Foundation president leaving for Boise State University

Richard L. Frisch, who has served as president of the Washington State University Foundation and WSU vice president of development since May 2002, has been named vice president for university advancement at Boise State University.

His appointment, which was announced by Boise State University President Bob Kustra, is subject to approval by the Idaho State Board of Education. Frisch is expected to begin his new duties in mid- to late April.

Frisch, 51, grew up in Boise, graduated from Boise High School in 1971 and attended Boise State during the 1971-72 academic year. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Arizona.

“I am confident that Rick Frisch is not only the best qualified candidate for the position, but that he is also uniquely qualified to provide leadership for the Office of University Advancement at this critical time in Boise State’s history,” Kustra said in a BSU press release.

As vice president for university advancement, Frisch will serve as Boise State’s chief fund raiser and oversee the Office of Development, Alumni Association and the BSU Foundation.

“While (my wife) Tamra and I are very sad to be leaving WSU and Pullman, this is both a professional and personal opportunity. I will have the chance to lead a broad array of programs, including alumni development and the foundation. My parents and four of five siblings live in Boise and I spent my first year of college as a Bronco,” Frisch said.

WSU President V. Lane Rawlins said, “I have enjoyed working with Rick Frisch. During his tenure here we had some of the best years ever, and he succeeded in helping us build an organizational structure that will serve us for many years to come. We will miss Rick but understand his desire to be close to his family. We wish him all the best in Boise.”

University officials said the process for selecting Frisch’s successor would be announced at a later date.

During Frisch’s tenure at WSU, the WSU Foundation raised $48.8 million in private support in 2003, an increase of more than 14 percent over the previous year. The foundation created a 27-member Board of Governors in 2004 to assume full legal fiduciary responsibility for the WSU Foundation, including governance, operations and investment management. The foundation’s investment committee, charged with the management of assets, was also restructured. This change, coupled with significant private support and higher-than-average returns on investments has resulted in the foundation’s endowment climbing to a record high $228.1 million as of December 2004, an increase of more than 30 percent since Frisch’s tenure began in 2002.

Before coming to WSU, Frisch served as interim president of the University of Hawaii Foundation. He has also worked in corporate and foundation relations and fund-raising positions for Up with People, Chaminade University, the University of Southern California and the University of Arizona.