Purpose of the Endowment
Role of the Endowment and Investment Objectives
The endowment contributes to the fulfillment of Macalester’s educational mission by providing enduring support for the College. The substantial and reliable flow of funds to the operating budget helps ensure the quality of the College’s operations, both currently and for the future. Spending from the endowment reduces the College’s vulnerability to fluctuations in other revenue sources, thereby strengthening the College’s ability to plan its future course with confidence and consistency.
In order to fulfill this role, the primary objectives of the endowment are:
- To obtain returns sufficient to preserve and potentially grow the inflation-adjusted value of the endowment.
- To invest prudently, in order to guard against significant reductions in the value of the endowment and to ensure sufficient liquidity for the College to deliver on its mission.