Financial Statements

Statements of Financial Position

December 31   2010   2009

Assets

       
Cash and cash equivalents $ 12,928,903 $ 23,321,582
Investments   433,650,005   400,385,113
Interest and dividends receivable   475,190   431,752
Pending security sales     149,250
Federal excise tax   109,822   79,432
Other assets   342,846   288,453
Total assets $ 447,506,766 $ 424,655,582

Liabilities

       
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   466,875   382,993
Grants payable   9,723,166   6,120,000
Deferred federal excise tax   3,261,262   2,715,166
Total liabilities $ 13,451,303 $ 9,218,159

Net Assets

       
Unrestricted   434,055,463   415,437,423
Total liabilities and net assets $ 447,506,766 $ 424,655,582

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Statements of Activities

For the years ended December 31   2010   2009

Revenues, Gains and Losses

       
Net realized investment gains $ 14,217,640 $ 2,515,948
Net unrealized investment gains   26,843,106   103,281,428
Dividend income   4,307,274   3,939,521
Interest income   1,568,213   1,643,688
Other income   119,938   38,600
Net revenue, gains and losses $ 47,056,171 $ 111,419,185

Expenses

       
Grants authorized   23,513,160   15,298,617
Administrative expenses   4,183,260   3,668,295
Total expenses $ 27,696,420 $ 18,966,912
Increase in net assets before federal excise tax provision   19,359,751   92,452,273
Federal excise tax provision   741,711   2,240,827
Net increase in net assets $ 18,618,040 $ 90,211,446
Net assets – beginning   415,437,423   325,225,977
Net assets – ending $ 434,055,463 $ 415,437,423

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Statements of Cash Flows

For the years ended December 31   2010   2009

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

       
Increase in net assets $ 18,618,040 $ 90,211,446
Adjustments to reconcile increase in net assets
to net cash used in operating activities:
       
Depreciation and amortization   52,254   50,080
Net realized gains on investments   (14,217,640)   (2,515,948)
Net unrealized gains on investments and cash equivalents   (26,858,599)   (103,281,428)
Deferred federal excise tax   546,096   2,369,783
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Receivables   75,422   724,350
Other assets   (61,399)   (2,477)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   83,882   43,020
Grants payable   3,603,166   (2,922,000)
Net cash used in operating activities $ (18,158,778) $ (15,323,174)

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

       
Proceeds from sale of investments   61,286,982   87,796,727
Purchase of investments   (53,475,635)   (53,765,485)
Purchase of equipment and improvements   (45,248)   (51,450)
Net cash provided by investing activities $ 7,766,099 $ 33,979,792
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (10,392,679)   18,656,618
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning   23,321,582   4,664,964
Cash and cash equivalents – ending $ 12,928,903 $ 23,321,582

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

       
Cash paid (refunded) during the year:        
Income taxes, excise $ 210,000 $ (325,134)
Interest $ $

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Notes to Financial Statements – December 31, 2010 and 2009

NOTE 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of operations The George Gund Foundation (“the Foundation”) is a private foundation which makes grants to educational, community service and philanthropic organizations, basically in Greater Cleveland.

Basis of accounting The Foundation’s financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting. Accordingly, revenues are recorded when earned, and expenses are recognized when incurred. The Foundation has only unrestricted net assets.

Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly-liquid investments with maturity dates of three months or less which are readily convertible into cash and a common trust fund that is readily convertible into cash.

Investments Marketable and U.S. Government securities are reported at their market value. Securities traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last reported trading price on the last business day of the year. Realized gains or losses are determined by comparison of asset cost to net proceeds received. Unrealized gains or losses are determined by comparison of asset cost to market values at the end of the year.

Investments include notes receivable which are due from various not-for-profit organizations valued at $11,637,949 and $7,675,174 at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The notes receivable are due at various dates from 2011 through 2038. The loans carry interest rates between 1% and 3%; principal and interest payment arrangements vary by note.

The Foundation invests in certain alternative investments which include investments in limited partnerships. Market values represent the Foundation’s pro rata interest in the net assets of each limited partnership as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, as provided by the fund managers. Market values as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 are not based on audited financial information supplied by the general partner or manager of the funds. Audited information is only available annually based on the partnerships’ or funds’ year end. Management reviews monthly valuations provided by the general partner or manager of the funds and assesses the reasonableness of the fair values provided at the interim dates and included in the financial statements. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Foundation had total unfunded capital commitments to alternative investments of $6,295,296 and $7,863,257, respectively. Because of the inherent uncertainty of the valuation of alternative investments, the market values reflected in the accompanying financial statements may differ significantly from realizable values.

Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost. Amortization and depreciation is recorded using both straight-line and accelerated methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation and amortization expense amounted to $52,254 and $50,080 for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Fair value measurement-definition and hierarchy The Foundation follows FASB ASC 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements.” Under this standard, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

In determining fair value, the Foundation uses various valuation approaches, including market, income, and / or cost approaches. FASB ASC 820-10 establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Foundation. Unobservable inputs reflect the Foundation’s assumptions used in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:

  • Level 1 Valuations based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Foundation has the ability to access. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment.
  • Assets and liabilities utilizing Level 1 inputs include exchange-traded equity securities that are actively traded.
  • Level 2 Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.
  • Assets and liabilities utilizing Level 2 inputs include: corporate bonds, municipal bonds, private equity investments in mutual funds and certificates of deposit with maturity dates of greater than three months.
  • Level 3 Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. Unobservable input may be developed by outside third parties using marketing models based on information available to them. Unobservable inputs shall reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing. Unobservable input shall be developed based on the best information available in circumstances, which might include the reporting entity’s own data.
  • Assets and liabilities utilizing Level 3 inputs include: equity securities that are not actively traded, private equity investments, and program related investments.

NOTE 2 – Investments

Cost and market value of investments were as follows:

  2010 2009
  Market Value Cost Market Value Cost
Fixed income securities $ 14,710,685 $ 14,707,551 $ 14,758,833 $ 14,714,640
Common stocks and alternative investments   418,939,320   256,006,743   385,626,280   249,843,647
Total $ 433,650,005 $ 270,714,294 $ 400,385,113 $ 264,558,287

Market values of investments are based on December 31, 2010 and 2009 published quotations, except that estimates are used when quotations are not available. Fixed income securities consist of U.S. government securities, U.S. government guaranteed securities and corporate securities. Common stocks and alternative investments consist principally of U.S. and international equity securities, investments in equity mutual funds, program-related investments, investments in limited partnerships and certificates of deposits with maturity dates of three months or more.

Published market quotations do not necessarily represent realizable values, particularly where sizable holdings of a company’s stock exist, as in the case of the Foundation’s holding of the Kellogg Company common stock.

NOTE 3 – Fair Value Disclosure and Measurement

The Foundation’s assets and liabilities recorded at fair value have been categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy in accordance with FASB ASC 820-10. See Note 1 for a discussion of the Foundation’s policies regarding this hierarchy.

The following fair value hierarchy tables present information about the Foundation’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

  Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using  
December 31, 2010 Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Balance
Corporate Stock $ 191,329,985 $ $ 100 $ 191,330,085
Corporate Bonds     8,126,928     8,126,928
Government Obligations     6,583,757     6,583,757
Limited Partnerships       59,699,645   59,699,645
Limited Partnerships –
Mutual Funds
    155,771,641     155,771,641
Other investments     500,000   11,637,949   12,137,949
Total Investments $ 191,329,985 $ 170,982,326 $ 71,337,694 $ 433,650,005
Common Trust Fund
(included in cash
and cash equivalents)
    9,723,055     9,723,055
Total Fair Value Assets $ 191,329,985 $ 180,705,381 $ 71,337,694 $ 443,373,060
  Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using  
December 31, 2009 Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Balance
Corporate Stock $ 182,384,915 $ $ 100 $ 182,385,015
Corporate Bonds     9,026,440     9,026,440
Government Obligations     5,732,393     5,732,393
Limited Partnerships       53,091,472   53,091,472
Limited Partnerships –
Mutual Funds
    137,128,049     137,128,049
Other investments     5,346,570   7,675,174   13,021,744
Total Fair Value Assets $ 182,384,915 $ 157,233,452 $ 60,766,746 $ 400,385,113

The following table provides a reconciliation of changes in Level 3, unobservable assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2010:

  Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
  Limited
Partnerships
Other
Investments
Common
Stock
Total
Beginning balance –
January 1, 2010
$ 53,091,472 $ 7,675,174 $ 100 $ 60,766,746
Total gains or loses (realized/unrealized)
Included in changes in net assets
  7,768,308   12,752     7,781,060
Purchases   1,559,515   4,000,000     5,559,515
Sale proceeds   (2,719,650)   (49,977)     (2,769,627)
Ending balance –
December 31, 2010
$ 59,699,645 $ 11,637,949 $ 100 $ 71,337,694
The amount of total gains or losses for the period included in changes in net assets attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at the reporting date $ 6,445,353 $ 12,752 $ $ 6,458,105

The following table provides a reconciliation of changes in Level 3, unobservable assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2009:

  Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
  Limited
Partnerships
Other
Investments
Common
Stock
Total
Beginning balance –
January 1, 2009
$ 38,028,255 $ 7,971,622 $ 100 $ 45,999,977
Total gains or loses (realized/unrealized)
Included in changes in net assets
  14,115,422   (34,946)     14,080,476
Purchases   1,209,134       1,209,134
Sale proceeds   (261,339)   (261,502)     (522,841)
Ending balance –
December 31, 2009
$ 53,091,472 $ 7,675,174 $ 100 $ 60,766,746
The amount of total gains or losses for the period included in changes in net assets attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at the reporting date $ 14,030,751 $ (34,946) $ $ 13,995,805

Gains and losses (realized and unrealized) from Level 3 investments included in changes in net assets include net investment gains of $1,322,955 and $84,671 and net unrealized investment gains of $6,458,105 and $13,995,805 for the period ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Note 4 – Credit Concentration

Aside from its holdings in the Kellogg Company, the Foundation’s portfolio of investments is highly diversified; however, at December 31, 2010 and 2009, 26% and 32% of the total market value of securities and 85% and 88% respectively, of dividend income in each year are attributable to ownership of Kellogg Company stock.

Note 5 – Leases

The Foundation occupies office space in the Landmark Office Towers under a lease that terminates on December 31, 2018. Base annual rentals are $120,080 for the remaining term of the lease, with escalation charges from these base rentals. There are renewal options for additional periods. Rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 amounted to $129,146 and $129,570, respectively.

The future minimum lease commitments for the next five years under leases with terms in excess of one year are as follows:

2011   121,956
2012   123,833
2013   123,833
2014   127,585
2015   127,585
Thereafter   392,137
  $ 1,016,929

Note 6 – Net Assets

Net assets include two board-designated funds (principal and income) both of which consist entirely of unrestricted net assets. The principal fund consists of investments in securities and receives the realized and unrealized gains or losses on those assets. The income fund receives interest and dividends on the principal fund investments which are used for grants and administrative expenses. The statements of financial position included the following income fund accounts:

    2010   2009
Cash $ 1,737,983 $ 8,868,094
Receivables   585,012   511,184
Other assets   43,960   42,426
Due to principal fund   (129,029)   (87,517)
Accounts payable   (466,875)   (382,993)
Grants payable   (9,723,166)   (6,120,000)
Deferred federal excise tax   2,142   1,439
  $ (7,949,973) $ 2,832,633

The following is a summary of the changes in total net assets:

    2010   2009
Income fund $ (10,782,606) $ 9,708,195
Principal fund   29,400,646   80,503,251
Increase in net assets   18,618,040   90,211,446
Net assets – beginning   415,437,423   325,225,977
Net assets – ending   434,055,463   415,437,423

The change in individual funds includes transfers by the Foundation of $13,158,999 in 2010 and $23,256,574 in 2009 from the principal fund to the income fund.

Note 7 – Employee Benefit Plan

The Foundation has an employee’s tax-sheltered annuity plan for all eligible employees. Such a plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Employer contributions are required at 9% of the participants’ compensation up to the social security wage base for the year and 14.7% of the participant's compensation in excess of this wage base, with a limit of $245,000 of compensation for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. Employer contributions to the plan for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 amounted to $118,719 and $114,930, respectively. Participants are also permitted to make salary reduction contributions to the plan.

Note 8 – Excise Taxes

The Foundation is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRC, but is subject to a 2% (1% if certain criteria are met) federal excise tax on net investment income, including net realized gains, as defined by the IRC.

Deferred federal excise taxes are provided on the unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments and interest and dividend income and certain expenses being reported for financial statement purposes in different periods than for tax purposes.

Current excise taxes were provided at 1% for 2010 and 2009, and deferred excise taxes were provided at 2% for 2010 and 2009. The current and deferred portions of the excise tax provisions were $198,760 and $542,951, respectively, netting to $741,711 in 2010. The current and deferred portions of the excise tax provisions were $(405,474) and $2,646,301, respectively, netting to $2,240,827 in 2009.

The Organization adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 740-10, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” which provides guidance on the recognition threshold that a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition issues. Management has evaluated and concluded that there were no material uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the accompanying financial statements.

Accrued interest relating to uncertain tax positions would be recorded as a component of interest expense and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions would be recorded as a component of general and administrative expenses.

The federal income tax returns of the organization for 2008, 2009, and 2010 are subject to examination by the IRS, generally for three years after they were filed.

Note 9 – Subsequent Events

The Organization has evaluated subsequent events from the statement of financial position date through March 31, 2011.

Independent Auditors’ Report

To the Board of Trustees, The George Gund Foundation

We have audited the accompanying statements of financial position of The George Gund Foundation as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related statements of activities and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Foundation’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The George Gund Foundation at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of its activities and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Walthall, Drake & Wallace LLP

Certified Public Accountants

Cleveland, Ohio
March 31, 2011