At the University of Washington our mission promises to enhance lives everywhere— a goal that would simply not be possible without your endowed support. As lasting legacies, endowed gifts provide perpetual support for students, faculty, and university programs and services. They serve as the foundation upon which we build our success. While we can measure the endowment’s annual fiscal performance in this report, the impact that your gift will make in perpetuity is immeasurable.
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The University of Washington Endowment
Generous donors have created a lasting legacy
TOTAL ENDOWMENTS IN CEF
NEW ENDOWMENTS ADDED IN FY17
FY17 ENDOWMENT ADDITIONS
The impact is felt year after year,
generation after generation.
- UW Medicine 21
- Arts and Sciences 12
- Centrally Administered 8
- Engineering 7
- Foster School of Business 6
- Student Financial Aid 5
- All Other Programs 21
- Operating Funds 20
| Schools, Colleges, and Programs | Endowment Value at 6/30/17 | Number of Individual Endowments |
|---|---|---|
| UW Medicine | $677,769,250 | 957 |
| College of Arts and Sciences | 381,229,217 | 956 |
| College of Engineering | 233,672,495 | 417 |
| Foster School of Business | 178,127,363 | 235 |
| Student Financial Aid | 151,335,710 | 243 |
| Office of the President and Provost | 115,755,986 | 86 |
| Law School | 98,169,138 | 107 |
| College of the Environment | 98,896,979 | 283 |
| Intercollegiate Athletics | 73,961,813 | 205 |
| University Libraries | 47,464,427 | 93 |
| Graduate School | 46,963,488 | 91 |
| School of Nursing | 46,842,109 | 140 |
| Tacoma Campus | 42,365,007 | 76 |
| Undergraduate Academic Affairs | 51,102,842 | 34 |
| College of Built Environments | 38,766,287 | 118 |
| School of Dentistry | 30,361,158 | 93 |
| College of Education | 23,469,199 | 77 |
| Evans School of Public Policy & Governance | 21,457,238 | 36 |
| School of Pharmacy | 21,031,509 | 66 |
| Health Sciences | 17,176,485 | 4 |
| School of Public Health | 20,233,755 | 94 |
| School of Social Work | 25,204,021 | 47 |
| Office of Research | 8,085,805 | 4 |
| University of Washington Press | 6,819,969 | 17 |
| Information School | 6,975,063 | 48 |
| Bothell Campus | 4,259,817 | 20 |
| Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity | 4,198,976 | 37 |
| CoMotion | 5,342,454 | 2 |
| Finance and Facilities | 2,562,340 | 5 |
| Office of the Vice President of Student Life | 2,819,315 | 22 |
| Continuum College | 1,194,913 | 3 |
| University Advancement | 985,175 | 6 |
| 2,484,599,303 | 4,622 | |
| Operating Funds | 617,059,805 | 3 |
| Non-UW Endowment | 42,131,009 | 60 |
| Total | $3,143,790,117 | 4,685 |
Endowed gifts coupled with investment returns
resulted in the growth of the CEF.
ANNUALIZED RETURN OVER LAST 20 YEARS
IN GROWTH OVER LAST 20 YEARS
Impact
The impact of endowment gifts is evident in every corner of the University of Washington, from the inspiring faculty who hold endowed professorships to the extraordinary students that choose the UW because of scholarships and fellowships.
Endowment Support by Purpose
- Student Support 30
- Faculty Support 24
- Research Support 8
- Program/Academic Support 16
- Other University Support 22
Endowment Gifts at Work
Endowments create extraordinary impact across our campuses. These are just a few of the countless stories that endowment gifts make possible year after year, generation after generation.
Students
Distributed in 2017
Endowments
Faculty
Distributed in 2017
Endowments
Research
Distributed in 2017
Endowments
Programs
Distributed in 2017
Endowments
University
Distributed in 2017
Endowments
Investment Performance
The CEF has consistently maintained solid performance, exceeding both the passive benchmark and the median returns for public university peers in the 1, 5, 10, and 20-year periods ending June 30, 2017.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017 the CEF returned +13.6% versus +12.4% for the passive benchmark. Absolute performance was positive across all CEF strategies. After a tough fiscal year 2016, staying the course in emerging markets paid off, with the CEF’s Emerging Markets Equity strategy leading absolute returns this year.
Investment Strategy
Asset allocation is critical to balancing the long-term potential return and the risk tolerance appropriate for the University of Washington.
The CEF asset allocation includes two clearly defined categories of investments: those which facilitate growth or appreciation (Capital Appreciation), and those which preserve endowment values (Capital Preservation). At June 30, 2017, 78% of the CEF was invested in Capital Appreciation and 22% in Capital Preservation. We anticipate that market returns for equities will exceed bonds over the next decade. We therefore maintain a medium-term objective of generally overweighting equity-oriented strategies with a focus on quality companies and downside protection. The UW also maintains ample liquidity within Capital Preservation to meet its funding requirements, as well as to take advantage of market dislocations if opportunities arise.
Spending Policy
A disciplined approach to moving money from the endowment to support the purpose designated by the donor on a foreseeable, consistent basis.
Current spending policy set by the Board of Regents is based on the 5-year rolling average market value.
to support the program designated by the donors
to support Advancement activities (0.8%) and offset the internal cost of managing endowment assets (0.2%)
A good spending policy must strike a balance between providing a predictable and stable stream of revenue for current beneficiaries and maintaining the purchasing power of the revenue stream for future beneficiaries.
Power of Investment Returns
& Prudent Spending Policy
Invested in 1996 with $100,000 in gifts made in honor of William and Ruth Gerberding, the endowment has provided a powerful impact— distributing approximately $140,000 in fellowship support to date, while growing to a market value nearly double its original value.
Contact Us
Investments
Consolidated Endowment Fund investment policies and performance
Keith Ferguson
Chief Investment Officer
(206) 685-1822
invest@uw.edu
Lisa Edlin
Associate Treasurer
(206) 685-8030
lmedlin@uw.edu
Endowment Giving
Learn how to build your lasting legacy
Connie Kravas
Vice President for University Advancement
(206) 685-1980
ckravas@uw.edu
Get more information on specific funds and endowments at My UW Giving
View & Download Annual CEF Reports for Prior Fiscal Years