Our first and most important function is helping public and private foundations identify, assess and prioritize their investment related needs. Every client's needs are different. Public Foundations may have two sets of objectives, endowment funds to offset operating costs; and reserve funds, to help maintain buildings. Private Foundations may be perpetual or others may have sunset clauses. Every foundation’s expectations are different – some are attainable, others are perhaps not as realistic given board stipulated risk parameters, spending policies and market realities.
We begin by evaluating the current portfolio, its asset allocations, its spending policies, its financial performance and the underlying managers being used. The due diligence process evolves until we can confidently say that we understand every element associated with the portfolio as wells as the organization’s spending objectives. This upfront research ultimately leads Trustees to focus on prudent asset mixes.