FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Malcolm Ehrhardt; 504.558.1765; malcolm@theehrhardtgroup.com
Steve Majors; 504.558.17585; smajors@theehrhardtgroup.com
UNO Foundations Announce Strategic Restructuring
NEW ORLEANS – Sept. 15, 2009 – Two University of New Orleans foundations have redefined their missions and restructured their operations in order to maximize responsiveness to university and community needs. The
University of
New Orleans Foundation and the University of New Orleans Research & Technology Foundation, Inc., have assisted the university for more than 20 years in raising funds for endowed chairs, professorships, scholarships, buildings, teaching, and research equipment. Their boards include many of the area’s most prominent business and community leaders.
Effective immediately, all activities related to real estate and building development and management, construction, financing and debt service, project management services, asset purchase, sale and disposition, investment and endowment management, and other business services will be concentrated in the UNO Research and Technology Foundation headed by Patrick Gibbs.
The UNO Foundation will now focus exclusively on fundraising activities and will assume full responsibility for the University’s development function. The Foundation is currently recruiting a new fundraising executive to serve as the President of the
University of
New Orleans Foundation, responsible for donor cultivation and recognition, and planning and execution of all fundraising operations.
According to Dr. Al Merlin, Chair of the UNO Foundation Development Committee, “The Foundation welcomes this challenge at a time when the University needs us most. We believe that we can take fundraising for UNO to a new level that will provide the critical resources needed to elevate the state’s premier public urban research institution.”
“When we created this multiple foundation structure years ago to serve UNO, our long-run intent was to separate real asset acquisition, management, financing and support activities from fund raising,” explained Gibbs. “It has been a fascinating and wonderful challenge to help in building both foundations. This is the appropriate time to clearly separate these functions to better position the UNO Foundations to help Chancellor Ryan and the UNO faculty and staff in their academic and service work that is so critical to
New Orleans and
Louisiana.”
Projects from UNO-affiliated Foundations have had major economic impacts on the region and state, including the Nims Center Film Studio Complex, the UNO-Northrop Grumman Ship Design Facility, the
National
Center for Advanced Manufacturing at the NASA Michoud Assembly Plant, and the UNO Research and
Technology
Park.
“Now more than ever, higher education needs alumni and community support in our fundraising and legislative initiatives,” said Chancellor Tim Ryan. “With a first-class development executive leading those efforts, we will build on our successes and serve as a major force in the economic, social and cultural development of our community.”
The
University of
New Orleans (UNO), the urban research University of the State of
Louisiana, provides essential support for the educational, economic, cultural and social well-being of the culturally rich and diverse
New Orleans metropolitan area. It opened its doors in 1958 as part of the Louisiana State University System "to bring public-supported higher education to
Louisiana's largest urban community." Today, UNO offers 43 undergraduate degree programs, 37 masters, and 11 doctoral programs. The 340-acre main campus sits on the south
shore of
Lake Pontchartrain, offering easy access to all parts of the metro area. For more information, visit www.uno.edu.
September 17, 2009
Supplement
For information about the UNO Foundation President position, please see the position advertisement under “Job Openings” on this website. Application deadline is October 9.