For decades, foundations have led with grantmaking. But too often, we’ve overlooked a fundamental truth: our investment decisions are also mission decisions. When we deploy capital, we shape markets, influence corporate behavior, and affect communities—sometimes reinforcing and sometimes undermining the very outcomes we fund through grants. If we are serious about advancing thriving communities, economic... Read More
The 2026 Foundation Operations and Management Report is available now! This is the only resource of its kind for foundations operating with few or no staff. The full Foundation Operations and Management Report offers key philanthropy benchmarks and long-term data on the evolution of lean foundations. Based on our annual survey of members, this report... Read More
In today’s unpredictable market and economic environment, foundations face distinctive challenges in advancing their missions amid ongoing market volatility. How can they better understand this uncertainty—especially the potential impact of tariffs—on their financial health and long-term sustainability? A Quick History Lesson For nearly 40 years, declining interest rates served as a powerful tailwind for investors,... Read More
Note: Glenmede’s research and strategy teams are working continuously to review new data and market events. We welcome conversations with Glenmede if you have questions about the impacts for your foundation. President Trump’s tariff announcements on April 2 were broader than expected and have led to a negative global equity market reaction. Economic implications... Read More
Investments: Managing Foundation Assets for Greater Impact Imagine a foundation with $10 million in assets. To meet the 5% distribution requirement, it must allocate $500,000 annually. While foundations carefully manage their grant distributions, what happens to the remaining $9.5 million? This section explores how foundations manage investments, including oversight responsibilities and key fiduciary principles. Smart... Read More
When investors think about commodities, they often recall the 1970s, the last time commodities were in vogue in the investor’s playbook. Over the last 40 years, with falling interest rates and a focus on bonds and stocks, commodities have largely been ignored as an investment class. Decline of Commodities As prices for commodities dropped, many... Read More