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San Antonio Business Journal has honored �԰����� chief investment officer Craig Crow on this year's list, which recognizes young business and community leaders. 

“President Anderson was gracious enough to lead my nomination,” Crow says. “I was very fortunate to have been selected amongst a really strong group of peers in Bexar and Comal counties.” 

Aside from winning awards, Crow spends his days leading �԰�����’s Office of Investments. The office is composed of a team of six professionals responsible for managing and investing the University’s endowment, which in the 2021 fiscal year increased by $446 million to a total value of $1.725 billion. During the 2021 fiscal year, the endowment covered 37% of �԰�����’s operating budget. This funding goes toward a wide array of uses including scholarships, professorships, curriculum development, and building and maintenance. 

�԰����� is unique in that the endowment provides nearly twice the annual operating budget support as other private universities. According to Crow, the typical private university receives about 17% of its annual operating budget from the endowment. As such, the job of the chief investment officer and office of investments team is key to the long-term health and growth of the university. 

Crow is particularly passionate about the use of endowment funds for scholarships. “I received my undergraduate degree from Rice University where I was fortunate to be able to attend on scholarship. The ability to attend Rice  changed the trajectory of my life,” he says. “The idea that we’re supporting �԰�����’s educational mission in such a meaningful way is exciting and fulfilling.”

Endowment investing has a long-term horizon, which allows �԰����� to develop long-term relationships and a long-term investment view. In his annual conversations with �԰�����’s Student-Managed Fund (an experiential stock valuation and trading program where students manage a portfolio of over $8 million in publicly traded securities  as part of �԰�����’s Endowment), Crow emphasizes that this type of investment horizon is “far from boring.” 

“The University has unique access to invest in world-class investment partners across a diversified set of strategies and industries — the relationships and subject matter is incredibly exciting and rewarding,” Crow says. “Our investment strategies range from early-stage venture capital to multi-family real estate and beyond. �԰�����’s partners are at the forefront of innovation and thought-leadership across their respective industries.” 

It’s safe to say that Crow’s 40 Under 40 award was well-earned, seeing as the endowment—which continues to grow—will continue to improve �԰�����’s campus, provide scholarships for students, and facilitate learning.