Yale's Endowment Then and Now

Since taking over the endowment 20 years ago, David Swensen has rebuilt Yale's portfolio and produced the best investment returns in higher education.

1985 Fiscal Year

$1-billion endowment contributed $45-million to annual spending, about 10 percent of the budget.

Asset allocation

U.S. equity 65%

U.S. bonds 15

Foreign equity 10

Real assets 10

2005 Fiscal Year

$15-billion endowment* contributed $565-million to the university's

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