A Letter from The Board of Trustees
Dear Dickinsonians,
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your decision to invest in the future by giving to Dickinson. Through your gifts to the endowment, you play a pivotal role in our college’s mission and help change the lives of today’s students who will become tomorrow’s leaders.
In addition to the donor stories and thank-you messages from students on the following pages, this report provides an important update on the state of the college’s endowment. As a perpetual resource for enhancing the Dickinson experience, the endowment is the foundation of the college’s mission.
We are pleased to report that Dickinson’s strategic management of the endowment has positioned the college for stable long-term growth while also allowing for increased investments in programs and services for students. Over the past decade, the 10-year average annual rate of return on the endowment is 8.6%, surpassing our passive benchmark of 6.6% (based on a diverse portfolio of widely held securities) and our strategic goal of spending-plus inflation (8.4%). Compared to our peers (over 600 college and universities), Dickinson’s endowment performance has ranked in the top 10% over the past one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods.
This achievement ensures the enduring nature of our endowment, guaranteeing that the resources it provides for today’s students will continue to benefit generations of students to come. Everything we offer our students depends upon the endowment and its effective financial management. By supporting the endowment, you are a key partner in that.
As you look through this report, you should feel confident in your partnership with Dickinson and your investment in the future through your gifts. Once again, thank you for your philanthropic investment through the college.
Rob Symington '86
Senior Lecturer of Finance
Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management
Chair
Dickinson Board of Trustees Committee on Investments
Gretchen Brigden ’89
Partner and COO
Macro Intelligence 2 Partners, LLC
Vice Chair
Dickinson Board of Trustees Committee on Investments