2023 Spring Issue - 40

PHILANTHROPIC IMPACT
Governors' Giving Plays a Vital Role
in Achieving ULI's Mission Priorities
They have a variety of personal motivations for their
six-figure gifts and hope others will follow their example.
PATRICK J. KIGER
For some members of the Governors
Society, a group of donors who have made
lifetime contributions totaling $100,000 to
$249,999 to support ULI's activities, giving
is a way to support the Institute's efforts
to remedy the worldwide shortage of
attainable housing, reduce carbon output
to fight climate change, and educate a
diverse future generation of leaders for
the real estate profession.
For other governors, their philanthropy
is a gesture of gratitude for the role that ULI
has played in their professional careers and
achievements, or a way to honor friends
they made through the organization. Others
hope to boost the Institute's growth and
expansion around the globe to Asia, where
ULI members' expertise and problemsolving
could have a major impact. And
some just want to be an inspiration to other
ULI members.
But what is most important about being
a governor, in the view of ULI Global CEO
Ron Pressman, is the chance to have a lasting
impact with their dollars.
" It's all about creating a sustainable
world, an equitable world, and a more
diverse and inclusive world, " explains
Pressman, who himself joined the ranks
of governors with a $100,000 contribution
shortly after taking the job at ULI. " Governors
have realized that this is an opportunity
to be part of something that's bigger
than them.
" They see the impacts, the accomplishments
that we're achieving, " he continues.
40
URBAN LAND SPRING 2023
" We're bringing down the carbon footprints
of buildings, helping create housing that
people can attain in communities where
they're working, and increasing the amazingly
diverse workforce that is now starting
to get attracted to this industry. The governors
are realizing that this is a really big
deal, and something they can be proud of. "
The Governors Society is a tradition
that dates back more than half a century.
In 1970, Robert Nahas, then president of
ULI, approached 16 other members to join
him and establish the ULI Foundation, an
endowment to provide ongoing support for
ULI's activities and ensure that the Institute
would maintain both its independence and
standards of excellence.
Each of the founding governors committed
to give at least $50,000-gifts that,
adjusted for inflation, would be substantially
more in today's dollars. In recognition
of their gifts, governors receive a few
special benefits, such as recognition in the
Honor Roll of Donors, invitations to Key
Leaders events and governors' receptions,
as well as access to other donor events and
program offerings.
Member Growth Leads to Giving
Many governors describe their giving as
intertwined with their evolution as ULI
members. Clare De Briere, executive vice
president of Skanska USA Commercial
Development in Los Angeles, is chair of
ULI's Americas Executive Committee, a
global governing trustee, and a Global
Board member. She was introduced to ULI
early in her career when she worked for
Wayne Ratkovich, a ULI Life Trustee.
" He had me sit in on meetings and
help with events, " De Briere recalls. " That
taught me so much about all the good that
ULI does through our district councils. One
of the things he always said was, 'Never
say no to anything anybody asks you to
do for ULI-you'll always get more back.' "
Indeed, she has found that her involvement
has " made me a better thinker about real
estate, " as well as more cognizant of the
impacts-both positive and negative-that
her developments may have on the communities
in which she has worked.
Clare De Briere, executive vice president
of Skanska USA Commercial Development.
RANDALL MICHELSON
2023 Spring Issue

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2023 Spring Issue
