Regents concerned about drop in UH athletics fundraising

The report of a nearly $1 million drop in fundraising money for athletics over a three-year period prompted concern on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents on Thursday.

“That trend is very ominous,” said regent Jeff Portnoy, chairman of the board’s Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics.

According to a UH Foundation report presented at the meeting, UHF funds expended by athletics dropped from $2,303,718 for the nine-month period ending March 31, 2015 to $1,367,666 for the similar period in 2017.

Meanwhile, over the same four-year period the UH Foundation report showed that most other sectors — faculty and academic support, research, student aid and services, etc. — showed gains.

Under a 2014 memo of understanding, Ahahui Koa Anuenue, the athletic department’s umbrella booster organization, moved into the athletic department after years of operating out of the UH Foundation.

Under questioning, Donna Vuchinich, UH Foundation president & CEO, cited several factors for the decline, including that AKA has “… not met the expectations that were set out.”

Six months ago, an external auditor’s report noted, “… AKA’s annual contribution to Manoa athletics has been steadily decreasing. As AKA is tasked with performing fundraising activities for the benefit of the athletics department, AKA maintains a fiduciary obligation to assist athletics department reducing its accumulated debt.”

UH athletics has forecast a deficit of approximately $2 million for the fiscal year that closes June 30.

In January, UH announced it planned “to reevaluate the structure of (AKA) before moving forward with any staffing decisions. All of our stakeholders will all be involved in this conversation.”

No athletic department representative spoke at Thursday’s meeting. But before leaving on vacation, athletic director David Matlin said in an email that his department was “still working on our strategic plan” for the reorganization of AKA.