Authored by: William Prout

Spending Policy Practices: 2020

Annual distributions from the endowment are a source of supplemental operating revenue for most endowed institutions. An institution’s endowment spending policy provides a basis for the calculation of the annual distribution, serving as a bridge that links the long-term investment portfolio and the enterprise. The data and analysis in this report provide an in-depth look at the various spending rule types that are used among our endowed clients. Also included are analysis on the endowment’s support of operations and effective spending rate.

Foundation Annual Investment Pool Returns: Calendar Year 2019

This report, based on a survey that Cambridge Associates administers annually to our foundation clients, summarizes returns, asset allocation, and other investment-related data for 115 foundations for the year ended December 31, 2019. Included in this year’s report are commentary and exhibits across five sections: Investment Portfolio Returns, Investment Policy, Portfolio Asset Allocation, Investment Manager Structures, Payout from the Long-Term Investment Portfolio, and Investment Office Staffing and Governance.

Foundation Annual Flash Statistics Report: Calendar Year 2019

The Foundation Annual Flash Statistics Report provides a first look at the results of our 2019 Foundation Annual Investment Pool Returns survey. Included in the analysis are a summary of investment pool returns, asset allocation, and returns after spending for 115 foundations. Additionally, the report provides detailed data by institution on asset allocation. Look for…

Annual Review of Endowments: Fiscal Year 2019

This report summarizes returns, investment policy, asset allocation, and related trends for 319 endowed institutions. Included are exhibits on asset class returns, performance attribution, risk analytics, policy portfolio benchmarking, and uncalled capital commitments. The analysis is broken down by size of assets under management and by institution type. The report also contains sections on investment…

College and University Investment Pool Returns: Fiscal Year 2019

This study is based on a survey that Cambridge Associates (CA) administers annually to our college and university clients. The report that follows summarizes returns, asset allocation, and other investment-related data for 164 institutions for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019. Included in this year’s report are commentary and exhibits spread across six separate sections.