KU Endowment provides $105.4 million to KU

“Private philanthropy plays an increasingly important role in ensuring KU’s position as a world-class institution,” said Dale Seuferling, president of KU Endowment. “Thanks to the generosity of KU alumni and friends, we’re able to provide crucial support to the university.”

Funds distributed to the University of Kansas in fiscal 2009 included:

• $29.3 million in student scholarships, fellowships and awards. Student loans brought total student support to $34.5 million. Private contributions to KU Endowment provide virtually all scholarships, fellowships and student awards at KU, benefiting more than 6,500 students.
  
• $22.7 million in support to faculty, a 16 percent increase over the previous year. KU Endowment funds provided more than 86 percent of total funding for KU’s distinguished professors, including 145 professors who hold named, endowed positions. It also supports faculty development and awards.
  
• $31.6 million for program and educational support, a 32 percent increase from the previous year. This strengthens academic programs and brings renowned scholars, artists and performers to KU. It also expands the holdings of KU’s libraries and museums.
  
• $21.7 million for facilities support, a 47 percent decrease from fiscal 2008. This amount fluctuates from year to year, depending on the timeline of construction projects.
  

In fiscal 2009, the market value of endowed funds dropped by 22 percent, ending the fiscal year at $960 million. The market value of KU Endowment’s total assets ended fiscal 2009 at $1.36 billion, down from $1.68 billion at the end of fiscal 2008.

KU Endowment invests its endowed funds in a diversified portfolio. The long-term investment pool is made up of about 2,700 individual funds established by donors. This comprises 68 percent of KU Endowment’s total assets.

“Over time, investment performance reflects favorably on our strategy of building a well-diversified, equity-oriented portfolio,” Seuferling said.

Despite challenging economic times, a record number of donors, 45,186, contributed a record $106.4 million to KU Endowment in fiscal 2009.