Dear fellow member, As grantmakers, we regularly face tough decisions about which nonprofits to support. We all want to be good stewards of our philanthropic assets, and there are always more worthy requests than we are able to act upon. To make these hard choices, we weigh how the organization’s mission aligns with our priorities.... Read More
10-Minute Impact Assessment Explore How to Make The Most of Your Giving This simple tool offers your foundation a framework that you can use to discuss your impact, identify areas of strength, and highlight opportunities for increasing your impact. Practical Board Self-Assessment Improve Your Foundation’s Effectiveness Take a thoughtful approach to board assessment... Read More
Three investment options for foundations are: Investment consultants, who help trustees establish and implement a decision-making structure for investment management Outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) firms, which act as the investment office on a daily basis for the foundation and typically has discretion over hiring/terminating managers and rebalancing the portfolio Investment managers, who buy and... Read More
For many years, small-staffed foundations have been at the heart of the impact investing movement, joining with—and, at times, leading—larger philanthropies. Small-staffed foundations tend to be more agile than their larger, staffed counterparts and also may have greater knowledge of the needs in certain issue areas and geographies. They are better positioned than larger foundations... Read More
Establishing clear procedures for monitoring, evaluating, and changing your investment providers—including outside investment consultants, an outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO), and/or investment managers—are key parts of fiduciary responsibility. Your investment policy statement (IPS) should include these procedures. Matthew Wright, president and chief investment officer of Disciplina Group, recommends that any contracts regarding investment services should... Read More
Whatever the terminology, a smart investment is one that matches the right kind of capital to the problem you are seeking to solve. If the desired result is solely programmatic, a grant will do. To capitalize a social or environmental initiative while preserving assets for future uses, consider a program related investment. To further mission... Read More