Arizona State University Foundation for logo

Arizona State University Foundation for

TEMPE, AZ EIN: 86-6051042 Website

The Arizona State University Foundation for A New American University is a private, nonprofit organization incorporated on June 22, 1955, as the Arizona State College Foundation. Based in Tempe, Arizona, the foundation raises and manages private contributions to support the work of Arizona State University. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity and has been tax-exempt since May 1958.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.0B

+8.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$170.7M

+23.4% YoY

Grant Count

32

+3.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5.3M

+19.6% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission: The ASU Foundation builds partnerships and relationships, uniting ideas, people, philanthropic support and investments to advance ASU's goals for inclusion, student success, discovery and local and global impact.

Vision: To become nationally recognized as the model for A New American University Foundation.

The foundation's primary program areas include:

  • Research Support: Provided more than $76.9 million in research funding for ASU, with contributions supporting research in information privacy and security, supply chain management, environment and sustainability, and early childhood education.

  • Student and Faculty Support: Provided over $43 million for programs assisting undergraduate and graduate students, and received over $44 million in contributions to support faculty recognition, professorships, and student support.

  • Specific University Programs: Provided more than $39 million in support of sustainability and education activities, entrepreneurial activities, and programming activities, with over $40 million in contributions received for these areas.

Grantmaking

Total giving in 2024 was $171,068,054. Typical award amounts range from $5,150 to $168,356,121. The foundation's grant-making focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds in Arizona, with additional activity in New York and Minnesota.

Grant Distribution by State

13states
+5 more states

Cities

AlbuquerqueAlexandriaCypressEast LansingFlagstaffGilbertGlendaleGoodyearGreenvilleHanaleiIrvingMesaMinneapolisNew YorkPhoenixPonte Verda BeachRochesterScottsdaleSeattleStorss

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

  • Total Assets: $2,038,433,605
  • Total Revenue: $276,143,909
  • Total Expenses: $213,676,231
  • Total Liabilities: $542,000,000
  • Number of Employees: 212
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$82M$165M$247M$329M2021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$2,038,433,605$1,879,923,397$1,713,596,162
Revenue$276,143,909$299,319,127$295,474,196
Expenses$213,676,231$173,459,672$172,089,032
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$59,963,126$33,762,886$71,627,665
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$43M$85M$128M$171M16 grants202125 grants202231 grants202332 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY$168.4MTHUNDERBIRD SCHOOL OF GL…$629KEARTH SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL…$577KASU ENTERPRISE PARTNERS$207KRESEARCH COLLABORATORY A…$150KASU RESEARCH ENTERPRISE$140KINTERNATIONAL WOMENS MED…$124KASU PREPARATORY ACADEMY$92KUNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA$64KASU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION$44K

Grant Size Distribution

104 grants across all recorded years

65<$50K12$50–100K4$100–250K8$250–500K7$500K–1M4$1–5M4$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

CEO: Gretchen Buhlig

The foundation maintains unit development contacts across various ASU schools and programs, including the Biodesign Institute, W. P. Carey School of Business, Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts, Barrett the Honors College, and Arizona PBS.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

GRETCHEN BUHLIGCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ASUF$611KJACQUELINE SMITHVICE PRESIDENT$355KPATRICK MCDERMOTTCHIEF ENGAGEMENT OFFICER THU…$340KERIC SPICERVICE PRESIDENT UNIT DEVELOPM…$327KBILL KAVANVICE PRESIDENT ENGAGEMENT & …$316KSUZANNE RINKERVICE PRESIDENT ENTERPRISE DE…$311K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
DANIEL DILLON DIRECTOR ASUF(THRU 3/24)/CEO ASUEP (THRU 12/23)1
GRETCHEN BUHLIGCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ASUF49$611,432
JACQUELINE SMITHVICE PRESIDENT40$354,662
PATRICK MCDERMOTTCHIEF ENGAGEMENT OFFICER THUNDERBIRD40$339,737
ERIC SPICERVICE PRESIDENT UNIT DEVELOPMENT40$327,226
SUZANNE RINKERVICE PRESIDENT ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT40$310,645
BILL KAVANVICE PRESIDENT ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH40$316,120
VIRGINIA DESANTOVICE PRESIDENT, CFO & TREASURER10
HOPE SHARETTSECRETARY/GENERAL COUNSEL (THRU 12/23)1
MARK SEARLE DIRECTOR ASUFCEO (ASUEP) (3/24 THRU 6/24)1
JOHN GRAHAMCHAIR1
NITA FRANCISVICE CHAIR1
NICOLE COLYERSECRETARY1
MACKENZIE WOODSINTERIM SECRETARY (1/24 THRU 5/24)1
DENISE RESNIKDIRECTOR2
ROGER WITTLINSENIOR INVESTMENT ADVISOR1
KEITH WIRTZDIRECTOR (THRU 5/24)1
LISA URIASDIRECTOR2
TONY SARSAMDIRECTOR2
CHRIS HOWARDDIRECTOR1
HARRY PAPPDIRECTOR2
MORGAN OLSENDIRECTOR1
ANNE MARIUCCIDIRECTOR1
LISA LOODIRECTOR1
JAZMIN MEDINADIRECTOR1
HIROSHI HAMADADIRECTOR1
JAY HEILERDIRECTOR2
LAUREN BAILEYDIRECTOR2
STEVE BETTSDIRECTOR (THRU 5/24)1
IRA FULTONDIRECTOR2
DOUG FULTONDIRECTOR2
MARY HENTGESDIRECTOR2
STEVE EVANSDIRECTOR1
MICHAEL CROWASU PRESIDENT1
SATJIV CHAHILDIRECTOR1
MALISSIA CLINTONDIRECTOR2
MICHAEL AGUIRREDIRECTOR1

Contact Information

Mailing Address: ASU Foundation P.O. Box 2260 Tempe, Arizona 85280-2260

Physical Location: ASU Fulton Center 300 E. University Drive Tempe, AZ 85281-2033

Phone: 480-965-3759 Fax: 480-727-9656 Email: info@asufoundation.org Website: asufoundation.org

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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