U. of Buffalo Faculty Question Campus Foundation’s Spending

The University of Buffalo Foundation plows nearly 40 percent of its spending into salaries for its own staff and university employees, compared to about 7 percent for student scholarships, The Buffalo News reports, citing an analysis by a campus faculty organization.

The campus chapter of the American Association of University Professors is calling for a more detailed accounting of spending by the foundation, which has assets of about $1 billion and, as a private nonprofit, is not subject to New York State freedom-of-information laws, as is the public university. The faculty report, based on the foundation’s Form 990s and audited financial statements, says the nonprofit’s spending on salaries increased 174 percent in 13 years. The foundation reported spending $104.5 million in the 2013-14 fiscal year.