New College’s foundation says its endowment outperformed national peers, reporting 16.9% one-year and 12.5% three-year returns as fundraising accelerates.
New College’s foundation is making a high-profile pitch that its investment results are leading the pack—an argument it says is already translating into more opportunity for students.
Top returns fuel scholarship and program plans
The New College Foundation says its endowment delivered the No.. 1 position for both one- and three-year returns among State University System (SUS) foundations in Florida and also across the nation.. In its most recent fiscal-year reporting. the foundation attributes the performance to a “disciplined investment strategy. ” pointing to figures for Fiscal Year 2025.
For readers trying to understand why endowment math matters. the takeaway is straightforward: stronger returns generally increase the pool of money available for scholarships. faculty support. academic programming. and strategic initiatives.. The foundation reports a 16.9% one-year return for Fiscal Year 2025. compared with a national average of 10.9% in the NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments it references.. Over three years, it says returns reached 12.5%, versus a national average of 10%.
Fundraising surge adds momentum for overhaul
The foundation’s performance story is arriving at the same time the college is pursuing a broader fundraising push tied to an institutional overhaul that has been underway since 2023.. Misryoum reports that the foundation says its assets have grown by roughly 40% since 2023, alongside a surge in philanthropic activity.
The numbers the foundation highlights are meant to show momentum beyond investment performance.. It says that in 2025 alone it recorded more than $7 million in gifts and pledges. including several seven-figure donations intended to support campus initiatives such as the Contemplative Center and Socratic Stage.. Misryoum also notes that the foundation describes fundraising as nearly doubling compared to pre-2023 averages. with donor counts rising to about 2. 500—roughly a 90% increase from 2022.
In practical terms, this combination—endowment returns plus new giving—can strengthen planning.. Colleges and universities often rely on multi-year commitments, not just year-to-year performance.. When markets are volatile. endowment stewardship becomes a stabilizing force. and when donations climb. it can widen what a school is able to attempt with staffing. facilities. and student support.
Why this matters for public colleges
Endowment performance is sometimes treated as a finance-only story. but the impact is political and public in a different way—especially for a public liberal arts institution.. The New College Foundation is a nonprofit governed by a volunteer board, managing the college’s endowment and related funds.. Misryoum says those investment results are meant to reinforce the college’s long-term capacity while it tries to expand access and innovation.
The political edge is less about whose returns are “best” and more about what school leaders do with the breathing room that returns provide.. When a foundation can point to strong performance. it can bolster confidence among donors and families. and it can make the case that the institution is budgeting for growth rather than reacting to short-term pressures.
For state leaders and taxpayers. there’s also a subtle question: how does a private foundation’s management strategy affect the public mission?. If higher endowment returns translate into more scholarships. academic support. or program expansion. then the results become part of the broader debate about how public universities meet competition and demographic pressure.. That’s especially relevant in periods when enrollment and funding choices can become politically charged.
Looking ahead. the foundation’s claim is likely to shape how the college frames its next fundraising push and how it talks about accountability.. Markets rarely move in straight lines, so future results will matter just as much as this fiscal-year snapshot.. Still. the foundation’s emphasis on stewardship and resilience suggests it wants to position the endowment not as a lucky break. but as a repeatable engine for student-focused investments.
For New College students. the promise is simple: stronger returns and stronger giving can mean more support when scholarships are awarded. when faculty and academic initiatives are funded. and when new programs seek to take root.. For the political world around higher education. it’s a reminder that investment strategy can quickly become a public narrative about access. opportunity. and what a college says it can deliver.