'Because of UConn' Campaign Co-Chair Rich Eldh Appointed New President and CEO; will maintain focus on fundraising momentum, alumni engagement
The Foundation Building (UConn photo/Sean Flynn)
Dear Husky Nation,
I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful summer!
When I became UConn's President, I made a commitment to undertake a significant fundraising effort with the goal of raising $1.5 billion for our university. Last year, we launched the "Because of UConn" campaign, and we have thus far raised over $900 million toward that goal.
This would not have been possible without the hard work of Amy Yancey, our experienced CEO and President of the UConn Foundation. Joining UConn in February 2024, Amy developed a remarkably productive organization, reaching record fundraising levels over the last two years. Her expertise has significantly strengthened our relationships with alumni, faculty, administration, and our many generous donors.
Amy recently shared that she will be leaving UConn for a position at Santa Clara University in California. While we are saddened to see such a valued leader and colleague depart, we are so appreciative of what Amy and her team were able to accomplish, with the support of many others. We extend our sincere gratitude to Amy for her service and wish her great success in her next chapter.
As a university, we face significant challenges ahead, especially with cuts in federal funding and shortfalls in state support, all while our expenses continue to rise. Philanthropic investment in our university, our faculty, our students, and their future is vital to UConn's continued success.
We are committed to maintaining the strong momentum built during Amy's tenure. To ensure this, the Foundation's Board of Directors has appointed Rich Eldh, a current member of the Foundation Board and Co-Chair of the Because of UConn Campaign, as the new President and CEO of the UConn Foundation. Rich is deeply invested in our campaign and is eager to lead the outstanding team within the Foundation, build on our successes, and realize our ambitious objective.
He will begin his new role on July 1. Amy will remain at the Foundation for several weeks to facilitate a smooth transition.
Rich is an entrepreneur, business leader, investor, and proud alumnus of the University of Connecticut. He is known for his work in B2B research, advisory services, and philanthropy. Formerly an officer at Gartner, a leading technology research and advisory firm based in Stamford, Connecticut, he also co-founded and served as co-CEO of SiriusDecisions, Inc., which catered to major corporate clients such as Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Cisco, and Salesforce.com until its acquisition by Forrester Research in 2019.
Rich has remained actively involved in advisory and philanthropic roles across various organizations. Before this appointment, he served on the UConn Foundation Board of Directors. A 1981 graduate of the UConn School of Business with a finance degree, Rich has consistently engaged with the university, supporting student scholarships and broader initiatives, including UConn's major capital campaign. He was also an early supporter of Hillside Ventures, an experiential learning course in venture capital at UConn. Moreover, he has been inducted into the UConn School of Business Hall of Fame and has served as a commencement speaker for the school, where he emphasized servant leadership, respect, hard work, and creating environments in which others can thrive.
Throughout his career and civic involvement, Rich has focused on building organizations, mentoring future leaders, and promoting educational opportunities - including internationally. He lived and worked in Europe and traveled to many other nations around the world over the years, giving him a global perspective and experience that is valuable for any leader.
I also want to share a special word of thanks to the Chair of the UConn Foundation Board of Directors, Jonathan Greenblatt. Jon was instrumental in helping me secure the largest gift in the history of the university from Liz DeLuca for our School of Nursing, and we are truly grateful to Jon for all he continues to do for the Foundation and our university.
It's essential to recognize that our university is bigger than any one of us, and we are all champions for specific periods of time. Our students and faculty truly need the support of our generous donors during this journey.
