There were widespread 2024 endowment gains, some with hundreds of millions in investment returns, for colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region, including some in Delaware County, writes Ryan Mulligan for Philadelphia Business Journal.
College endowments are gifts and donations that are invested into various stock market funds. Endowments fuel college scholarships, capital projects, endowed faculty positions and other expenses.
The fiscal year for most universities, July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise 13.65 percent.
Of 12 reporting college institutions in the region, four saw endowments increase by about 10 percent or more.
Swarthmore College’s endowment saw a $152.42 million return, or .03 percent growth. Its 2024 endowment is $2.73 billion.
Villanova University’s endowment saw a $133.07 million return, or 9.89 percent growth. Its 2024 endowment is $1.31 billion.
Haverford College’s endowment saw a saw a $76.71 million return, or a 9.18 percent growth. Its 2024 endowment is $702.25 million
Widener University’s endowment saw a $10.86 million return, or 3.9 percent growth. Its 2024 endorsement is $117.54 million.
2024 fiscal years ended June 30 except Villanova and Saint Joseph’s Universities, and Bryn Mawr College, which ended May 31.
See the entire list of endowment returns in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
