The Oregon Health and Science University Foundation (OHSU Foundation) is the fundraising arm of the Oregon state school of medicine and hospital system. Despite ostensibly serving to obtain donations and subsidize the cost of its healthcare services and research, OHSU Foundation has at times taken left-of-center positions on issues such as abortion and has adopted race-centric social policies.
Background
OHSU Foundation was created in 1970 to serve as a fundraising vehicle for the Oregon state hospital system, with the stated goal of investing and managing gifts responsibly and in accordance with their donors’ wishes. 1
Finances
In 2019 OHSU Foundation received $92,840,238 in contributions, 2 $108,603,763 in total revenue, 3 incurred $141,937,603 in expenses, 4 and possessed $1,253,003,341 in net assets. 5
Abortion
OHSU Foundation supports a taxpayer-funded organization, the Oregon state school of medicine and hospital system, Oregon Health & Science University. 6 OHSU Foundation states that is an “unequivocal” supporter of abortion. 7 The OHSU Foundation refers to the repeal of Roe v. Wade as a “critical point in our nation’s history” and states that it has an “essential role” as the third-largest abortion provider in the state of Oregon. 7
Discrimination Accusations
In 2022 the Project for Fair Representation, a center-right organization that challenges racial and ethnic classifications and preferences in hiring, wrote a letter directed at the general counsel of the Oregon Health and Science University, 8 the ultimate recipient of the OHSU Foundation’s contributions. 9
The letter alleges that the Oregon Health & Science University’s 30-30-30 plan, a plan designed to increase the number of minorities admitted by the university to 30% of each admitted class by 2030, violates federal civil rights laws. 8
Leadership
Danny O. Jacobs is the president of the OHSU Foundation. 10 Jacobs received a bachelor of arts from Harvard University in 1975, an M.D. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1979, and a master’s of public health policy from Harvard University in 1989. 11 Prior to joining the OHSU Foundation, Jacobs was a professor and executive director of the medical branch of the University of Texas. 10
References
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). OHSU Foundation. Part I, line 1. 2019.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). OHSU Foundation. Part I, line 8. 2019.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). OHSU Foundation. Part I, line 12. 2019.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). OHSU Foundation. Part I, line 18. 2019.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). OHSU Foundation. Part I, line 22. 2019.
- “About the Foundation” OHSU Foundation. https://ohsufoundation.org/about-the-foundation/
- “Support Reproductive Health Equity” OHSU Foundation. https://ohsufoundation.org/reproductive-health/
- “Letter Directed to General Counsel of Oregon Health and Science University – Re: the 30-30-30 plan’s racially and ethnically discriminatory admissions program” Project on Fair Representation. https://projectonfairrepresentation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/POFR_Oregon_Health_FINAL_LETTER_SIGNED___OHSU_letter__ID_00376dff3e22.pdf
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). OHSU Foundation. Schedule I. Part II. 2019.
- “Danny O. Jacobs” OHSU Foundation. https://www.ohsu.edu/people/danny-o-jacobs-md-mph-facs
- [1] “Danny O. Jacobs” OHSU Foundation. https://www.ohsu.edu/people/danny-o-jacobs-md-mph-facs