The URI Foundation

Established in 1957, the University of Rhode Island Foundation is an independent, 501 (c)(3) corporation charged with raising and managing private charitable support for the University.

The Foundation’s daily operations are managed by a president, who reports to a 28-member volunteer Executive Board.

With an original charge of managing the University's endowment, the Foundation became responsible for all URI fundraising activities on January 1, 2008 and currently employs a professional staff of seasoned fundraisers, as well as development support personnel and financial management staff. 

Fundraising activities conducted by the Foundation development staff and endowment earnings payouts to the University typically result in some $15 million in charitable gifts being invested directly into the University each year.  These funds are used for a wide variety of donor-designated purposes including direct student scholarship support, faculty support, facility enhancement and for a myriad of programs and initiatives that truly enrich the overall academic experience at URI, while enhancing our overall competitiveness.