Key Takeaways
- • UCLA Foundation's $4.8 billion endowment generated an 11.6% net return for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, outperforming a prior-year return of 9.8%.
- • The endowment maintained a 4.25% spending rate based on a 12-quarter rolling average market value, supporting the university's teaching, research, and public service mission.
- • Investment income and dividends contributed $130 million to the foundation's total revenues of $695.7 million for the fiscal year.
- • The strong endowment performance reflects effective asset allocation and investment management despite broader economic uncertainties affecting institutional investors.
Summary
UCLA Foundation's endowment delivered double-digit returns in fiscal year 2025, posting an 11.6% net return on its $4.8 billion in assets for the period ended June 30. This performance marks a meaningful improvement from the prior fiscal year's 9.8% return, demonstrating resilient investment execution and favorable market conditions during the measurement period.
The foundation generated $130 million in investment income and dividends, contributing substantially to total revenues of $695.7 million for fiscal 2025. These figures underscore the critical importance of endowment performance in funding the university's operations, with the foundation managing resources to advance UCLA's core mission in teaching, research, and public service.
The endowment operated under a disciplined spending policy, with the foundation maintaining a 4.25% annual spending rate calculated on a 12-quarter rolling average market value assessed quarterly. This approach balances near-term resource deployment with long-term capital preservation, a standard practice among large institutional endowments seeking to sustain intergenerational support for university operations while protecting against market volatility.
The 11.6% return positions UCLA Foundation competitively within the peer group of major university endowments, which have experienced variable performance across 2024-2025 depending on asset allocation strategies and market exposure. The foundation's consistent execution reflects both strategic portfolio positioning and effective capital allocation across diversified investment vehicles supporting philanthropic goals across the institution.
The foundation generated $130 million in investment income and dividends, contributing substantially to total revenues of $695.7 million for fiscal 2025. These figures underscore the critical importance of endowment performance in funding the university's operations, with the foundation managing resources to advance UCLA's core mission in teaching, research, and public service.
The endowment operated under a disciplined spending policy, with the foundation maintaining a 4.25% annual spending rate calculated on a 12-quarter rolling average market value assessed quarterly. This approach balances near-term resource deployment with long-term capital preservation, a standard practice among large institutional endowments seeking to sustain intergenerational support for university operations while protecting against market volatility.
The 11.6% return positions UCLA Foundation competitively within the peer group of major university endowments, which have experienced variable performance across 2024-2025 depending on asset allocation strategies and market exposure. The foundation's consistent execution reflects both strategic portfolio positioning and effective capital allocation across diversified investment vehicles supporting philanthropic goals across the institution.
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