Dartmouth's endowment increased by 18.4 percent in the last fiscal year, increasing in value by $415 million to $3.413 billion as of June 30, according to a College press release.
The increase in the endowment up from a 10 percent return in fiscal year 2010 is partially due to a "strong equity market rally" at the beginning of the fiscal year, and strong positions in global public equities and venture capital, Pamela Peedin, the College's Chief Investment Officer, said in the press release. A growth in investment returns and gifts to the College, which totaled over $40 million, also contributed to the higher return, according to the press release.
"We are pleased with the endowment's solid performance in fiscal year 2011, which enhanced the flexibility of the portfolio and built an even stronger financial foundation for the benefit of current and future generations of Dartmouth students," College Trustee and Trustee's Investment Committee Chair Bill Helman '80 said in the press release.
The performance of Dartmouth's endowment was lower than similar institutions for fiscal year 2011. Stanford University's endowment grew by 19.5 percent, according to The Stanford Daily, and Harvard University's endowment posted 21.4 percent returns, according to The Crimson. The Yale Daily News reported that Yale University's endowment grew by 21.9 percent.
The College's endowment funds approximately 20 percent of Dartmouth's annual budget, the press release said.
