International conference on endowment funds kicked off at the Presidential library

The International conference called “University endowment funds: practical aspects of foundation and development” under the aegis of the St. Petersburg Rectors’ Council kicked off on October 14 2010 at the Presidential library.

Xerox has become the event’s co-organizer. High on the agenda were issues concerning off-budget financing of universities, establishment of trust funds and interaction between universities and fund trustees.

The conference brought together Russian and foreign experts, representatives of federal and research universities of Russia. Ye.S. Biryukov, Executive Director, MGIMO (Moscow State Institute for International Relations) Development Fund, delivered a report on practical expertise of endowment fund work in Russia. Xerox expert Edward Danielchik spoke on technological platforms offered by Xerox for building relations with grantors, attracting university entrants and quality management of rendered services.

Foreign speakers shared examples of successful communication campaigns aimed at endowers’ attraction: Inge T. Reichenbach, Vice President for Development, Yale University, Tamara A. Rogers, Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development, Harvard University, and Jeffrey Newton, Vice President for Resources Development, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Since the adoption of the Federal Law “On the Procedure of Foundation and Utilization of Trust Capital of Non-Commercial Organizations” in 2007 in Russia was founded not more than 50 endowment funds. To compare, there are over 800 endowment funds operating in the United States.

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