E N D O W M E N T
J U LY 1, 2 0 0 9 JUN E 3 0, 2 0 1 0
A C T I V I T Y
R E P O R T
A letter from Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo Thank you does not begin to express my appreciation for the generous support you provide to the University of North Carolina Wilmington. By providing endowed funds to the university, you are enhancing UNCW’s ability to give our students the most powerful learning experience possible. UNCW continues to rise to national prominence as a result of our academic programs, research endeavors, artistic achievements, regional engagement activities, and global outreach initiatives. U.S.News & World Report recently ranked UNCW as one of the top five master’s universities in the South, following several years of including us among the top 10. Forbes magazine ranked UNCW 17th in the nation on its 2010 list of “America’s Best College Buys.” For the second consecutive year, UNCW is included in The Fiske Guide to Colleges, a highly respected review of the 300 best and most interesting colleges and universities in the United States and Canada; and the Princeton Review named UNCW “Best in the Southeast” for the 7th consecutive year. As we continue soaring to greatness, UNCW must remain focused on building our endowment. In these tough economic times, with extensive cuts in our state appropriations, support from our endowment is crucial to preserving the academic mission of the university. Fortunately, the majority of our endowed programs provided income for use in the current academic year. However, for the second year in a row, a number of our newer endowed funds have a market value less than their original value. These “underwater” funds didn’t provide the income we expected, but dozens of generous donors again made special contributions in the spring to support the scholarships and other programs that depend on those endowment awards. I am especially grateful to every donor who took this extraordinary step to benefit our students, faculty and staff.
THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN THE FUTURE of
As the economy slowly improves, so does our investment portfolio. For the period July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010, the overall rate of return for the UNCW endowment was 6.53 percent. While this is less than the one-year rate of return posted by the S&P, the three-, five-, and ten-year rate of return of the UNCW endowment has outperformed the S&P. We are very appreciative of the guidance provided by our volunteer Endowment Board, comprised of highly-experienced financial professionals. These individuals work closely with UNCW staff and our fund managers to maintain the delicate balance of maximizing the university’s investments while minimizing our risks. Thank you again for displaying your commitment to UNCW by providing an endowed gift. You have made a significant impact on our campus community now and for years to come. The confidence you place in our students, faculty and staff is empowering. We deeply appreciate your philanthropic support. Sincerely,
Rosemary DePaolo Chancellor