By relying simply on stated fees, such as management fee or advisory fee, foundation trustees may be underestimating the full impact of the aggregate investment expenses because as there may be other components of investment costs that are not explicitly stated as fees. In the 1990s, when portfolio performance was beating the S&P 500, it... Read More
A forum for investors to shape the progression of national and global issues, socially responsible investing (SRI) traces as far back as the 1700s, when the Quaker Philadelphia Yearly Meeting prohibited members from buying or selling into the slave trade. John Wesley, a founder of Methodism, preached against engaging industries that harmed one’s neighbor. The... Read More
Whether a foundation is formed as a corporation or a trust, it must comply with its governing documents, which are legally binding. If your foundation is a corporation, its governing documents are its articles of incorporation—referred to by some states as articles of organization or certificate of incorporation—filed with the state’s secretary of state (or... Read More
The following checklist, designed for established foundations (not start-ups), offers recommended and legally required action items. We encourage you to make it your own. Governance Board meetings—Give notice, take care of business, hold elections, and set a meeting calendar (once per year at a minimum or more often, as appropriate). Meeting minutes—Take minutes and approve... Read More
Even for nonprofit foundations with few or no employees, the risk of litigation is real—and rising. Why D&O insurance? Once assumed to be costly and once excluded from many nonprofit budgets as a result, D&O liability insurance has evolved into a broad, affordable, and important form of coverage for any foundation. Even if you have... Read More
In 1964, Congress enacted mandatory distribution rules to prevent private foundations from receiving gifts and investing the assets—yet never spending funds for charitable purposes. Congress thought it unfair to allow a charitable deduction when, in some cases, funds were not being directed to charity. A private foundation must make annual charitable expenditures, called qualifying distributions, equal... Read More