# Western Washington University

Western Washington University is an Endowment / Foundation based in Bellingham, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Bellingham, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States
- **Founded:** 1893
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed (Altss estimate: ~$101M)
- **Website:** www.wwu.edu
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/western-washington-university

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Western Washington University, founded in 1893 in Bellingham, manages its endowment to address the financial needs of students through scholarships funded by donations and gifts. The endowment is overseen by the university president, Sabah Randhawa, with the affiliated Foundation for WWU and Alumni — led by President and CEO Kim O'Neill — acting as the primary fundraising and gift-receiving vehicle. Unlike endowments that liquidate donated real property, WWU holds a portfolio of physical assets directly on its balance sheet. These include the Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes, ViQueen Lodge on Sinclair Island, and several residential properties on 20th and 23rd Streets in Bellingham. The most notable recent addition is Kaiser Borsari Hall, funded by major donors Fred Kaiser and Grace Borsari. The university also maintains cultural assets, including an outdoor sculpture collection, the Wright's Triangle installation at the Western Gallery plaza, and a significant works-on-paper collection of American art from 1945 to 1975. The endowment operates without a dedicated investment office disclosure, typical for endowments of its size, with fiduciary oversight resting with the Board of Trustees chaired by Faith Pettis. WWU's structural differentiator is its hold-and-operate posture on donated real estate. Where most public university endowments convert gifts of land and buildings into liquid financial assets, WWU maintains a geographically dispersed property portfolio that spans Bellingham, the San Juan Islands, and Anacortes — making the endowment a direct operator of residential, commercial, and research facilities rather than a pure financial investor.

## Sectors

- Education
- Real Estate

## Offices

- Anacortes, WA, United States

## People

- Sabah Randhawa — President
- Kim O'Neill — President & CEO, Foundation for WWU & Alumni
- Faith Pettis — Chair, Board of Trustees

## Questions

### Who oversees the Western Washington University endowment?

President Sabah Randhawa holds ultimate responsibility for the university's financial assets. The Foundation for Western Washington University and Alumni, led by President and CEO Kim O'Neill, serves as the primary gift-receiving and fundraising entity. Fiduciary oversight sits with the Board of Trustees, chaired by Faith Pettis.

### What is the relationship between the university and its foundation?

The Foundation for Western Washington University and Alumni acts as the university's affiliated 501(c)(3) fundraising arm. It receives and manages charitable gifts — including real property and cash donations — that flow into the endowment and other university accounts. Kim O'Neill serves as both President and CEO of the foundation.

### Does Western Washington University have notable art holdings?

Yes. The university maintains a significant outdoor sculpture collection on its Bellingham campus, the Wright's Triangle installation at Western Gallery Plaza, and a 1945–1975 American works-on-paper collection. Major art donor Virginia Wright, founder of the Washington Art Consortium, contributed substantially to these holdings.

## Related profiles

- [Lipscomb University](https://altss.com/profile/lipscomb-university)
- [Cornell College Endowment](https://altss.com/profile/cornell-college-endowment)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T02:43:31.692Z

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

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