To ensure the most cost efficient operations and effective investment management possible, all endowments that support VMI, as well as the George C. Marshall Foundation, are managed together and have been for many years. First performed by the VMI Foundation Investment Committee, this work has been carried out by VMI Investment Holdings LLC since 2009.
In 2009, after enduring a decade and a half in which two “bubbles” burst, the leaders of the VMI Alumni Agencies, the Institute and the George C. Marshall Foundation decided that more dynamic management was needed for what can best be called the VMI Endowment.
No. In 2009, it was decided to hire an independent investment firm to manage it. After an extensive search and a lengthy evaluation process, Cliffwater LLC, a nationally recognized firm that specializes in aiding institutional investors, was chosen for the task. Of course, such a management choice in no way relieves VMI Investment Holdings LLC of its fiduciary responsibilities.
Cliffwater LLC routinely reports to VMI Investment Holdings LLC, and there are quarterly meetings in which members of the VMI Investment Holdings LLC meet face-to-face with Cliffwater representatives.
Before 2009, investments that supported VMI were weighted heavily toward equities and bonds. While this meant impressive gains when, say, the stock market was booming, it translated into serious losses when the bottom dropped out of the equities market. The current overall policy goal is to protect against major downturns. The new allocation entails more fixed income and fixed income associated investments, as well as what are termed “defensive alternative investments.” Recently, it was decided to allocate some funds to private-equity investments.
Review the endowment’s performance by viewing our financial statements.
Thanks to the sustained generosity of the VMI Family, the Institute receives millions of dollars in private money every year. This support, which makes up almost a quarter of VMI’s budget, ensures excellence in every aspect of its extraordinary education.
Read more regarding the endowment’s support of the Institute by viewing our financial statements.
First, by adhering to a sound, long-term investment strategy that protects against market volatility as much as possible. Second, more growth in the endowment would allow VMI Investment Holdings LLC to reduce the distribution rate and return more funds to the endowment’s corpus. Another way is by adding to the corpus through successful fundraising. In this regard, the trend in fundraising is positive.