The University of Winnipeg Foundation

Fast Facts

The University of Winnipeg Foundation was established by The University of Winnipeg Board of Regents, with approval in principle on January 28, 2002.  The next step was attaining charitable status, achieved with the Canada Revenue Agency on October 2, 2002, when The University of Winnipeg Foundation was registered as a public foundation with charitable tax status, with a single focus on revenue development for the University and its Collegiate from private sources.  The Foundation is separately incorporated and arms-length from the University, with its sole purpose to support the University and its Collegiate.

The University of Winnipeg Foundation commenced operations on April 1, 2003, holding its first Board meeting on June 17, 2003.  April 1, 2012 marked the 9th anniversary of The University of Foundation.

Vision and Mission
The vision of the Foundation is to establish legacies for sustainability of The University of Winnipeg and its Collegiate.

Its mission is to develop and manage long-term revenue development plans to meet the vision.

The strategic intent of the Foundation is to substantially increase the value of charitable gifts in support of the needs of The University of Winnipeg by delivering a comprehensive fundraising campaign and by being responsible and accountable for investment management and growth.

University Motto 
Lux et Veritas Floreant - Let Light and Truth Flourish

Structure and Governance
The University of Winnipeg Foundation is governed by the Members of its organization, who are also the Directors of the Board.  The Foundation is governed according to its Articles of Incorporation under the Corporations Act and is operated on a not-for-profit basis.  The Foundation is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act (Canada) and is designated as a Public Foundation.

Board Members
The University of Winnipeg Foundation Board is comprised of 15 regular members and one Director Emeritus with lifetime membership on the Board. 

Seven members are appointed by the University. The members appointed by the University are its Chancellor, President, and Chair of the Board of Regents, with four members nominated by the Board of Regents.  Eight members are selected by the Board of Directors of the Foundation.

The Directors attend four meetings per year in addition to serving on the Executive/Finance Committee and the Audit, Investment, Planned Giving, and Fund Development committees.  Many Directors also serve as Campaign Cabinet members and National Advisors on A World of Opportunity Capital Campaign.

2012-2013 Board of Directors

The University of Winnipeg Foundation retains the investment counsel of MFS McLean Budden, one of Canada's leading investment management firms.  The firm is guided by a Foundation-approved Investment Policy that prescribes a prudent, long-term development approach to endowment growth.

Members of the University of Winnipeg Foundation Investment Committee are: Dr. James MacDonald, Dr. Douglas Leatherdale, and Mr. Daniel Bubis.

Asset Management Model
The University of Winnipeg Foundation stewards the assets of the Endowment Fund based on a contributed capital model.  Gifts received and endowed in perpetuity are permanently recorded as contributed capital.  All assets credited to the Endowment Fund are invested on a pooled basis.  Changes in overall asset value as a result of investment activity (after expenses are paid) are credited to the Endowment Fund Reserve.

Number of Endowment Funds
Number of funds at time of transfer                      356
Total                                                                   500


New funds in 2011-2012                                        20

Value of the Endowment Fund (contributed capital)
Pre-Foundation Value of funds
At March 31, 2003                        $18.1 million (contributed capital)

Current value of Funds
At March 31, 2012                       $37.8 million (contributed capital)


Endowment Gifts to the University
Gifts are made to the University on an annual basis from the Endowment Fund Reserve.  The Endowment Fund Reserve facilitates both the ability of the Foundation to invest in equities while protecting the contributed capital held by the Foundation against investment losses.  Periodically, surplus funds in the Endowment Fund Reserve can provide a source of money to be capitalized on a pro-rata basis across all individual endowment funds.

Accumulative disbursements from Endowment revenues
April 1 2004 to March 31, 2012 (8 yrs)        $8.4 million