More About URIFAE

More About the Organization

URIFAE is an independent nonprofit organization that is affiliated with the University of Rhode Island. Our organization employs more than 75 experienced development and alumni engagement professionals, along with specialists in financial management, marketing and communications, and office administration.

Seasoned leaders guide our mission. URIFAE President Lil Breul O’Rourke works closely with University President Marc Parlange to ensure that support and engagement further the long-term goals of URI.

URIFAE President

Lil Breul O’Rourke

Lil O’Rourke took on the leadership of the URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement in the spring of 2016.

A seasoned university advancement professional with more than three decades of development, campaign, alumni, and trustee relations experience, O’Rourke works side-by-side with University leadership to implement strategies that support URI’s growth, competitiveness, and mission.

Working with URI President Marc B. Parlange and URIFAE Board Chairman Alfred J. Verrecchia ’67 M.B.A. ’72 Hon. ’04, O’Rourke and the staff of URIFAE professionals are focused on engaging alumni, parents, and friends to support the faculty and students of URI in their scholarly activity and research.

With O’Rourke at the helm, the URI endowment has experienced significant growth in earnings and returns. The organization has also aggressively raised its annual fundraising goals and, in FY2022, surpassed $30 million in new commitments for the sixth consecutive year, something that has never happened at URI before.

Prior to coming to URIFAE, O’Rourke served as senior vice president for principal gifts and international advancement at Syracuse University. A longtime member of the University’s Division of Advancement and External Affairs, she served in many key positions, including as vice president for development. She played a significant role on the leadership team that led a successful $1 billion campaign, which ended in 2012 and exceeded its goal ahead of schedule.

An alumna of Syracuse University, O’Rourke earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and a Master of Arts in public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.