2018 Kean Endowment Returns
The Importance of Endowed Funds
Endowment gifts, the most enduring investments in our community, establish a continuing wellspring of income, weathering market fluctuations to provide scholarships, professorships and other educational resources. Kean University is extremely grateful to those responsible for making such a difference at this institution by means of these generous donations. Our mission remains constant: to ensure meaningful, enriching, and rewarding student experiences, which in turn are critical to the success of the University as a whole. More than ever, alumni and friends are the lifeblood of this essential objective. Over the last decade, the breadth of the University’s programs expanded and standards for excellence were raised ever higher, concurrent to an increase in support from private donors and growth in the University’s endowment. Kean University counts on your ongoing support so that we may ensure our status as a place where students come to transform themselves into the people they aspire to be.
Endowment Investment Performance
Despite 2018 being a volatile year in global equity markets, Kean Foundation’s Main Endowment portfolio has continued to perform in line with its primary benchmark since inception. On a cumulative basis, the Main Endowment has returned 12.1% as of calendar end 2018. Equity markets had a challenging year (MSCI All Country World was -9.4%) as investors digested; a Fed that was expected to be more aggressive hiking rates, global growth concerns, and trade tensions with China.
However, bonds, which are meant to be the protection piece of the diversified portfolio, performed well throughout 2018 and returned 0.7%. This is also above their respective benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which was flat for 2018. With the Fed pivoting its interest rate hiking stance, and not anticipating any rate hikes in 2019, we expect to become more defensive as we prepare for a later cycle environment. Although we don’t suspect a recession is imminent, we want to prepare for more volatility and continue to make tactical trades as we see pockets of opportunity in the market.
As we move into 2019, we are extremely committed to maximizing our efforts and yours to ensure your gifts continue to have a great impact through investments. Thank you for your continued philanthropic support.
For more information, please contact one of the Foundation's advancement officers.
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