Endowment Fund

Denver Botanic Gardens, like other innovative and successful nonprofits, builds endowment funds to prepare for a vital future. Endowment funds give the Gardens the ability to plan, innovate and expand capacity for greater impact in our communities, regionally and globally. 

Mature organizations benefit from the forethought of endowment donors, and the careful stewardship and investment of the endowment. Contributions from the endowment expand available funding each year, supporting general operations, specific core programs and activities, and guaranteeing that existing facilities are maintained at world-class levels.

• Endowment net assets increased from $41.8 million in 2021 to $42.4 million in 2022 after contributions, realized and unrealized losses, and a $1.3 million distribution to the Gardens’ operating budget. 
• The endowment investment portfolio declined 12 percent in 2022. While disappointing, the portfolio performed better than the Global Benchmark by 4.5 percent. 
• The portfolio is diversified to limit risk, but in 2022 both stocks and bonds lost value. The portfolio has recovered with positive performance in 2023, increasing 13 percent in value through July 31, 2023. 
• Since its inception in July 1992, the portfolio has earned a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 percent, outperforming the applicable benchmark.

Denver Botanic Gardens Endowment (DBGE) investment strategy balances the requirement for a predictable stream of funding to current programs while seeking to maintain the purchasing power of the endowment. Investments are monitored closely by the Board of Directors and Hirtle, Callaghan & Co., LLC.