Georgia Health Sciences Foundation, AU Foundation agree to merge effective July 1

By Chris Rickerson | Staff writer

The Georgia Health Sciences Foundation and Augusta University Foundation agreed to merge the two foundations in to one effective July 1. 

“The biggest benefit is that we are going to have this consolidated board of trustees that have a diverse background and experience with Augusta Universityand all of its colleges, and its going to bring all of those individuals to the table to focus on the university as a whole,” said Interim VP of Foundations Stephen Lamb.

These two foundations both support AU by receiving and managing donations to the university and the health system. 

Established in 2008, the Georgia Health Sciences Foundation supports many major areas such as the College of Allied Health Sciences, the College of Dental Medicine, the College of Nursing, Georgia Regents Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of Georgia. The purpose of the AU foundation is to support AU and its long-term academic priorities through invested funds from individuals, corporations, and other organizations. 

While each foundation has had different areas to support, the foundations coming together can provide more help financially and help the university overall as one together. 

“There is a lot of opportunity to save money for the foundations, it combines duplicated efforts that we have such as audits and other administrative costs,” Lamb said. 

Lamb also said this is something the university wanted to do a for awhile and everyone is excited to make this move. 

“Over the past couple of years, the boards have been working very closely together and wanted to come with a way to do it, and that is why trustee leadership brought a proposal to the board in the spring and are getting it done this next fiscal year,” Lamb said. “The boards are very excited and enthusiastic about coming together to focus on the entire Augusta University umbrella, all of the colleges, units, athletics and AU Health.”

Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu..