BOSTON - January 29, 2010:Despite a challenging environment, the University of Massachusetts turned in endowment performance in Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) that ranked in the top quartile of American colleges and universities reporting performance for one- and three- and five-year returns according to the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).
The data come from in-depth surveys of 842 U.S. institutions of higher learning, including public and private colleges and universities, their supporting foundations, and community colleges that participating in the 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments.
Based on change in market value, the University placed 7th among universities with endowments of $100 million to $500 million and 53rd overall-losing only 4.6% of its overall market value.
The University of Massachusetts endowment, which stood at $367 million at the close FY09 (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009), turned in investment performance of -15% last year against an average of -18.7 percent and returned three- and five- year returns of .3% and 4.7% placing it in the top quartile for performance for those periods.
"At a time when universities nationwide are challenged by declining endowments, we are very grateful to our donors who have made gifts to endowment," said UMass President Jack M. Wilson. "Our investment committee did a stellar job protecting our endowment and we are fortunate to have this talented group of alumni, parents and friends who are accomplished investment professionals working on behalf of the students and the community."
President Wilson also expressed his thanks to members of the Investment Committee and its chair during this period, Roy Zuckerberg, UMass Lowell class of 1958 and former Vice Chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group, who stepped down as UMass Foundation's Investment Committee Chairman in December after more than ten years of service to the University. Ed D'Alelio, UMass Boston class of 1974, succeeds Mr. Zuckerberg as Investment Committee Chairman.
Contact: Robert P. Connolly, 774-455-7188