What's next for the JMU Foundation?

As the foundation reached its 50th year, Warren Coleman (’79, ’81M, ’07P) was named CEO. He brings to the foundation experience from a successful career in accounting, finance, money management, investments and as an entrepreneur—as well as a long association with the university.

As the new CEO, Coleman sees people as the foundation’s strongest asset. While an able staff handles day-to-day operations, the foundation regularly taps trustees’ expertise. Today’s board brings wide-ranging talents in banking, real estate, investing and asset management gained from experience with prominent organizations such as the Ford Foundation, international business ventures and Wall Street.

Recently, the foundation hired a new licensing director to manage JMU’s trademarks, all owned by the foundation. The royalties generated by the brand provide critical, unrestricted dollars to the foundation. Unrestricted funds offer the foundation maximum flexibility to support the university’s strategic plans.

This summer, the foundation will break ground on its first independent construction project, a 44,000-square-foot building to be located behind Massanutten Hall. After a 12-month construction project, the end result will fit in nicely with Madison Hall (right across the street). The four-story facility will bring together the foundation staff and “the people (at the university) we interact with every day,” said Coleman, creating a synergy that “will improve communication and efficiencies for both teams.”

Over the past five years, the university’s endowment has grown by 32 percent. While Coleman acknowledges that’s a brisk pace to maintain, he hopes that the new Unleashed campaign will produce strong investment in the university’s mission, particularly in critical, unrestricted funds.

With a talented staff, knowledgeable trustees and a strong working relationship with the university, Coleman is confident that the foundation will build on its past success. Having reached the $100 million mark, the foundation’s next goal is $200 million.

“As our alumni see the university’s success and the foundation’s role in that success,” Coleman said, “we want all donors to be confident in the foundation’s ability to steward their investment and offer the best gifting arrangement for their needs.”