UW Foundation leader wins advancement award

Andrew A. “Sandy” Wilcox, president of the University of Wisconsin Foundation, is one of two widely respected professionals who have made valuable contributions to the educational foundation field who are this year’s recipients of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Commonfund Institutionally Related Foundation awards.

The IRF awards recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement, quality and effectiveness of their foundations and the community of institutionally related foundations as a whole. Institutionally related foundations are private, nonprofit corporations that cultivate and manage private resources to support the missions of the colleges, universities and university systems with which they are affiliated.

Wilcox was chosen for the honor along with Thomas J. Mitchell, president of the University of California-Irvine Foundation.

Wilcox has been president of the foundation since 1988. Under his leadership, the University of Wisconsin Foundation has experienced steady growth and prestige.

Assets have grown from $190 million to more than $2.7 billion, and the foundation consistently ranks in the top 10 of all higher education fund development entities. Beyond his work at the foundation, Wilcox is actively involved with the institutionally related foundation community and has been a regular contributor to the field.

In addition, Wilcox was instrumental in the development of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act, which provides guidance and authority to charitable organizations concerning the management and investment of funds held by those organizations. UPMIFA has been enacted in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

CASE and Commonfund will recognize Wilcox and Mitchell during an awards luncheon April 14 at the 18th Annual Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations in Bonita Springs, Fla.

The awards are underwritten by Commonfund, a nonprofit corporation that provides fund management services and investment advice to educational institutions, hospitals, foundations, and other nonprofits.