The traditional 60/40 stock/bond portfolio is on pace for its worst performance in 80 years and Treasury bonds might register their worst performance in 200 years! Investor anxiety seems to be rising in lock-step with interest rates.
All this contributes to a high level of uncertainty for those who oversee endowments and foundations.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis help investment committees (or any nonprofit leader overseeing investments) combat market uncertainty through four key action items.
You will learn the following:
Why good stewards need to separate today’s news from the noise
Important considerations regarding expected investment returns moving forward
Insights into alternative asset classes, especially in light of higher interest rates
An important step in ESG investing that many organizations are overlooking
High-performing organizations are characterized by strong leadership, a clear goal, and strategic investments.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Jeffery Perry, founder & CEO of Lead Mandates LLC. They discuss the major drivers of success for high-performing organizations (especially nonprofits).
You will learn the following:
The importance of having a clear sense of purpose for your organization
Evolution in asset allocation strategies and endowment management
The key to authentic ESG investing (and the impact of the “peanut butter approach”)
Personal leadership insights for nonprofit leaders
Jeff is the Founder & CEO of Lead Mandates LLC, an advisory firm that helps organizations improve business and leadership performance. He is a global strategic business advisor with relevant experience that spans 20 years combined as partner at Ernst & Young LLP (EY) and A.T. Kearney. He is a highly skilled and passionate leader in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), integrations, divestitures, and business transformations, linking strategy to purpose-led leadership and execution.
Jeff is a member of corporate and non-profit boards including: Board Director, Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS); Independent Director (Trustee), Equitable Funds; Board of Trustees Chair, Babson College; Board Chair, Chicago Children’s Museum; Former Board Chair, INROADS Inc.; Board Director, National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Chicago Chapter; Board Director, Harvard Business School African-American Alumni Association; Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) Council of Board Chairs. In addition, he is included in Savoy Magazine 2021 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors and Financial Times Agenda Diversity 100.
Jeff received his B.S. in Marketing/Quantitative Methods, with high distinction, from Babson College and M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Some investment committees are reluctant to own alternative investments because they don’t understand the space well.
Or perhaps they are intimidated due to the complexity and cost.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Anthony Novara, CFA®, research director of Fiducient Advisors’ marketable alternatives group. They demystify hedge fund investing and its role in effective portfolio management, especially amidst high market volatility.
You will learn:
Five primary strategies used in hedge funds investing
Major pros and cons of hedge funds for endowments and foundations
Fund of funds — how they work, fee structures, and investment benefits
Why the notion “hedge funds are inherently riskier” may not always true
And more!
Tune in to learn how to navigate hedge funds and other forms of alternative investments!
Did you know economic stability can lead to instability? Is it possible to spend less today in order to spend more later?
Investors encounter such paradoxes regularly, which can be deeply damaging to nonprofits and endowments.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis discuss five major investing paradoxes you must keep in mind, especially during times of market volatility and economic uncertainty.
You will learn:
How to overcome the “complacency challenge” and achieve long-term stability
Why major changes in your spending policies might be required
Better strategies for dealing with volatile markets than “timing the market”
The dangers of extrapolation in the endowment investing world
And more!
Tune in to learn how to tackle market volatility with confidence by understanding five investing paradoxes!
When raising funds for a new project, are you factoring in operating costs? What type of board and investment committee members do you recruit? How has spending and investing changed in 2022?
These are just some of the questions nonprofit leaders are asking today.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Dr. Jim Reynolds, president at Millikin University. Having worked in higher education for over three decades, Dr. Reynolds shares his experience in advancing an organization’s mission by adapting endowment management, fundraising, and spending policies to the current environment.
You will learn:
Why it’s important to raise for maintenance during capital campaigns
The role of higher-ed institutions in bridging the income gap for its students
How to build well-balanced committees with diverse members
Steps taken by Millikin’s investment committee to improve its ESG efforts
And more!
Tune in to unpack key considerations for nonprofit leaders today, in higher education and beyond!
Dr. James Reynolds is the president of Millikin University, a Decatur-based private institution with a diverse population of about 2000 students. Millikin University consistently receives recognition as one of the nation’s best colleges and is on Princeton review’s Best in the Midwest list, Forbes America’s top colleges rankings, and others. Prior to becoming Millikin’s 16th president in 2020, Dr. Reynolds served as president of Wilmington College in Ohio, where he led the creation of a new campus-wide strategic planning process. Over his career, Dr. Reynolds’ scholarly work has been published extensively and his classroom excellence has resulted in six teacher-of-the-year awards.
Fundraising, both on a small and large scale, can be difficult when markets are down, and there is global turmoil.
In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Brian Gawor, CFRE, vice president of research at Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) and host of the Fundraising Voices Podcast. Brian shares actionable strategies to boost donor engagement and achieve better outcomes for fundraising campaigns.
You will learn:
Six variables of the “fundraising equation” that nonprofit leaders should know about
How higher-ed institutions and other nonprofits can take a data-driven approach to fundraising
How this downturn is stocks might impact your fundraising and your endowment
How to use AI-personalization to improve communication with donors
The process of turning small-scale donors into major gifters
And more!
Tune in to learn how you can improve your organization’s fundraising!
Brian Gawor is the vice president of research at Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) with a background in student affairs, enrollment, annual giving, and major gifts. Brian leads actionable research and strategy to propel the success of RNL’s 1,900 partner clients. He’s a first-generation college graduate grateful to the donors who made it possible. Considering himself a dedicated giving geek, Brian strikes down myths about fundraising and believes that the best strategy comes from listening to donors at scale. Brian regularly presents at professional conferences, and you can also find him hosting RNL’s regular LinkedIn live broadcasts, webinars, and the Fundraising Voices Podcast.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
How concerned should we be with market and economic trends? How can we improve our DEI efforts? What are opportunities and challenges should nonprofit leaders be focusing on? These are some of the pressing questions we hear from clients.
Join Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis as they speak with one of the most in-demand guests Mellody Hobson, co-CEO & president at Ariel Investments, a firm managing nearly $18 billion in assets. Mellody shares valuable insight into current investment trends, along with strategies to make your organization more diverse and inclusive.
You will learn:
Effectively diversifying your portfolio, given the recent performance of various asset classes
Ways to overcome the “unconscious bias” that sabotages your DEI efforts
How to evaluate investment managers and firms through a DEI lens
Valuable advice for nonprofit leaders to help them drive positive, systematic change
And more!
Tune in to hear Mellody Hobson’s expert insights on how investors, including nonprofit organizations, can thrive in the current environment!
As Co-CEO, Mellody Hobson is responsible for management, strategic planning, and growth for all areas of Ariel Investments outside of research and portfolio management. Outside of Ariel, Mellody is a nationally recognized voice on financial literacy. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Starbucks Corporation and as a director of JPMorgan Chase. Previously, Mellody served as Chairman of the Board of DreamWorks Animation until the company’s sale and was also a long-standing board member of the Estée Lauder Companies. Mellody’s community outreach includes her role as Chairman of After School Matters, a Chicago non-profit that provides area teens with high-quality after school and summer programs. Additionally, she is vice chair of World Business Chicago; co-chair of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art; and a board member of the George Lucas Education Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
