BRUNSWICK — The Bowdoin College endowment generated an investment return of 2.6 percent for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2012.

This compares with the mean return of -1.0 percent for college and university endowments as reported by Cambridge Associates, a firm that tracks performance of foundations and endowments nationwide.

As of June 30, 2012, the three-, five- and 10-year annualized returns for Bowdoin’s endowment were 11.4 percent, 3.1 percent and 9.6 percent.

Bowdoin’s endowment consists of more than 1,500 individual funds earmarked for the perpetual support of a variety of college initiatives.

On June 30, 2012, Bowdoin’s endowment was valued at $902.4 million. During the fiscal year, the college received approximately $15.3 million in endowment gifts and additions, and provided approximately $37.9 million toward the annual operations of the college, or 29 percent of the 2011-12 operating budget. Approximately 45 percent of the endowment is restricted to the support of financial aid.