ENDOWMENT REPORT
Investments that educate, inspire, and transform
UMass Dartmouth Foundation Board
The UMass Dartmouth Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization created to render financial assistance and aid in the development effort and the educational programs of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Governed by its Board of Directors, the UMass Dartmouth Foundation receives and administers gifts to the University and provides support to the students, faculty and staff through its efforts.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR
Theresa M. Curry, JD
Vice Chancellor for University Advancement President (ex officio), UMass Dartmouth Foundation Board
Jeff Duchemin ’88 Chair, UMass Dartmouth Foundation Board
Joe Cozzolino ’87
Vice Chair, UMass Dartmouth Foundation Board Treasurer, UMass Dartmouth Foundation Board Chair, Finance, Budget and Audit Committee
Esther Emard ’75 Chair, Governance Committee
Richard Lafrance Chair, Advancement Committee
Mary Louise Nunes ’83 Secretary
Directors
Joe Augustyn ’69
Cassie Canastra ’20
Jeff Conway ’87
Peter DeSilva ’84
Gerald Hall ’63
Robert J. Gauvin ’85
Mark Minichiello ’90
John Moreira ’84
Carol Rego ’82
Jan H. Reynolds ’82
Craig Santos ’95
Carl Sittard ’87
Dena Xifaras
Directors (ex-officio)
Mark A. Fuller, PhD Chancellor
Ramprasad Balasubramanian, PhD Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Christine Doyle Chief Financial Officer
Brian Kelly ’88 President, UMass Dartmouth Alumni Association
Brian Ayotte President, Faculty Senate
Olivia DeSimone ’27 Student Representative
As the hub of research and academic achievement in the southern part of Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is home to 7,500 students who experience extraordinary discovery and opportunity on our campus and in our communities. Most of our students and nearly 30,000 of our 65,000 alumni live on the SouthCoast and contribute to its growing economy and vibrant culture through innovation and community leadership.
As a first-generation college student myself, I know from personal experience that a college degree is the springboard to personal and professional success. It changes lives and transforms communities. A student-centered national public research university like UMass Dartmouth is simply the best place for students to get their education.
As part of our mission as a public institution, UMass Dartmouth is committed to providing affordable pathways to earning a degree. That is why we recently announced a significant new investment in financial aid for our students: beginning in Fall 2025, UMass Dartmouth, along with the Amherst, Boston, and Lowell campuses, will offer free tuition and mandatory fees to in-state undergraduates with a family income of $75,000 or less.
UMass Dartmouth is mindful that a four-year degree is also a meaningful investment for families whose income may be greater than $75,000, depending on their circumstances. The University remains committed to providing need-based financial aid to many families—last year, we awarded more than $21 million in financial aid.
This support is crucial for our students, and we can only provide it with your help—and especially through our Foundation and endowments. A large part of the university’s standing as a prominent national research institution is due to our ability to endow scholarships, professorships, and other critical academic infrastructure. Fostering an environment of continuous improvement and scholarly excellence through the Foundation benefits current and future generations of students and faculty.
I am grateful to our Foundation Board for their leadership and commitment to our University, and to all of our donors and community partners who support our mission to continue providing an extraordinary education that launches our students into trajectories of lifelong success.
Mark A. Fuller, PhD Chancellor
For more information, or if you have questions about your endowed fund, please contact us at donor.relations@umassd.edu.
Long-term investments for long-term impact
Endowments at UMass Dartmouth support student scholarships, professorships, programs, lecture series, and other institutional priorities. These long-term investments allow UMass Dartmouth to grant financial assistance to students and to develop the innovative academic programming that distinguishes the institution apart as a national research university. Endowed funds enable UMass Dartmouth to make commitments far into the future, while assuring donors that their gifts will serve their intended purposes and extend their philanthropic legacy.Approximately 4% of the principal is awarded each year, support from endowment makes a lasting impact.
With 82% of UMass Dartmouth students receiving financial aid, endowed scholarships are essential for making it possible for these motivated students to pursue their academic goals here. Endowed funds designated for programmatic purposes provide flexibility to innovate and differentiate from peer institutions through research, special initiatives, and operating support from stable, permanent resources. These gifts contribute to retaining the best students, bolstering research initiatives, and enhancing the university’s reputation as an affordable, world-class education and research institution in the SouthCoast.
AS OF JUNE 30, 2024
$88.5M
The University of Massachusetts Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) stewards endowed funds for all five campuses in the University of Massachusetts system, applying a futurefocused strategy to generate sustainable returns for long-term support for scholarships, academic programs, and faculty development. Fueled by campus fundraising efforts and comprised of 3,096 individual funds, the UMass Foundation Endowment serves as a critical resource for advancing the mission of the University of Massachusetts and empowering future generations to thrive.
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE
RETURNS AS OF JUNE 30, 2024
LONG-TERM POOL ASSET ALLOCATION (FY18-24)
NEW ENDOWED FUNDS ESTABLISHED IN FY24, TOTALING $1.96M 20
316
TOTAL NUMBER OF ENDOWMENTS
ENDOWMENT IN ACTION
“As a student in a demanding major and paying for tuition on my own, I have to work while I am in school. However, the support that I have received from this scholarship allowed me to stay focused on my clinicals at St. Anne’s Hospital and care for my patients without worrying about financial stressors. This scholarship gave me the opportunity to help the community and grow as a student and person.”
Isabel Borges ’26
Nursing, College of Nursing & Health Sciences
The recipient of the Margaret O’Grady Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Borges is committed to both her studies and supporting others’ success as a tutor at the Academic Resource Center.
“This scholarship mentally and physically prepared me to be successful in the classroom and a leader on the football team. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to return to UMass Dartmouth this semester, but this aid helped me stay on the right path and kept structure in my life.”
Jalyn Aponte ’25
Communications, College of Arts & Sciences
Aponte, a first-generation student-athlete and recipient of the College Now—Donald C. Howard Endowed Scholarship, balances his commitment to academics with his role as a standout running back for Corsair Football.
“This scholarship meant that I didn’t need to find a full-time job. I could participate in track and field/cross country, work in the Admission Office as a tour guide, and have both fit neatly with my classes. One day, I hope to fund a scholarship for student-athletes who face long, exhausting schedules of practice, games, and homework.”
Jacob Paris ’25
Civil engineering, sustainability minor, College of Engineering
As captain of the track and field/cross country teams, Paris earned All-LEC First Team honors in 2023, finishing third at the Little East Championship, and is the recipient of the Alexander T. & Jan K. Andreassen Endowed Scholarship.
“During these past few years, I have found myself struggling with my mental health, and college became difficult at times. I had to take breaks from working full-time and participating in extracurricular activities to take care of myself and my family. I feel strongly that this scholarship aided me in making a comeback as a scholar and reclaiming myself as a person.”
Rebecca Mejia ’25
Finance, Charlton College of Business
Mejia, a recipient of the John M. & Julie T. Murphy Endowed Scholarship, gains valuable experience as a senior peer counselor in the Financial Aid Office, where she answers students’ questions.
At UMass Dartmouth, endowed scholarships are more than just a financial resource—they are a lifeline that empowers students to pursue their academic and professional dreams. For many, these scholarships provide the support needed to overcome financial obstacles and unlock opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
In their own words, these students share how endowed scholarships have the transformative power to ease their financial burdens, strengthen their determination to succeed, and foster personal and academic growth that defines their futures.
“Because of this scholarship, I was able to continue my involvement in Corsair Band and could work just the weekends. I didn’t have to make sacrifices in terms of losing this extracurricular program, which is historically the best it’s ever been. As the Band’s treasurer, I wouldn’t have been able to balance working full-time and leading our wind and jazz ensembles, which is important to me and my future career in music education.”
Davon Fuentes ’25
Music education, College of Visual & Performing Arts
Fuentes has set his sights on sharing his love for the arts and music through music education with support from the Lady Mary Morley Crapo Hyde Eccles Scholarship.
“Thanks to this scholarship, I’m able to get the most out of my college experience. I can commit myself to my academics as an Honors College student, which requires me to do challenging assignments and maintain a high GPA. Without worrying about how I’ll cover my tuition costs, I’ve been growing as a student and professional through different opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible without this scholarship.”
Jackie Sassin ’27
Marketing, Honors College
Sassin, a first-generation student and recipient of the Donald H. Ramsbottom Endowed Scholarship, expertly balances her involvement in Corsair Cheer with on- and off-campus jobs that prepare her to become a marketing professional.
“I’m lucky to be attending the School for Marine Science & Technology under a research assistantship with Professor Pingguo He in the Fish Behavior and Conservation Engineering Research Group, but there are still student fees and research expenses that must be funded somehow. This scholarship helped me relieve that financial strain and gave me a peace of mind so I can concentrate on what’s important, and that’s science.”
Drake Ssempijja ’28
Living marine resources science and management Ph.D. program, School for Marine Science & Technology
Hailing from Uganda, Ssempijja is a Ph.D. research assistant focusing on plastic pollution from discarded fishing gear in inland fisheries, particularly in the developing world. He is the recipient of the Brian Rothschild Scholarship.
“My laptop wasn’t compatible with a specific exam software that was required for my studies at UMass Law. This software was critical to my academic success, but thankfully, a scholarship helped me purchase a new one. With the right tools, I’ve been able to work with course materials and learn from them without difficulty.”
Adrianna Pacheco ’22, JD ’25
UMass Law
A CATIC Foundation Endowment Scholarship recipient, Pacheco is a proud ‘UMassD lifer’ with an undergraduate degree in history and a law degree in progress.
A NATURAL FIT
A love of the SouthCoast and parents’ pride inspires John and Gail Sampieri to build a philanthropic legacy at UMass Dartmouth
As lifelong SouthCoast residents, John and Gail Sampieri hold a deep appreciation for the unique landscape that surrounds us. From Gail’s childhood on a Dartmouth farm to birdwatching in South Dartmouth to enjoying the majestic coastline of Cape Cod, the natural beauty found right outside our doorsteps has been at the heart of the Sampieris’ life.
They shared this love of nature with their children, who also embraced the gifts of the SouthCoast, especially their daughter, Sara Horvet, a 2012 graduate of the master’s program in coastal systems science UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST). Gail was also a 1970 graduate of UMass Dartmouth who later enjoyed a long career in social services.
Sara is a research associate and analytical lab manager in the Coastal Systems Program at SMAST—the logistical, educational, and data synthesis center for water quality monitoring throughout southeastern Massachusetts that maintains operational and analytical support for all the region’s towns. Inspired by the late Professor Brian Howes, who founded the Coastal Systems Program, Sara and her colleagues uphold a commitment to environmental health. The team conducts research on saltwater and freshwater wetland ecology and hydrology areas to provide essential data that cities and towns use to investigate and develop innovative solutions to complex environmental restoration and management issues within the region.
The summer internship program is a key part of the Coastal Systems Program research. Interns participate in a wide range of field and laboratory work, collecting and analyzing critical water samples that are used to develop clean water management plans.
The Sampieris have been dedicated to supporting local environmental causes for years. It was Sara’s passion for the Coastal Systems Program that inspired John and Gail to expand their philanthropic commitments to include UMass Dartmouth among the organizations that benefit from their generosity.
“Sara loves to talk about the Coastal Systems Program,” said John. “Gail and I became fascinated by what she and her colleagues at SMAST do. We believe in this work.”
The Sampieri’s contribution to the Coastal Systems program began with an initial donation of $5,000 to support a summer intern. This year, they deepened their commitment to the program by establishing the Sampieri Coastal Systems Program Endowment that will provide long-lasting support for the summer internship program. The Sampieri Coastal Systems Program Endowment will support the program’s summer interns.
“UMass Dartmouth is so important to our region...it opens up so many opportunities for students and families. We are believers in public education and acknowledge the value of having this research university in our backyard.”
—Gail Sampieri
“We want to see our coast cared for, and that means supporting Sara’s team to obtain the data and research needed to make the important decisions to preserve the health of our environment,” said John.
The timing was perfect for John and Gail, who were motivated to increase their financial support by the Massachusetts Public Higher Education Endowment Incentive Program (PHEEIP). Under the program, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts contributes $1 in appropriated state funds for every $2 raise from private donors to support endowment gifts. This matching gift incentivizes many donors to establish endowments or add funds to existing endowments, becoming an important tool in growing the University’s endowment and securing long-term support for scholarships and academic programs.
“Unquestionably, the matching incentive program gave us the push to increase our support of the Coastal Systems program,” said John.
As John and Gail spot native birds in the summers while sitting on their porch and encounter winter ducks on walks along the local coastline, they do so knowing that their generous support will leave a legacy to preserve the things they treasure most.
“UMass Dartmouth is so important to our region,” Gail said. “It opens up so many opportunities for students and families. We are believers in public education and acknowledge the value of having this research university in our backyard.”
ENDOWMENT DATA
FY24 UMASS DARTMOUTH ENDOWMENT HIGHLIGHTS
UMass Dartmouth’s endowment experienced growth in FY2024, climbing to $88.5 million in support of the university’s mission. This 16.7 percent increase is attributed in part to matching incentives from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Public Higher Education Endowment Incentive Program (PHEEIP), which motivated generous donors to establish 21 new endowments valuing nearly $2 million. With a focus on generating long-lasting financial support for students and programs, the continued growth of the UMass Dartmouth endowment is a critical component of the university’s fundraising strategy.
$2,690,176
IN TOTAL ENDOWED FUNDS DISTRIBUTED
ENDOWMENT DOLLARS
DISTRIBUTED IN FY2024
$1,062,592
IN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS IN FY2024
ENDOWMENT GROWTH
FY2020-FY2024
FY24 UMASS FOUNDATION ENDOWMENT HIGHLIGHTS
The University of Massachusetts endowment assets are professionally invested with the goal of achieving strong investment returns that exceed both the annual spending distribution (or “withdrawal”) and inflation, ensuring the endowment’s longevity and its ability to support future generations. As of June 30, 2024, the endowment was valued at $1.5 billion. The Foundation’s investment team–with the support and guidance of the board’s Investment Committee– continue to prioritize and deliver long-term investment returns.
Investment gains translate into increased support for our faculty, students, and campus programs and infrastructure. University support generated from returns on the endowment’s 3,096 individual funds has grown to $41.9 million. This is a testament to the hardworking advancement teams across our community and, most of all, to the robust and ever-growing network of donors who believe in and advance the mission of the University of Massachusetts with every gift they make.
ENDOWMENT ASSETS GROWTH
