Title: Application of the modified organic benchmarks model in assessing performance of university endowment portfolios

Authors: Musa Essayyad; Omar Altiti; William B. Galose

Addresses: College of Business, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA, 70605, USA ' Business School, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia ' College of Business, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA, 70605, USA

Abstract: This paper investigates the performance of university endowments using a modified version of Tiu's (2017) organic benchmarks model based on panel regressions. The exercise is to ensure that endowments keep adjusting to align with the university goals of enhancing teaching, research, and community engagement. The empirical results show that, whether using pooled ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effect, random effects, or fixed effect period seemingly unrelated regression (SUR), all panel regression coefficients are positive and statistically significant at all levels for all variables as reported in the university or endowment characteristics or the intertemporal endowments or intertemporal enrolment, and the size of the endowment. The research outcomes substantiate the premise that university endowment funds should concentrate on increasing their endowments size and enhancing their student enrolment, and consequently helping institutions keep adjusting to align with the university goals of enhancing teaching, research, and community engagement.

Keywords: university endowment funds; portfolio performance; capital asset pricing models; organic benchmarks; panel regression.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMEF.2025.145196

International Journal of Monetary Economics and Finance, 2025 Vol.18 No.1, pp.34 - 51

Received: 30 Dec 2023
Accepted: 17 Jun 2024
Published online: 25 Mar 2025 *

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