Research Publications Archive

Spending Policy Practices: 2019

, | Endowment and Foundation Series | Download

Annual distributions from the endowment are a source of supplemental operating revenue for most endowed institutions. An institution’s endowment spending policy provides a basis for the calculation of the annual distribution, serving as a bridge that links the long-term investment portfolio and the enterprise. The data and analysis in this report cover a variety of spending topics, including spending rule types, the endowment’s support of operations, and effective spending rates.

Frontier Markets: The Next Frontier in Your Portfolio?

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Are frontier markets corrupt, politically driven, and dangerously speculative? Or, are they budding blossoms destined to deliver strong returns? This publication aims to help investors to decide whether and how to integrate FM equities into portfolios, assess underappreciated FM risks, and discuss implementation considerations.

Community Foundations: The Power of Aggregated Capital

| Endowment and Foundation Series | Download

Community foundation assets have grown steadily over the years, accumulating a mix of endowment funds and other funds with more expedient spend-down expectations. With the right expertise and attention, the endowment model can be applied to these complex, dynamic assets to differentiate the foundation and deliver on its mission. This paper discusses how community foundations can develop customized investment programs to better support their long-term goals.