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How Kathleen Vogelsang Built Van Andel’s Endowment from Scratch — And Is Now Guiding Others

Reported by Institutional Investor
Oct 14, 2025· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Kathleen Vogelsang built Van Andel Institute's endowment from inception, growing it to $1.5–$2+ billion across her 20-year tenure as Chief Investment Officer, generating sufficient returns to cover institutional overhead including 350 scientists.
  • • Vogelsang brings over 30 years of investment experience and holds a CFA designation, recognized as an influential leader in institutional asset management and endowment governance.
  • • She is departing Van Andel Institute's CIO role at year-end 2024 to co-found Bostwick Investment Consulting with Quan Gerville-Reache, a conflict-free advisory firm providing direct CIO-level guidance to high-net-worth families and institutions.
  • • Bostwick operates independently from product platforms and incentive structures, positioning itself as a thought partner for disciplined governance and long-term capital stewardship across multiple market cycles.
  • • Vogelsang has been recognized as a 2026 Woman of the Year honoree and named to the 2020 AACSB Influential Leaders class, reflecting leadership prominence in institutional investing and community engagement.
Summary
Kathleen Vogelsang's 20-year tenure as Chief Investment Officer at Van Andel Institute—a nonprofit biomedical research and science education organization founded by Amway co-founder Jay Van Andel—established her reputation as a senior institutional investor capable of building endowment programs from inception. Over this period, she grew and managed the institute's portfolio from startup to $1.5–$2+ billion in assets, generating consistent returns sufficient to fund operational expenses and support a research staff of approximately 350 scientists. This hands-on experience stewarding capital through multiple market cycles has positioned Vogelsang as a recognized authority in endowment governance and institutional asset allocation.

Vogelsang's professional profile reflects three decades of investment experience coupled with a CFA credential. She has been formally recognized as an influential leader in the institutional investment space, earning inclusion in the 2020 AACSB Influential Leaders class and, more recently, selection as a 2026 Woman of the Year honoree by West Michigan Woman, highlighting both her professional achievements and community impact.

In a significant career transition effective at year-end 2024, Vogelsang is departing her Van Andel CIO role to co-found Bostwick Investment Consulting alongside Quan Gerville-Reache. The firm targets high-net-worth families and institutional investors seeking direct access to senior CIO-level advisory services. Bostwick's value proposition centers on independence and governance discipline—the firm operates free from product incentives and platform constraints, positioning itself as an embedded thought partner aligned with client long-term success rather than revenue generation from recommended solutions. This consulting model reflects a broader trend among veteran institutional investment officers transitioning to independent advisory roles serving mid-market and family office clients.

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Sources

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AlphaMaven summarised this story from the reporting below. Each link opens the original article.

Institutional Investor How Kathleen Vogelsang Built Van Andel’s Endowment from Scratch — And Is Now Guiding Others