GRANVILLE -- Denison's endowment reached the $430 million mark on June 30, 2001, the end of the fiscal year, according to Vice President for Finance and Management Seth Patton.

For the previous year, which ended June 30, 2000, Denison's 41.4 percent return on investment ranked 14th best out of 464 reporting NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers) institutions. The Granville liberal arts college was 9th of 435 reporting schools in the three-year return category with a 25.6 percent increase; 12th of 416 schools in the five-year return category with 23.0 percent. Denison was No. 4 of 340 reporting schools in the 10-year return category with its 18.5 percent average.

The table above shows the growth of Denison's endowment over the last 12 years. In 1990, the University's endowment was worth $69 million; and as of June 30, 2001, it was valued at $430 million. The gain of $361 million over the last 12 years represents a 584 percent increase.

While Denison's 1999-2000 fiscal year was its single highest return and the No. 4 ranking in the 10-year-return category was the University's best place ever, the currently ended fiscal year (2000-01) showed a 10.4 percent loss, the University's first negative return since 1984. (June 30, 2001 results for other colleges and universities will not be known until January 2002, when the 2001 annual NACUBO study is scheduled for release. )

Major equity indexes were also negative for the same 12-month period ending June 30, 2001:

            S & P 500 ( -14.8% ) ;
            NASDAQ ( -45.5% );
            Wilshire 5000 ( -15.3% ); and the
            EAFE ( -23.6% ).

Denison's -10.4 percent return failed to keep pace with a - 8.1 percent return for a global balanced index which is its own internal performance benchmark. The global balanced index is an index blended and weighted from the following major indexes: 50% S&P 500; 10% Russell 2000; 15% MSCI EAFE; and 25% LB Gov't/Corp Bond index.

MEANWHILE, THE DENISON ANNUAL FUND CLOSED ITS BOOKon a record $3.5 million year in donations from alumni, parents and friends for the same 2000-01 fiscal year.

Hard work by a dedicated group of volunteers was essential in creating a record total for the 2000-01 Annual Fund. Nearly 9,000 Denisonians contributed $3,531,619 to Denison through the Annual Fund, said Peg Milbourn '67, (Painesville, Ohio), National Annual Fund chair.

Milbourn announced that the Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, exceeded its goal of $3.5 million. She credited leadership gifts (those of $1,000 or more), the Reunion Program and especially the Parents Fund for the impressive total, which eclipsed last year's total by $125,000.

Milbourn said parents of current and former students contributed a total of $518,945, which was the first time the Parents Fund has ever surpassed the $500,000 level. Support from parents, she stressed, is a good indication of their satisfaction level with the College.

Another highlight was the Reunion Fund Program, which raised more than $910,000, roughly 25 percent of the total fund. Ten classes celebrated reunion fund efforts in honor of their respective anniversaries.

Milbourn noted one class in particular: "The Class of 1976 had a classmate anonymously match new and increased gifts." The class earned nearly $85,000 in challenge money. The entire class raised more than $320,000, a new record for any class gift to the Annual Fund. Bill Mulligan '76 (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and Dana Hart '76 (New York City) ably co-chaired this effort.

Leadership gifts grew significantly over last year. About 782 made gifts of $1,000 to $50,000. Milbourn credited National Leadership Gift Chairs Steve '78 and Anne '78 Louis, (Columbus) for the success of this program.

Milbourn also credits the hard work and dedication of nearly 200 Annual Fund volunteers with the Annual Fund's success. Specifically, she thanked National Reunion Fund Chair Leslie Carothers '69 (Glencoe, Ill.); National Parents Fund Co-chairs Jim and Nancy McCracken, (P'01) (River Forest, Ill.); National Leadership Gifts Chairs Steve and Anne Louis '78, as well as Julie Baker '88 (Wausau, Wis.); Brad Burton '80 (Wilmette, Ill.); Jack Oest '74 (Chicago); Buck Niehoff '69 (Cincinnati); Jim Glerum '82 (Kenilworth, Ill.); and John Canning '66 Palatine, Ill.); and their teams of volunteers.

President Dale T. Knobel said, "Denison students and faculty are grateful to the alumni, parents and friends who have so generously supported the College this year. As we position ourselves to perpetuate the qualities that Denison alumni and students appreciate -- small classes and one-on-one interaction with faculty -- we will be reliant on greater numbers of Denisonians for support of the Annual Fund."

A table showing the growth of Denison's Annual Fund contributions can be found at the Annual Fund

Denison University, located on a residential campus in Granville, Ohio, was founded in 1831 and is a privately supported, coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences, offering three different bachelors degrees (B.A., B.S. and B.F.A.) among 49 majors. Some 2,100 full-time undergraduate students represent nearly all 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries. Denison is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and is a member of the Great Lakes Colleges Association and a founding member of the North Coast Athletic Conference. Denison's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was established in 1910. Denison was recently listed among the top 50 selective national liberal arts colleges in U.S. News and World Report's annual America's Best Colleges. Dale T. Knobel is Denison's 19th president.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575