At the University of Connecticut, we have the Research Foundation
and the University of Connecticut Foundation.
The Research Foundation was created by state statute,is part of the
University, is authorized to accept and expend funds in support of
faculty research, manages all intellectual property issues for the
University and generally functions as the administrative unit for
services related to research and other sponsored programs. ( Actual
fiscal management is part of another unit.)
The University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc. is a private
non-for-profit corporation also created by state statute. It exists for the
purpopse of benefiting the University. It is not an entity of the
University and is not subject to the state's Freedom of Information
Act, to routine public audit, or to direct regulation by state
bureaucracy. However, through a l989 legislative action, the state has
tried to regulate its activities and relationship with the University.
Is there confusion between the two entities? On campus, probably not
much.The difference clearly must be explained to anyone one the
outside.