This summer we wrote that we believed that the Lilly Endowment would overtake the Ford Foundation in terms of assets, making Lilly the second biggest foundation in the U.S. Our thesis was confirmed recently as Lilly reported total assets of $15.1 billion in its 2018 filing and Ford provided indications that 2018 total assets would come in about $13.2 billion in its 2018 … [Read more...] about Follow Up: Lilly Endowment is Second Largest in U.S. Ford Drops to Third
Lilly Endowment Assets Likely to Surpass Ford in 2018
While it won't be official until we see the IRS filings later this year, it is safe to assume that the Lilly Endowment surpassed the Ford Foundation in total assets in 2018 (and by a considerable amount). We estimate that Lilly finished 2018 at about $15 billion, while even if Ford posts heroic 2018 results of 10% (all major stock indices were negative, bonds were flat, but … [Read more...] about Lilly Endowment Assets Likely to Surpass Ford in 2018
How are Foundations Doing? April 2019 Topic: Who Should We Compare Ourselves To?
Every month, Foundation Advocate chooses one aspect of foundation investment performance to highlight. This month we ask a very fundamental question, Who Should We Compare Ourselves To? Before answering this seemingly straightforward question about performance, it might be useful to establish a quick framework to place performance into context. Rather than lead with … [Read more...] about How are Foundations Doing? April 2019 Topic: Who Should We Compare Ourselves To?
1% Better Investment Performance – Implication for Charitable Giving
The Math is SimplePrivate foundations have $1 trillion in assets. An incremental 1% return on investment would yield an additional $10 billion....per year...every year.To put that in perspective, the additional $10 billion would equal the annual charitable support provided by 12 Ford Foundations, 36 Rockefellers, or 45 Carnegies - you get the picture. Better returns of just 1% … [Read more...] about 1% Better Investment Performance – Implication for Charitable Giving
Press
New Tools for Foundations to View Peer Group DataLarge Foundations Not Necessarily Better At Investing Than Small Foundations (paywall)Where Do America's Big Foundations Invest Their Billions? Don't AskFoundation Assets Top $1 Trillion, but Signs Point to Slump Investment Returns Can Pay Big Dividends for FoundationsBillions Squandered … [Read more...] about Press