Tag Archives: Investments

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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.


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Episode 46 – Taking on ESG Initiatives Amidst Global Turmoil with Habib Subjally



Gas prices have spiked exponentially. Inflation is at 40-year highs. World peace is disrupted due to the war in Eastern Europe.

Amidst all of this global turmoil, how should investors think about  ESG investing? How can organizations advance mission-aligned initiatives?

Find out in this episode, as Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Habib Subjally, senior portfolio manager and head of global equities at RBC Global Asset Management. Habib shares thoughtful insights and strategies for effective ESG integration within an organization your organization and yoru portfolio.

You will learn:

  • Why the current momentum in ESG investing is here to stay
  • How ESG investing can lead to greater commercial success and financial returns
  • Ways to navigate the complexities of the current ESG landscape (and some trending investment themes)
  • How portfolio managers can adopt ESG initiatives despite a lack of standardized industry data
  • And more!

Tune in to learn more about incorporating ESG into your current investment process!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Habib Subjally on LinkedIn | RBC Global Asset Management | Fiducient Advisors’ Guide to Mission-Aligned Investing

About Our Guest:

Habib Subjally is a Senior Portfolio Manager and the Head of RBC Global Equity at RBC Global Asset Management, where he leads a team of 11 global sector specialists. Prior to joining the firm in 2014, Habib spent eight years managing global equities and building his team to its current structure. Previously, he held lead positions in small- and mid-cap equities as well as global and North American equities at other asset management firms.


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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.


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Episode 44 – Nonprofits in Higher-Ed: Current Outlook, Opportunities, and Challenges with Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich



This can be a challenging environment for nonprofit organizations, especially those in higher education, contending with investments, revenue, operations, and more.

In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, president at Concordia University-St. Paul. They discuss the current outlook for higher-ed organizations, including major opportunities and challenges facing them today.

You will learn:

  • Latest trends in enrollment, operations, and advancement in the higher education space
  • Reasons to focus on sustainability and long-term results while overseeing endowments
  • The impact of rising interest rates on an organization’s finances
  • Tips to help achieve greater alignment among committee and board members
  • And more!

Tune in to learn about the current opportunities and challenges for nonprofits, especially in higher education!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Brian Friedrich on LinkedIn | Email Brian Friedrich | Concordia University, St. Paul | Endowments & Foundations Consulting at Fiducient Advisors

About Our Guest:

The Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich is the 10th president of Concordia University, St. Paul. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Friedrich served as President of Concordia University, Nebraska from 2004-2019, holding several positions in development and administration. He was appointed as vice president for institutional advancement in 1997 and was named the president of Concordia Foundation, Inc. in 2003 before being named president in 2004. Friedrich is a vice president of the Concordia University System, member of the Colloquy Committee of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, trustee of Mill Neck Foundation and Lutheran Friends of the Deaf boards, a director of the Council of Independent Colleges of Nebraska, a director of the National Association of the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities, a member of the Seward Rotary Club and St. John Lutheran Church.

 


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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.


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Episode 36 – Amplify Your Impact Through Strategic Philanthropy with Caren Yanis



When you’re strategic with your philanthropy and strive for efficiency within your organization, you can do more good with less money.

In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Caren Yanis, principal at Croland Consulting, LLC, and a philanthropic advisor to families and businesses. Caren shares actionable insights and best practices for today’s nonprofits, family foundations, and endowments.

You will learn:

  • Current opportunities and challenges for philanthropists and charitable organizations
  • How to ensure strong governance, even when there are few rules to hold boards accountable
  • How to align your organization’s philanthropic practices with your values
  • Key points that every investment committee should keep in mind
  • And more!

Tune in to learn how you can amplify your impact through strategic philanthropy!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | 2022 Return Expectations Webinar | Caren Croland Yanis on LinkedIn | Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation | Poetry Foundation | Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) | Foundation Financial Officers Group (FFOG) | Episode 22 – Achieving Your Charitable Mission Through Private Foundat ions — With Adam Newell | Fiducient Capital Market Assumptions 

About Our Guest:

Caren Croland Yanis is the principal of Croland Consulting, a philanthropic consulting firm focused on helping high-net-worth families give well. As executive director of the Oprah Winfrey Foundations in the 2000s, Ms. Yanis helped Ms. Winfrey build her public and private philanthropy and went on to become president of Crown Family Philanthropies in Chicago. She is a board member of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, a member of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, a member of the Illinois Attorney General’s Charitable Advisory Council, and a board member of Friends of the Children.