Endowments & Investing

Recommended Best Practices in Managing Foundation Investments

council-webteam — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 22:44:14 +0000

Recommended Best Practices in Managing Foundation Investments council-webteam Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:44

Recommended Best Practices in Managing Foundation Investments

The Council's Board of Directors released this guidance memorandum in March 2010 and strongly recommends that when reviewing and approving foundation investment policies and procedures practices, all foundations—private and public—consider these best practices in foundation investment management.

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Networking for Success: Building Networks Is Essential to Investment in Social Impact Bonds

council-webteam — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 15:14:20 +0000

Networking for Success: Building Networks Is Essential to Investment in Social Impact Bonds council-webteam Tue, 03/04/2014 - 10:14

Networking for Success: Building Networks Is Essential to Investment in Social Impact Bonds

Working in collaboration with the Center for American Progress, the Council co-hosted conversations among foundations, community development financial institutions, and investment firms about social impact bonds and Pay for Success. Out of these conversations, two issue briefs were created:

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Community Foundation Field Guide to Impact Investing

council-webteam — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 16:55:12 +0000

Community Foundation Field Guide to Impact Investing council-webteam Sun, 11/17/2013 - 11:55

Community Foundation Field Guide to Impact Investing

The interactive resource guides community foundations through the three main stages of the impact investing journey: Learn, Design, and Activate. At each stage, you can click on various topics to learn more about what the topic entails and how other community foundations have approached place-based investing.

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Community Foundation Field Guide to Impact Investing

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Engaging Donor Advised Funds in Impact Investing

council-webteam — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 22:45:23 +0000

Engaging Donor Advised Funds in Impact Investing council-webteam Sat, 11/16/2013 - 17:45

Engaging Donor Advised Funds in Impact Investing

A Toolkit for Community Foundations

“Impact investing” is the practice of investing for social and environmental impact while generating financial return. For community foundations, impact investing represents a new, complementary tool for achieving community change. Community foundations are poised to take advantage of this practice being increasingly embraced by a variety of investors leveraging their unique role in community.

We are pleased to share a practical toolkit for community foundations looking to engage their donors in an impact investment program. Developed by Imprint Capital in partnership with The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the toolkit outlines the entire process—from feasibility through implementation—to help a community foundation incorporate donor-advised funds (DAF) into their programs. Thanks to a generous grant from The Rockefeller Foundation, Imprint was able to test the concept with four community foundations fom 2010 to 2012 and identify multiple approaches to operating a DAF impact investment program.

"Engaging Donor Advised Funds in Impact Investing: A Toolkit for Community Foundations" includes an overview of a DAF program, frequently asked questions, an impact investment policy statement, a donor engagement kit that includes marketing and presentation materials, webinar presentations, and general resources on impact investing.

Toolkit

Webinar Presentation: Models and How to Get Started (.pdf)
Webinar Presentation: Assessing Feasibility (.pdf)
Webinar Presentation: Including Donor-Advised Funds in Impact Investing
- Slide Deck (.pdf)
- Recording
Sample Community Foundation Impact Investment Policy (.doc)
Sample Impact Sector Tear Sheet (.doc)
Sample Impact Investment Opportunity Description (.doc)
Sample Impact Investment Descriptions (.doc)
Sample Impact Investing Team Qualifications (.doc)

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2022 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF)

MatthewCain — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 19:18:39 +0000

2022 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF) MatthewCain Mon, 08/28/2023 - 15:18

2022 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF)

The CCSF Study is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices. The 2022 CCSF studies 277 private and community foundations that represent $206.8 billion in assets. Topics covered include:

Returns and Investment Objectives
Asset Allocation and Responsible Investing Criteria
Responsible Investment Practices
Fund Flows, Spending and Gifts
Resources, Management and Governance

Council Members Download Free

Nonmembers Download Through Commonfund

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2021 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF)

EmMoses — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 18:50:46 +0000

2021 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF) EmMoses Wed, 08/24/2022 - 14:50

2021 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF)

The CCSF Study is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices. The 2021 CCSF studies 231 private and community foundations that represent $119.7 billion in assets. Topics covered include:

Returns and Investment Objectives
Asset Allocation and Responsible Investing Criteria
Responsible Investment Practices
Fund Flows, Spending and Gifts
Resources, Management and Governance

Council Members Download Free

Nonmembers Download Through Commonfund

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2020 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF) Report

emily.moses@cof.org — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 12:41:53 +0000

2020 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF) Report emily.moses@cof.org Mon, 08/23/2021 - 08:41

2020 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF) Report

The CCSF report is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices. The 2020 CCSF studies 260 private and community foundations that represent $115.4 billion in assets. Topics covered include:

Returns and Investment Objectives
Asset Allocation and Responsible Investing Criteria
Responsible Investment Practices
Fund Flows, Spending and Gifts
Resources, Management and Governance

Download through Commonfund

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Impact Investing Handbook: An Implementation Guide for Practitioners

council-webteam — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 22:43:21 +0000

Impact Investing Handbook: An Implementation Guide for Practitioners council-webteam Fri, 02/19/2021 - 17:43

Impact Investing Handbook: An Implementation Guide for Practitioners

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors published the "Impact Investing Handbook: An Implementation Guide for Practitioners"—180 pages of helping asset owners turn interest into action. Two years in the making, this practical publication features case studies and detailed guidance for individuals, families, foundations, and corporations. Written by Steven Godeke of Godeke Consulting and Patrick Briaud of RPA, it features input from over fifty experts and practitioners.

The Handbook covers:

The Why – Developing a theory of change by merging impact goals with investment goals.
The How – Building or shifting a portfolio using the full range of impact tools and structures.
The So What – Measuring success through leading principles, frameworks, and standards.
The Now What – Crafting a realistic implementation plan by following best practices.

Go to External Resource

Impact Investing Handbook: An Implementation Guide for Practitioners

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2019 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF) Report

emily.moses@cof.org — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:53:02 +0000

2019 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF) Report emily.moses@cof.org Mon, 09/21/2020 - 14:53

2019 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF) Report

The CCSF report is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices. The 2019 CCSF studies 265 private and community foundations that represent $104.7 billion in assets. Topics covered include:

Returns and Investment Objectives
Asset Allocation and Responsible Investing Criteria
Responsible Investment Practices
Fund Flows, Spending and Gifts
Resources, Management and Governance

Download the 2019 CCSF Report

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Balancing Purpose, Payout, and Permanence: Strategy Guide

emily.moses@cof.org — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 18:12:51 +0000

Balancing Purpose, Payout, and Permanence: Strategy Guide emily.moses@cof.org Mon, 08/31/2020 - 14:12

Balancing Purpose, Payout, and Permanence: Strategy Guide

This Strategy Guide, developed in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy, invites you to reflect more deeply on how your foundation chooses to balance the four factors of Purpose, Conditions and Trends, Time Horizon, and Assets for Mission, especially in times of greater crisis or opportunity. It leaves the final decision to you, without judgment for your payout amount, lifespan, or mission. To aid you in the journey into the soul and stewardship of your philanthropic assets, you will find guidance on:

Strengthening the stewardship and governance of your portfolio
Challenging assumptions about perpetuity and payout
Understanding the spectrum of choices foundations use to balance purpose, conditions and trends, permanence, and spending
Leading more intentional board conversations
Resources for improved investment stewardship
Thinking outside the box on spending and time horizons

Download Strategy Guide

Download Discussion Guide

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Disaster Grantmaking

Endowments & Investing

Funds Management