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Wichita State University Foundation & Alumni Engagement
Wichita State University Foundation & Alumni Engagement manages endowment, venture capital, and real estate for WSU.
Wichita State University Foundation & Alumni Engagement
Wichita State University Foundation & Alumni Engagement (WSUFAE) is the philanthropic and investment arm for Wichita State University, structured as a nonprofit foundation. Founded alongside the university's modern growth era, it is led by President and CEO Telly McGaha, who oversees both fundraising and endowment deployment. The foundation benefits from major donors including Wayne and Kay Woolsey, whose $10M gift funded Woolsey Hall, and the Koch family, sponsor of the Koch Atrium. The foundation's investment strategy centers on venture capital, with multiple reported allocations to general venture funds. It also maintains significant real estate holdings, including the WSU Innovation Campus — a mixed-use development in Wichita — and Woolsey Hall, which houses the Barton School of Business. Other assets include the Ulrich Museum of Art Collection and the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection. The foundation's portfolio spans university-related land holdings and a pooled endowment fund. The foundation operates from Wichita, Kansas, with additional physical assets on the WSU campus. It has a close relationship with the university president, Rick Muma, who serves as an ex-officio board member. The foundation is a member of the Wichita Independent Business Association and maintains an internal National Advisory Council to guide its activities. A structural differentiator is the foundation's dual role as both endowment manager and real estate developer, an unusual hybrid for a university foundation. The WSU Innovation Campus functions as an operating company that directly ties the foundation's investment activity to the university's economic development mission, creating a closed-loop partnership between academia and private capital.
General information
Firm type
University Foundation
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Wichita
Corporate office
Wichita, KS, United States
Principals
Telly McGaha
President and CEO
Rick Muma
President of Wichita State University and Ex-officio Board Member
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Wichita State University Foundation & Alumni Engagement?
President and CEO Telly McGaha oversees the foundation's operations and investment strategy. The foundation works closely with Wichita State University President Rick Muma, who serves as an ex-officio board member. The board of directors, which includes university leadership and external stakeholders, provides governance oversight.
How does the foundation source proprietary deal flow?
The foundation's venture capital strategy likely leverages relationships with the WSU Innovation Campus, which houses companies and research partnerships. By connecting with startups and corporate tenants on campus, the foundation gains direct access to regional innovation. Additionally, its membership in networks like the Wichita Independent Business Association provides deal flow from local entrepreneurs.
Is this structured as a pure endowment or does it operate like a venture firm?
WSUFAE is a university foundation and philanthropic entity, not a venture capital firm. However, its investment strategy includes significant venture capital allocations, making it more operationally active than a traditional passive endowment. It also manages real estate directly through the WSU Innovation Campus and Woolsey Hall, giving it an operating-company dimension.
What investment stages does the foundation typically target?
The foundation's venture capital focus suggests a preference for early-stage and growth-stage companies, though specific stage-preference details are not publicly disclosed. Its real estate activities are concentrated on university-affiliated development projects rather than speculative commercial real estate.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The foundation's endowment is built from alumni donations, major gifts from families like the Woolseys and Kochs, and returns on its investments. The WSU Innovation Campus generates revenue through commercial leases and university partnerships, creating an ongoing income stream.
Does the foundation maintain philanthropic structures separate from its investments?
As a 501(c)(3) foundation, WSUFAE is itself a philanthropic entity. Its investment activities are arms of the foundation, meaning there is no separation between investment and charitable arms — the entire entity serves the university's mission. Major donor gifts are directed to specific capital projects, such as Woolsey Hall, but all assets are consolidated under the foundation's umbrella.
What is Wichita State University Foundation & Alumni Engagement's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The foundation's venture capital allocations likely include fund commitments to outside venture managers, but specific co-investment practices are not publicly documented. Given its size as a regional university foundation, it may participate in syndicated deals or direct investments through the Innovation Campus ecosystem.
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