Harvard

2024 - 10 - 17

Harvard’s Endowment Takes Off: How Protests and Pennies Aligned!

Campus Protests - Education Funding - Financial Reports - Gender Equity - Harvard Endowment - Harvard University - Ivy League Sports - Philanthropy - Student-Athletes - Title IX

Harvard University’s endowment jumps by 9.6% despite protests, and financial upheavals—plus, meet the athletic stars bringing glory back to the campus!

In a whirlwind year characterized by campus protests and leadership changes, Harvard University has showcased impressive financial fortitude. The 2024 fiscal report released recently indicated that the institution’s endowment has soared to a whopping $53.2 billion, marking a remarkable 9.6% gain compared to last year’s modest growth of only 2.3%. Executive Vice President Meredith Weenick, alongside CFO Ritu Kalra and Treasurer Timothy Barakett, emphasized that this surge is a direct result of careful planning and prudent financial stewardship, proving that even amidst tumultuous times, Harvard knows how to keep its financial ship sailing smoothly.

Interestingly, this financial success comes in the middle of a fundraising crisis, with donations dipping by over $150 million, a staggering 14% drop compared to the previous fiscal year. Although billionaire donations have waned, the sustained returns of the endowment are impressive, far surpassing the target of 8% managed by the Harvard Management Company. CEO N.P. Narvekar is optimistic as he reflects on the annualized return of 9.3%, suggesting that the university's diverse investment strategy is still reaping benefits despite the stormy fundraising waters.

Balancing out the financial chatter, Harvard's athletic scene is shining brighter than ever. Fresh off a rollercoaster season, the campus is buzzing with excitement over the recent successes of student-athletes Stephanie Yakoff and Kavya Karra, along with James Rozolis-Hill from the men's water polo team, who have been crowned this year’s Harvard Student-Athletes of the Year. Meanwhile, the women’s volleyball team, eager to hit the court, hopes to turn its season around as they head home to play in Ivy League matches. Who knew that amid financial reports and campus protests, Harvard’s athletics could also bring cheer to the community!

As a little cherry on top, it’s fascinating how Harvard’s endowment is not just a financial cushion but also a cultural cornerstone, impacting everything from financial aid to student programs. Additionally, despite the protests that rocked the 2024 Commencement, Harvard's ability to draw in over $1 billion in funds suggests there’s still plenty of golden opportunities waiting in the wings! Besides rising funds, did you know that Harvard was the birthplace of Hugo Black, an influential U.S. Supreme Court Justice? So maybe protests aren’t so bad after all, especially when impressive gains and star athletes can unite under the crimson crest!

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Gazette"

University cites careful planning, stewardship for solid financial ... (Harvard Gazette)

Executive Vice President Meredith Weenick, chief financial officer Ritu Kalra, and treasurer Timothy Barakett discuss the University's 2024 financial report ...

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Magazine"

Harvard's Finances in a Challenging Year | Harvard Magazine (Harvard Magazine)

Harvard's annual financial report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024, published today—an academic year of campus tumult, an overturned presidency, ...

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

Harvard University Endowment Posts 9.6% Gain, Reaches $53.2 ... (Forbes)

Harvard University's endowment realized a 9.6% gain for Fiscal Year 2024, a significant improvement over last year's 2.3% increase.

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Crimson"

Harvard Endowment Jumps to $53.2 Billion, Delivers 9.6% Returns ... (Harvard Crimson)

HMC CEO N.P. “Narv” Narvekar wrote in the financial report that Harvard's endowed funds has a target return of 8 percent, and the annualized return of 9.3 ...

After Student Feedback, Harvard Gender Equity Office Cut Title IX ... (Harvard Crimson)

These changes to the OGE — which consists of the Sexual Harassment/Assault Resource Education, Prevention, and Title IX teams — came as the Biden administration ...

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Athletics"

Yakoff, Karra, and Rozolis-Hill Earn Harvard Student-Athletes of the ... (Harvard Athletics)

Women's tennis student-athletes Stephanie Yakoff and Kavya Karra, along with men's water polo junior James Rozolis-Hill are the Harvard Student-Athletes of ...

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Independent"

Discovering Harvard's Jewish Spaces | Harvard Independent (Harvard Independent)

“I find it very invigorating,” Chabad Rabbi Berel Feldman stated when asked about his experience being a Rabbi in a college environment. “I feel like people are ...

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Athletics"

Men's Soccer Continues Ivy Play at Brown on Saturday (Harvard Athletics)

Harvard University men's soccer continues Ivy League play when it competes at Brown University on Saturday, Oct. 19 at noon (ESPN+/NESN+) at ...

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Women's Volleyball Returns Home to Conclude First Half of Ivy ... (Harvard Athletics)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's volleyball (8-6, 3-2 Ivy) will look to get back in the win column this weekend at it returns home to wrap up the opening ...

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Image courtesy of "HSPH News"

Improving radiation therapy for cancer (HSPH News)

“Treatment went well—the tumor regressed. Essentially, my soccer career was over, and I was looking ahead toward my first year at Harvard,” said Murphy, who ...

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Crimson"

Donations to Harvard's Endowment Drop by More Than $150 Million (Harvard Crimson)

Harvard's fundraising crisis now has a price tag: $151 million. Total philanthropic contributions fell by 14 percent in fiscal year 2024 as several billionaire ...

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Image courtesy of "Brown University Athletics"

Volleyball Finishes First Half of Ivy Schedule at Dartmouth and ... (Brown University Athletics)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown volleyball will finish up the first half of the Ivy League schedule with road matches at Dartmouth and Harvard this weekend.

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Image courtesy of "Fortune"

Harvard hauls in over $1 billion after it was rocked by protests and a ... (Fortune)

Hundreds of graduates walked out of the 2024 Commencement in Harvard Yard to call attention to. Harvard, the world's wealthiest university, had an endowment ...

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Image courtesy of "Select Committee on the CCP |"

Moolenaar Unveils Harvard Failed to Stand Up to CCP Influence on ... (Select Committee on the CCP |)

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- As first reported by the Free Beacon, following a July investigation into possible transnational repression at an anti-CCP protest on ...

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Image courtesy of "Holy Cross Athletics"

Weekly Notes | Holy Cross Football at Harvard (Holy Cross Athletics)

The Crusaders enter the matchup off of back-to-back Patriot League wins, most recently defeating Fordham on Oct. 12 in a comeback 19-16 win. In a matchup that ...

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Image courtesy of "Bucknell University Athletics"

Men's Water Polo Heads North for a Weekend of Competition at ... (Bucknell University Athletics)

Lewisburg, PA – Bucknell men's water polo heads north to Cambridge, MA, this weekend for the Harvard Invitational. The Bison will kick off with two matches ...

Statement on Communist Chinese Party Infiltration at Harvard ... (Congresswoman Elise Stefanik)

Saratoga, N.Y. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik released the below statement following a report by the Washington Free Beacon on an investigation by the House ...

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Harvard donations drop sharply in wake of criticism over Israel protests (Financial Times)

Donors and alumni cut gifts to west's wealthiest university by 14% to below $1bn with endowment fund taking brunt of hit.

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Image courtesy of "Yahoo Finance"

Harvard endowment grows to $53.2 billion on strong returns during ... (Yahoo Finance)

Harvard's endowment fund, the world's largest university endowment, grew to $53.2 billion in fiscal 2024 amid strong investment returns even though ...

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Image courtesy of "Select Committee on the CCP |"

Harvard Failed to Stand Up to CCP Influence on Campus (Select Committee on the CCP |)

As first reported by the Free Beacon, following a July investigation into possible transnational repression at an anti-CCP protest on Harvard University's ...

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Image courtesy of "Reuters.com"

Harvard endowment grows to $53.2 billion on strong returns during ... (Reuters.com)

Harvard's endowment fund, the world's largest university endowment, grew to $53.2 billion in fiscal 2024 amid strong investment returns even though ...

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Crimson"

Men's Basketball Tips Off Season with Crimson Madness (Harvard Crimson)

It's that time of the year again. Soon, the lights will shine bright in Lavietes Pavilion and Harvard men's basketball will take the court for the first ...

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Athletics"

Women's Soccer Set for Ivy League Showdown Against Princeton (Harvard Athletics)

The Crimson (5-2-5, 1-2-1 Ivy) will look to stay in the mix for an Ivy League Tournament spot against the Tigers (8-4-0, 3-1-0 Ivy) when the sides battle at ...

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Crimson"

Harvard's Too Easy. I Looked Into Literally Every Possible Way to Fix ... (Harvard Crimson)

Last year, a report presented to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences revealed the extent of Harvard's staggering grade inflation. Nearly 80 percent of grades ...

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How an India-Based Education Firm Became Blacklisted by Harvard ... (Harvard Crimson)

Velarde-Berrios and his fellow Harvard students who signed up to work the conference — a job that came with a $500 stipend — said they were “passionate” about ...

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Gazette"

Zelenska visit (Harvard Gazette)

Olena Zelenska presents Harvard Library with books, shows appreciation for its contribution to Ukrainian studies. When Olha Aleksic came to Harvard as a ...

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Crimson"

“The Power of a Female Coxswain Should Not Be Underestimated” (Harvard Crimson)

Senior Anya Cheng is perhaps the most acclaimed coxswain on the varsity roster. Named the IRCA Coxswain of the Year and a member of the IRCA Crew of the Year ...

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Image courtesy of "Brown University Athletics"

Men's Soccer Welcomes Harvard on Saturday - Brown University ... (Brown University Athletics)

PROVIDENCE, R.I.- The Brown men's soccer team is set to take on the Harvard Crimson on Saturday at Stevenson-Pincince Field at 12 p.m..

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Image courtesy of "Institutional Investor"

What Drove Harvard's Returns? (Institutional Investor)

The university's endowment returned 9.6 percent in fiscal '24, thanks in part to top manager picks for its equity and hedge fund portfolios.

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Image courtesy of "Harvard Crimson"

124-Year-Old Newell Boathouse Undergoes Significant Renovations (Harvard Crimson)

The boathouse, built in 1900 and named after former Crimson rower Marshall Newell '94, stands on land under a lease agreement between Harvard and the ...

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Image courtesy of "Fox Business"

Harvard fundraising slumps after antisemitism controversy (Fox Business)

Harvard and its endowment saw donations decline by about $150 million over the past year after a controversy over the administration's handling of ...

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Image courtesy of "NewsNation Now"

Harvard donations drop; alums cut ties over anti-Israel protests (NewsNation Now)

Donations to Harvard University plunged 15% after several high-profile donors criticized the school's handling of antisemitism on campus.

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The Scoop: Harvard sends message of change to donors after ... (PR Daily)

Harvard's coffers took a hit as mega-donors followed through on promises to pull back gifts over the school's response to acts of antisemitism on campus related ...

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