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Wichita State University Foundation
The Wichita State University Foundation was formed in 1965 to handle philanthropy and endowment management for the university. Telly McGaha currently serves as...
Wichita State University Foundation
The Wichita State University Foundation was formed in 1965 to handle philanthropy and endowment management for the university. Telly McGaha currently serves as President and CEO after Elizabeth King held the role for more than thirty years. The foundation deploys capital across real estate, private equity secondaries, and hedge fund vehicles. Confirmed holdings include commitments to Greenspring Secondaries Fund IV, Falcon Strategic Partners IV and V, WCP Real Estate Fund III, AQR Global Risk & Style Premia, Two Sigma Macro Fund, and Olympus Peak Offshore. Geographic exposure centers on Kansas real estate and North American and global financial assets. Direct campus assets include Braeburn Square, Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall, the Flats and Suites student housing, and WSU Innovation Campus land. The foundation employs 71 professionals and maintains a wholly owned subsidiary, WSUF Real Estate Holdings, LLC, formed in 2016. It participates in the AGB Foundation Leadership Forum and maintains memberships in CASE and NACUBO. January 2024 marked sponsorship of Ulrich50, the fiftieth anniversary of the Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art. Governance ties the foundation directly to Wichita State University as its sole beneficiary, with investment decisions executed through an internal committee advised by Cambridge Associates since 2021. This structure channels all returns and donations into university facilities, scholarships, and operations without external family succession considerations.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1965
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Wichita
Corporate office
1845 Fairmount Street, campus box 2, Wichita, KS 67260-0002, United States
Principals
Telly McGaha
President and CEO
Shawn Penner
Treasurer and Investment Committee Chair
Jay Smith
Board Chair
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Wichita State University Foundation?
Telly McGaha serves as President and CEO. Shawn Penner chairs the Investment Committee. Cambridge Associates has acted as investment advisor since 2021.
Does Wichita State University Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation holds limited partner interests in multiple private funds including Greenspring Secondaries Fund IV and Falcon Strategic Partners funds alongside direct real estate ownership.
What asset classes does Wichita State University Foundation hold?
Holdings include campus real estate, student housing, mixed-use developments, contemporary art collections, and limited partner positions in buyout, secondaries, and macro hedge funds.
How is Wichita State University Foundation related to the university?
The foundation serves as the primary fundraising and endowment management entity. All assets and activities ultimately support Wichita State University programs and facilities.
Where does the underlying capital come from?
Capital originates from alumni and donor contributions directed to Wichita State University priorities rather than any single family or operating business.
Does Wichita State University Foundation maintain philanthropic structures?
The foundation itself functions as the philanthropic vehicle, with giving focused on scholarships, facilities such as Woolsey Hall, and research support for the university.
What investment stages does Wichita State University Foundation target through its fund commitments?
Fund commitments span secondaries, growth equity, and macro strategies without a disclosed emphasis on early-stage venture.
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