Georgia State University has announced the successful merger of the Georgia State University Foundation and the Georgia State University Risk Management Foundation (RMF). This move will streamline and strengthen philanthropic endeavors on behalf of students and faculty within the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Science, an effort previously led solely by RMF.

Through this merger, which was initially approved in 2023, charitable contributions supporting the Greenberg School of Risk Science are now processed by the GSU Foundation, enhancing support and boosting opportunities for GSU students earning their degrees in risk management and insurance.

"The Georgia State University Foundation has a mission to bolster students and the programs that drive outstanding outcomes throughout the university, and our merger with the GSU Risk Management Foundation will enable us to more fully support the Greenberg School’s goals while better serving its supporters,” said Cheryl Harrelson, president of the Georgia State Foundation. "This merger expands our ability to generate high-impact results for students and faculty in risk science, providing them with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive."

With this merger, the GSU Foundation has assumed management of RMF’s preexisting assets and amended its bylaws to add a trustee dedicated to supporting RMF’s mission and fundraising priorities. This trustee — currently Kimberly Reed, retired Southeast Zone president for AIG — will be nominated by the department chair of the Greenberg School of Risk Science and serve in accordance with GSU Foundation bylaws and operating provisions.

Formerly known as the Department of Risk Management and Insurance, the Greenberg School of Risk Science is part of Georgia State’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business and is nationally recognized for excellence in risk science education and research. The school was created thanks to a $15 million foundational gift made possible by insurance industry veteran Maurice R. Greenberg, chairman and CEO of Starr Insurance Companies. RMF played a vital role in strengthening the Greenberg School’s impact, reputation and ability to provide career-defining opportunities to GSU students. These goals will be maintained and enhanced by eliminating redundancies within the two foundations and through the GSU Foundation’s larger fundraising team and wider network of supporters.

The Georgia State University Foundation serves as the philanthropic engine for Georgia State University, advancing the university’s mission by securing private support for student scholarships, faculty excellence, innovative programs and strategic initiatives.

Learn how donor dollars are making a meaningful difference in the lives of Georgia State students at giving.gsu.edu.

For more information about giving to students within risk management and insurance programs at Georgia State or to make a gift, visit robinson.gsu.edu/academic-departments/risk-science/about/.