Five years ago, Sy Schwartz announced to his three grown children in their fifties that he wanted them to start giving money away. He would supply the family foundation with $175,000 for them to give collectively. If they did a good job and got along well, the money would increase the next year. Schwartz was... Read More
This article suggests that it will be useful for foundations to think about investment manager due diligence in a different conceptual framework than typically has been used in the past. The typical framework has had two major elements: Investment due diligence Operational due diligence This article suggests that investors, including foundations, will be well-served by... Read More
Foundations can take different approaches to rebalancing a portfolio, whether driven by the market, performance, or the calendar. Calendar or periodic rebalancing at specified times (monthly, quarterly, or annually)—Rebalancing can be set to return to a specific target allocation each time. It also can be set to return to an allowable range within a set... Read More
Generally, states have similar laws regarding foundations. It typically is recommended that you incorporate in the state where the main office will reside so that you only need to file paperwork with one state. Certain states, including California and New York, maintain minor limitations and/or requirements on private foundations, which you should understand before incorporating... Read More
Trustees have many responsibilities, and it’s important to be vigilant in the areas in which trustees trip up most. Here are five ways to keep your trustees on the right track. Develop a cohesive and compelling purpose Foundations with a clear mission statement can minimize the conflicts that arise when trustees’ personal agendas dominate. Work... Read More
Bylaws are a must for any foundation. They specify the operations and rules of conduct for a foundation—how it will run and be managed. Every foundation that is formed as a corporation must have bylaws among its governing documents. Each state has its own specifications for content of the bylaws, and your foundation’s bylaws must... Read More