Established as an administrative public utility person in 2009, the University of Macau Development Foundation aims at supporting and facilitating the University of Macau to attain its academic and educational goals; making it competitive locally and internationally and achieve sustainable development. Therefore, the University of Macau is the sole beneficiary of the foundation. 

Throughout the course of its development, the foundation has been committed to supporting the long-term development of the university. It has gradually expanded the funding areas and scope for the university to promote its development in all aspects. Also, the foundation revised its charter in 2016 to ensure that its functioning and activities are closely related to UM. All efforts has been made to guarantee a sustainable relationship between the two. 

The foundation will continue to uphold its long-standing mission to create a better learning, education, and scientific research environment for the university through its funding and play a role in the development of higher education in Macao.