About
University of California, Irvine Foundation
Mission Statement
To increase private funding and to wisely manage assets in support of UC Irvine priorities
The University of California, Irvine
The Irvine campus is one of 10 in the University of California system - one of the largest and most acclaimed institutions of higher learning in the world. Established in 1965, this relatively young campus has already built a reputation as one of the nation's premier research universities, with comprehensive and highly ranked programs in the sciences, arts and humanities. It also operates the UC Irvine Medical Center, the only academic and research hospital in Orange County, California. The university's mission is three-fold, encompassing teaching, research and public service.
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What is the University of California, Irvine Foundation?
The University of California, Irvine Foundation is a charitable public nonprofit corporation established to solicit and manage private contributions on behalf of the University of California, Irvine. It was incorporated in the state of California on December 14, 1967, and qualifies as a tax-exempt organization under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our tax I.D. number is 95-2540117.
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What is the relationship between the University of California, Irvine Foundation and the university?
Foundation members are community leaders who share the university's vision of academic excellence and its commitment to public service. They function as a bridge between the university and surrounding community, volunteering as advisers, supporters, recruiters, advocates and fund-raisers.
Foundation trustees, who make up the organization's governing body, serve as caretakers of UC Irvine's endowed and custodial investments. In recent years, UC Irvine has relied increasingly on the foundation to cultivate private support since less than 25 percent of the university's operating budget comes from the state of California.
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How does the foundation benefit UC Irvine?
Foundation members create significant private support for the Irvine campus and through their leadership benefit the institution and its benefactors in many ways. University of California, Irvine Foundation:
- Acts as a bridge between the university and community, advocating on the university's behalf and bringing important community issues to the university's attention
- Raises money on the university's behalf
- Receives and distributes private gifts according to donor wishes and university policies
- Manages the university's endowment
- Provides expert advice on major gifts, corporate and foundation fund raising, targeted fund-raising initiatives, and annual and planned gifts
- Offers learned counsel on donor relations and public advocacy issues
- Oversees the awarding of the university's highest honor, The UCI Medal, and hosts The UCI Medal Ceremony, the largest single fund-raising event on campus
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How is the foundation structured?
There are three categories of membership in University of California, Irvine Foundation:
Trustee Emeriti, with lifetime appointments, are individuals who have played distinguished roles in shaping the university and its future.
Trustees, who comprise about a third of the membership, make up the foundation's elected governing body and are collectively referred to as the board of trustees.
Ambassadors, who are non-voting, members provide counsel and support for the university's initiatives and programs.
Members have the option of serving on one or more of the following committees:
- Executive Committee
- Investment Committee
- Audit Committee
- Strategic Planning Committee
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How can you assist the foundation in its efforts to support UC Irvine?
A gift to University of California, Irvine Foundation demonstrates your personal commitment to the successful future of UC Irvine and the continued excellence of its students, faculty and research. The foundation provides the vehicle for individuals, corporations and foundations to make private gifts to the campus and ensures that all gifts and pledged gifts are administered according to donors' wishes. Private donations may be in the form of cash, securities, gifts-in-kind, or estate gifts. The use of these private funds is governed by binding gift agreements that reflect donor interests and campus needs.
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How will University of California, Irvine Foundation use my gift to benefit UC Irvine?
All gifts to University of California, Irvine Foundation are expended strictly in accordance with donors' wishes. The successful partnership between University of California, Irvine Foundation and the University of California historically has allowed 95 cents out of every dollar donated to be used in support of the program or activity designated by the donor. The balance is used to cover business expenses associated with generating, receiving, processing and managing gifts to University of California, Irvine Foundation.
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How does the foundation determine its fund-raising priorities?
The foundation's fund-raising priorities reflect campus needs established by the chancellor and UCI's academic leadership as part of an ongoing planning process. Among other things, private support furnishes the increasingly critical resources that enable the campus to:
- Offer undergraduate scholarships
- Provide fellowships for graduate students
- Classroom support
- Recruit and retain the best faculty
- Undertake leading-edge research
- Provide funds for new buildings, equipment and state-of-the-art laboratories
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How do I contact the foundation?
University of California, Irvine Foundation
Office of The Vice Chancellor
555 Aldrich Hall
Irvine, CA 92697-5600
(949) 824-7915 telephone
(949) 824-7073 fax
UCIFoundation@uci.edu email
www.foundation.uci.edu Web site
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