Tag: Governance

Episode 78 – Reflecting on Four Years of Lessons from Nonprofit Investment Stewards

Episode 78 – Reflecting on Four Years of Lessons from Nonprofit Investment Stewards

What makes a nonprofit thrive? The answer lies in leadership, economics, strategy, storytelling, and more as shared by experts who’ve walked the walk.

Join Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis as they celebrate the top takeaways from their Nonprofit Investment Stewards podcast, revisiting key moments from a four-year journey that empowered nonprofits to grow, lead, and invest with purpose. 

From lessons shared by iconic investors, to strategies for effective governance, to DEI’s impact on investment decisions, this finale is packed with actionable wisdom.

You’ll hear about:

  •  Strategies to help endowment and foundation portfolios succeed
  • The evolving role of investment committees, providing a framework for good governance and actionable strategies to enhance decision-making
  • The importance of clear storytelling and connection to engage donors effectively, including the “fundraising equation” shared in past episodes
  • Insights from top nonprofit leaders and investors, highlighting innovative approaches to philanthropy and leadership
  • Practical advice on incorporating DEI values into investment decisions while ensuring financial performance
  • Tools and habits for fostering confident, emotionally intelligent leaders to drive organizational success
  • And more!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Insights by Fiducient Advisors (Research, Blogs, Podcasts)

Episodes mentioned:

Episode 65 – From $400 Million to $15 Billion: Scott Malpass’ Journey Leading Notre Dame’s Endowment & Other Lessons For Leaders

Episode 65 – From $400 Million to $15 Billion: Scott Malpass’ Journey Leading Notre Dame’s Endowment & Other Lessons For Leaders

Under Scott Malpass’ leadership, the University of Notre Dame’s endowment fund grew from $400 million in 1988 to nearly $15 billion by 2020, ranking among the top 1% of endowments globally!

Post Notre Dame, Scott co-founded Grafton Street Partners and he remains passionate regarding his founder role with Catholic Investment Services.

In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis interview Scott, tapping into his investment experience, governance best practices, and his advice for today’s endowment managers.

You’ll discover:

  • Scott’s journey to becoming the Chief Investment Officer at the University of Notre Dame
  • Why responsible investing does not necessitate sacrificing returns
  • Scott’s views on the blurring lines between ESG investing and socially responsible investing
  • Noteworthy trends that may excite (or concern) today’s investors
  • And more!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Scott Malpass | Grafton Street Partners | University of Notre Dame | Insights by Fiducient Advisors (Research, Blogs, Podcasts)

About Our Guest:

Scott C. Malpass is the former Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the University of Notre Dame, where he currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the University’s Mendoza College of Business. Under Malpass’s leadership, the Notre Dame endowment pool grew from $400 million in 1988 to more than $14 billion as of June 30, 2020. Over Malpass’s 32 years of leadership, the Notre Dame Endowment achieved investment performance ranking amongst the very top of endowments globally, transforming opportunities at the University in all aspects of academic and student life. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc., Paxos Trust Company, LLC, and Catholic Investment Services, Inc. He is also a member of the Board of Superintendence of the Institute for the Works of Religion in Vatican City, commonly referred to as the Vatican Bank. Malpass is a 1984 graduate of Notre Dame and received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University in 1986.

Episode 60 – How Nonprofit Leaders Can Think Long-Term To Better Manage Your Money And Your Organization With David Nierenberg

Episode 60 – How Nonprofit Leaders Can Think Long-Term To Better Manage Your Money And Your Organization With David Nierenberg

Effective leadership and good governance can help maximize your mission but requires strategic, long-term thinking in a world increasingly focused on the short term. 

In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with David Nierenberg, director of The National World War II Museum, where he also chairs the investment committee. They explore ways to improve nonprofit leadership and governance and discuss key considerations for investment committee members today.

You will learn:

  • How nonprofits can continue to advance their mission during uncertain market and economic conditions
  • What David has seen work well for nonprofit boards and investment committees
  • The current and future outlook regarding ESG and DEI
  • Insights into asset allocation based on current market conditions (including alternative investments)
  • And more!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Insights by Fiducient Advisors (Research, Blogs, Podcasts) | David Nierenberg on LinkedIn | “Churchill: Walking with Destiny” by Andrew Roberts | “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl | “The Old Man and The Sea” by Ernest Hemingway

About Our Guest:

David Nierenberg wears many hats, including being a Director for The National World War II Museum in New Orleans and Chair of its investment committee.  He is also the longest-serving member of the Washington State Investment Board, which for the past two decades has been a top-performing state pension fund, priding itself on being transparent and ethical. David is Chair of The Ira Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership at Columbia Law School, a world leader in corporate governance. In addition, David estimates he has 200 “man-years” of service on public companies, private companies, government, and not-for-profit boards, which involved him in dozens of strategic plans, CEO searches, and the like. His volunteer efforts for investment committees are vast and span all sizes, from $15MM portfolios to over $200 billion portfolios. David attended Yale for both his undergraduate and law degrees. He and his wife Patricia were named Philanthropists of the Year in Southwest Washington.

Episode 57 – How Nonprofits Can Add “Sustainability” to Your Endowment With Dr. Troy Hammond

Episode 57 – How Nonprofits Can Add “Sustainability” to Your Endowment With Dr. Troy Hammond

As part of your ESG goals, you might be screening certain investments before adding them to your endowment’s portfolio.

If you want to amplify your impact, adding a “sustainability fund” might help.

In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Dr. Troy Hammond, a scientist, business leader, and entrepreneur who served as North Central College’s president for nearly 10 years until July 2022. Troy shares actionable strategies for effective endowment management and mission-aligned investing.

You will learn:

  • Three reasons why renewable energy projects fail (despite having a positive return potential)
  • How a “sustainability fund” can provide long-term steady income yield
  • Ways to improve endowment governance and align all stakeholders
  • Troy’s best advice to set nonprofit leaders up for future success
  • And more!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Dr. Troy Hammond | North Central College | TEDx Talks: Sustainability: Why Universities Can Lead by Example With Dr. Troy Hammond | Insights by Fiducient Advisors (Research, Blogs, Podcasts) | “Social Enterprise 2.0: The OWP Difference” by Mike Hamel | “Powering Social Enterprise with Profit and Purpose: The Tandem Hybrid” by Scott Boyer, Jeremy Gudauskas and Mike Hamel

About Our Guest:

A scientist, business leader and entrepreneur, Dr. Troy D. Hammond brought visionary leadership to North Central College over his nearly 10 years as president. Hammond launched his presidency with the bold Brilliant Future Campaign, a $150 million fundraising initiative—the most ambitious capital campaign in the College’s history—which brought sweeping physical changes to campus. He also created the Cardinal Sustainability Fund, which led to significant LED lighting and solar projects across campus. During Hammond’s tenure, several Cardinal athletic programs soared to new heights, including the College’s first-ever football national championship in 2019 and multiple national championships in other sports.

Prior to joining North Central, Hammond was at McKinsey & Company, a global leader in management consulting, where he became an associate principal. He then joined Plextronics, Inc., helping raise substantial venture and strategic capital and growing the technology company into a global leader in printed electronics. During this time, he also served as an adjunct professor of business at Milligan College.

 

Episode 45 – How Can Mission-Driven Nonprofits Improve Performance in Today’s Environment? with Sally Blount

Episode 45 – How Can Mission-Driven Nonprofits Improve Performance in Today’s Environment? with Sally Blount

Every organization must take the time to stop, reflect on its performance, and ask, “Are we doing the best we can with our current resources?”

In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Sally Blount, president, and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, one of the largest human service providers in the Midwest serving more than 500,000 people annually. Sally sheds light on the current environment for nonprofits and strategies to advance your charitable mission.

You will learn:

  • The process of re-evaluating and enhancing your nonprofit’s performance
  • Caveats to keep in mind while scaling your organizational services
  • Factors that lead to effective governance and ideal committee structures
  • The importance of aligning your investment portfolio with your core values
  • And more!

Tune in to learn how you can help your organization prosper in the current environment!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Sally Blount on LinkedIn | Email Sally | Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | Episode 42: “Investment Considerations, DEI, Nonprofit Leadership and More with Mellody Hobson” | Nonprofit Fundraising and Cryptocurrencies

About Our Guest:

Sally Blount is president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Moreover, she is the professor of strategy at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where she is also a proud alumna and former dean. An internationally recognized thought leader in management and business education, Blount is a highly rated professor and sought-after speaker on leadership development, board governance, and organizational transformation. From 2004-2010, Sally served as dean of the New York University undergraduate College of Business and vice dean of the Stern School of Business. In both deanships, Blount was a record-setting fundraiser, partnering with and leading teams that completed two capital campaigns that were transformational for their institutions, together raising more than $550M. Blount also sits on the board of two Fortune 500 companies, Abbott Laboratories and Ulta Beauty, as well as the boards of the Joyce Foundation and the Economic Club of Chicago.

Episode 43 – Nonprofit Governance: How to Effectively Build Committees, Craft Policies, and Fill Gaps with Julia Boisvert

Episode 43 – Nonprofit Governance: How to Effectively Build Committees, Craft Policies, and Fill Gaps with Julia Boisvert

Effective governance is key to a nonprofit’s success. It provides strategic direction to your organization.

There are multiple factors to consider — board and committee structures, decision-making authority, and investment policies, to name a few.

In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Julia Boisvert, a member of Murtha Cullina LLP’s Health Care and Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice Groups. Together, they help nonprofit leaders improve their governance structure and overall operational efficiency.

You will learn:

  • How nonprofits can increase their investment reserves with innovative strategies
  • Key considerations while creating investment and spending policies
  • How committees and board members can collaborate more efficiently
  • How to ensure that gifts/donations align with your organization’s core values
  • And more!

Tune in to learn how you can establish effective governance at your charitable organization!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Julia Boisvert on LinkedIn | Contact Julia Boisvert | Murtha Cullina LLP

About Our Guest:

Julia Boisvert assists hospitals, physicians, physician practice groups, social service providers, and other for-profit and nonprofit health care providers with a variety of health care regulatory, corporate, and business issues. Julia has experience advising on corporate formation, governance matters, corporate transactions, employment matters, practitioner and facility licensure, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, HIPAA and privacy compliance, and fraud and abuse matters. She also has experience drafting a variety of agreements, including professional services agreements and employment agreements. For nonprofit providers, Julia also assists with filing for recognition of tax exemption, board management issues, charitable giving matters, and general operational issues.

Episode 38 – How Nonprofits Should Manage Large Cash Inflows with David Piccerelli

Episode 38 – How Nonprofits Should Manage Large Cash Inflows with David Piccerelli

There may come a time when your nonprofit experiences a large inflow of cash. For some organizations, this happens when they’re not expecting it at all!

In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with David Piccerelli, president at WSBE Rhode Island PBS and a client of Fiducient Advisors, who has experience in managing an endowment that went from zero to $80 million overnight.

You will learn:

  • The first step you should take before investing your newfound wealth
  • How to have an investment committee and an asset allocation strategy prepared in advance
  • Potential impact of large cash inflows on your organization’s operations
  • How Rhode Island PBS built a roadmap for its strategic vision
  • And more!

Tune in to learn how you can effectively manage and invest your newfound wealth!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | David Piccerelli on LinkedIn | Rhode Island PBS | Our Research and Insights | Our Blog | Our Podcast

About Our Guest:

David Piccerelli is the president of WSBE Rhode Island PBS, a role that he assumed in 2010 after having served as PBS’ vice-president and chief financial officer. David has overseen some very impressive projects and endeavors during his tenure with Rhode Island PBS, including shepherding the station’s complex multimillion dollar conversion from analog to digital broadcasting in 2009 and moving from state ownership to becoming an independent community licensee in 2012. David holds a BS in accounting from Bryant University and serves on a number of professional public broadcasting committees and associations. He is a member of the board of Providence Business Loan Fund and is an avid golfer and a food and wine enthusiast.