# Western Michigan University Foundation

Western Michigan University Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Kalamazoo, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Kalamazoo, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5235, United States
- **Founded:** 1976
- **Assets under management:** 760.3 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** wmualumni.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/western-michigan-university-foundation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Western Michigan University Foundation was established in 1976 by alumni and friends. It functions as an independent tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation that raises funds and manages an endowment for the university's teaching, research, and service mission. Larry Lueth holds the role of president. The foundation allocates across public equities, real estate, infrastructure, natural resources, private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds. Confirmed positions include commitments to Maranon Capital, Huron Capital, Homestead Capital, Resource Land Holdings, Commonfund Venture Capital Partners, and Siguler Guff Distressed Opportunities. It also holds direct interests in Vestaron Corporation, SeaStar Medical, and ONL Therapeutics through the Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center. Geographic exposure spans North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania. The endowment reports 760.3 million USD in assets. It maintains additional offices or operations only in Kalamazoo. The foundation participates in the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and the CFA Society of West Michigan. February 2025: Sponsored the Corporate Engagement Hockey Tailgate event focused on corporate partnerships. The foundation operates exclusively for the benefit of Western Michigan University as its primary beneficiary. Governance ties include overlapping board roles with Greenleaf Trust and direct ownership of the Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center as a 100 percent holding company.

## Sectors

- Real Estate
- Infrastructure
- Venture Capital
- Private Equity
- Natural Resources

## People

- Larry Lueth — President
- Lynn Chen-Zhang — Board Chair
- Kristen DeVries — Executive Director

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Western Michigan University Foundation?

Larry Lueth serves as president. Lynn Chen-Zhang chairs the board. Kristen DeVries acts as executive director and vice president of university advancement.

### Does Western Michigan University Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The foundation commits to funds including Commonfund Venture Capital Partners and Siguler Guff Distressed Opportunities. It also maintains direct holdings in real estate, infrastructure, and land contracts.

### What investment stages does Western Michigan University Foundation typically target?

The foundation targets venture capital and buyout stages. It also allocates to secondaries, special situations, and early-stage opportunities through fund commitments.

### How is Western Michigan University Foundation related to Western Michigan University?

The foundation operates exclusively for the benefit of the university as its primary beneficiary. It functions as a discretely presented component unit.

### What is Western Michigan University Foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?

The foundation acts as a limited partner in funds managed by external GPs such as Pantheon Europe Fund and Senator Global Opportunity Offshore Fund.

## Related profiles

- [Imperial College Endowment](https://altss.com/profile/imperial-college-endowment)
- [Metrus Instituto de Seguridade Social](https://altss.com/profile/metrus-instituto-de-seguridade-social)

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

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/western-michigan-university-foundation

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