowment traces its origins to the university's founding by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in 1881. It grew through substantial gifts from...
University of the Incarnate Word Endowment
The endowment traces its origins to the university's founding by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in 1881. It grew through substantial gifts from local philanthropists including Gayle and Tom Benson, whose name sits on the athletic stadium, and Betty and Bob Kelso, patrons of the Kelso Art Center. President Thomas Evans and Board Chair Jack Lewis III currently steward the corpus. The portfolio blends direct real estate with a student-managed public equities fund and venture-stage commitments. Real estate holdings span the UIW Main Campus, a medical school facility at Brooks, the Rosenberg School of Optometry, and residential assets such as Clement Hall and the Village of Avoca Apartments. Investment types include startup equity and mission-related allocations, with tagged sector focuses in Energy Transition & Renewables and ClimateTech. The endowment participates in the Jefferson Bank Investor Challenge and maintains an on-campus student-managed fund. The endowment's footprint extends internationally through Centro Universitario Incarnate Word in Mexico City and a European Study Center in Strasbourg, France. Its philanthropic adjacencies include the Incarnate Word Education Foundation and the Liza and Jack Lewis III Institute of the Americas. The university holds memberships in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the Council of Independent Colleges, and the National Association of College and University Business Officers. In May 2023, the University of the Incarnate Word and the Jefferson Bank Investor Challenge engaged students in direct investing exercises (per UIW, 2023). The endowment stands apart through its hybrid operational model — a conventional endowment interwoven with a directly owned campus real estate portfolio spread across three countries. Its proximity to the Sisters of Charity and a board heavy with San Antonio business operators creates a governance structure where capital allocation intersects with regional industrial identity.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1881
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Antonio
Corporate office
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Additional offices
Irapuato, Mexico · Mexico City, Mexico · Strasbourg, France
Principals
Thomas M. Evans
President
Jack Lewis III
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the endowment?
President Thomas Evans and the Board of Trustees hold ultimate fiduciary responsibility; the board includes executives from Holt Cat, CHRISTUS Health, and Joeris General Contractors. Day-to-day management is not publicly detailed, but the endowment draws on trustee expertise alongside the university's financial administration.
How does the endowment source deals?
Deal sourcing appears relationship-driven through San Antonio's business community — trustees such as Peter John Holt (Holt Cat) and Gary Joeris (Joeris General Contractors) sit on the board. The endowment also participates in the Jefferson Bank Investor Challenge, which exposes students and university fiduciaries to regional investment opportunities.
What investment stages does the endowment target?
The endowment engages across early-stage ventures and direct real estate acquisitions. Campus-related property dominates the portfolio, complemented by a student-managed fund that operates in public equities. No later-stage private equity funds are publicly disclosed.
Does UIW maintain philanthropic structures alongside the endowment?
Yes. The Incarnate Word Education Foundation and the Liza and Jack Lewis III Institute of the Americas operate as separate philanthropic vehicles. The founding Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word remain active as the university's sponsoring congregation.
What is the endowment's exposure to sustainability-focused investments?
Tagged sector focuses include Energy Transition & Renewables and ClimateTech. The university is a member of AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) and maintains the Headwaters Sanctuary, a protected land parcel on campus.
How is the endowment structured across geographies?
Real estate holdings extend to Irapuato and Mexico City, Mexico, and a European Study Center in Strasbourg, France. Even so, the bulk of the portfolio remains concentrated on the San Antonio campuses, including the medical school complex at Brooks and the Northwest Campus.
Does the endowment co-invest alongside external GPs?
No co-investment partnerships with outside general partners are publicly documented. The endowment's known investment activity is primarily direct — real estate, mission-related commitments, and the student-managed fund.
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