IU endowment value ranks top 20 in US

FROM IDS REPORTS

IU’s $1.57 billion endowment ranks 16th in the nation according to a study by the National Association of College and University Business Officers-Commonfund Study of Endowments.  

More than 800 colleges and universities participated in the study, which ranks the market value of endowments across the country.

IU’s endowment totaled $1.57 billion as of last June.

This number represents a 14.9 percent growth in the 2011 fiscal year, Gene Tempel, president of the Indiana University Foundation, said in a press release.

The foundation manages IU’s endowment, which remains untouched, unlike private institutions that can use the endowment for expenses.  

Investment returns and gifts helped contribute to the growth in the endowment.
The University of Texas took the top spot with a more than $17 billion endowment.

The University of Michigan came in second with an endowment of about $8 billion.

Endowment growth is affected not only by return on investments, but also by gifts added to the endowment  and distributions made from the endowment in the fiscal year.

“Our ranking reflects both our impressive investment results and the generosity of our devoted donors and alumni,” Tempel said in the press release. “We credit the investment committee of our board of directors and our investment staff with our 24.1 percent investment return in fiscal 2011.”

— Matthew Glowicki