SR 154: REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION.

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION.

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii Foundation is responsible for fundraising efforts for the University of Hawaii System and the management of over seven thousand gift accounts for the university; and

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii Foundation is the sole provider of fundraising and alumni services, offering private donors opportunities to support research efforts, student aid, or campus improvement projects; and

     WHEREAS, the "For UH For Hawaii" fundraising campaign, originally introduced in 2023, has since surpassed $660,000,000 in funds to support various University of Hawaii projects and efforts; and

     WHEREAS, there are thousands of fund opportunities available to donors dedicated to specific departments, programs, or specializations through the University of Hawaii Foundation; and

     WHEREAS, the efficient, effective, and transparent use of funding to provide extensive support for students and faculty through the offerings of these programs and improvement projects should be a priority of the University of Hawaii Foundation; and

     WHEREAS, the evaluation of the use and management of these funds is crucial to identifying potential shortfalls and areas of improvement to ensure productive use of funds for the purpose of providing necessary and extensive support to University of Hawaii System students and faculty; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Office of the Auditor is requested to conduct a performance audit of the University of Hawaii Foundation to ensure effective use and management of the funds received by the foundation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the University of Hawaii Foundation, and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Hawaii Foundation.

Report Title: 

Office of the Auditor; University of Hawaii Foundation; Performance Audit

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1359

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 154

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 154 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Office of the Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the University of Hawaii Foundation.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation.

     Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii Foundation is a private nonprofit corporation engaging in fundraising efforts for the University of Hawaii System and the management of over seven thousand gift accounts for the University.  Your Committee further finds that the efficient, effective, and transparent use of funding to provide extensive support for students and faculty through the offerings of programs that receive dedicated donor funding and improvement projects should be a priority of the University of Hawaii Foundation.  Your Committee also finds that the evaluation of the use and management of these funds is crucial to identifying potential shortfalls and areas of improvement to ensure productive use of funds in support of university students and faculty.  This measure requests the Office of the Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the University of Hawaii Foundation to ensure the effective use and management of the funds received by the Foundation.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 154 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,