Found Money… University Style
In this engaging mini-episode I welcome one my favorite people, Doug Cooper from UMass Lowell. Doug found a hobby (some would say an obsession) as he guides listeners on how to explore the unexpected world of unclaimed property.
Doug shares his unique hobby: scouring state treasurer websites like FindMassMoney.com (Massachusetts) and Connecticut’s unclaimed property portal to uncover "lost" funds belonging to colleges, universities, and even closed institutions. What began as a personal curiosity turned into a treasure hunt benefiting educational institutions—sometimes recovering significant sums that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. Doug describes the process, the spreadsheet “family of lists” he’s built, and the surprising reactions (or lack thereof) from the organizations he’s tried to help.
With summer in full swing, Laura and Doug also discuss the perennial challenge of tackling those ever-growing to-do lists and the importance of intentionally planning for both productivity and joy during the academic off-season.
Listeners will learn:
How unclaimed property ends up in state databases
Why every institution—public, private, or even closed—likely has unclaimed assets waiting to be recovered
The simple steps to search for unclaimed property for yourself or your organization
The emotional and practical rewards of this quirky, community-minded hobby
Doug and Laura also reflect on the stigma and embarrassment some institutions feel about discovering "lost" money, and why it’s time to normalize reclaiming these forgotten assets. They liken the process to finding a favorite mug in the gym’s lost and found—unexpected, but always welcome.
Resources Mentioned:
If you’re interested in joining Doug’s “treasure hunt” or want to share your own story of finding joy outside higher ed, reach out via the contact information in the show notes! You can reach out to Doug on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglaslcooper/).
Interested in being a guest? Suggesting a guest? We are booking out our guests for 2025-26 season. Pitch yourself or a guest/topic idea today!
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