Agenda - Day 1

Gain insight into today’s sessions so you can get the most out of your conference experience and maximize your value.

In a world shaped by simultaneous global challenges, from climate volatility and geopolitical instability to shifting demographics and rapid technological disruption, foundations, endowments, and non-profits are uniquely positioned to respond with both purpose and capital. Navigate uncertainty, manage evolving risks, and seize opportunities to invest in a more resilient and equitable future. Take away specific solutions to:

• Understand how aligning investments with mission can act as both a financial strategy and a tool for systemic change.
• Balance fiduciary duty with forward-looking risk management to protect and grow capital while supporting long-term impact.
• Expand influence and innovation across borders through local philanthropic and investment actions.

Advance with clarity, conviction, and purpose by leveraging capital to preserve assets, drive meaningful progress, and shape a more resilient future.

In a time marked by geopolitical fragmentation, inflationary pressures, climate risk, and shifting monetary policy, institutional stewards of philanthropic capital must recalibrate their long-term investment strategies. Examine the macroeconomic forces reshaping financial markets and understand what they mean for foundations, endowments, and non-profits. Deepen your knowledge on:

• Global Macro Outlook 2026–2028:
  Understand the economic indicators that matter most for long-horizon investors from interest rates and energy markets to trade flows and geopolitical flashpoints.
• Mission-Aligned Investing in a Polycrisis Era:
  Explore how philanthropic institutions can balance values and performance amid environmental, political, and demographic upheavals.
• Currency, Capital, and Conflict:
  Examine what de-dollarization, regional instability, and policy divergence mean for cross-border giving and globally diversified portfolios.
• Strategic Patience and Adaptive Capital:
  Discover why long-term investors must lead, not follow, in a decade defined by structural change.

Optimize your strategy to navigate volatility, seize emerging opportunities, and build lasting impact in a transforming global economy.

Institutional investors are facing a complex and rapidly evolving investment environment driven by rising bond yields, shifting fiscal policies, and increased market concentration. The stakes are high. Create a practical roadmap to build resilient, mission-aligned portfolios amid uncertainty. Develop a blueprint to:

• Assess how macroeconomic trends may impact future returns across asset classes.
• Evaluate whether continued reliance on a narrow set of outperforming equities poses long-term risks.
• Identify how to preserve capital while staying agile in a shifting policy and geopolitical environment.

 Bolster resilience and long-term performance to mitigate emerging risks and enhance diversification.

For non-profits and foundations new to investing, taking the first steps toward building and managing an endowment can be daunting. Establish robust governance, develop an investment policy statement (IPS), choose the right investment partners, and build internal capacity to steward funds responsibly. Adopt best practices to:

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of board members, finance committees, and staff in overseeing investments.
• Develop a clear, mission-aligned IPS that outlines objectives, risk tolerance, asset allocation, and spending policies.
• Evaluate, select, and manage relationships with investment advisors, managers, and consultants.

Improve your organization’s investment readiness to avoid setbacks and build a sustainable path toward long-term growth.

Discover how partnering with an OCIO can help your organization enhance investment governance, strengthen performance, and stay mission-focused amid growing market complexity. Optimize your investment strategy while aligning with your mission and stakeholder priorities. Master the success factors to:

• Free up internal resources to better serve donors, beneficiaries, and long-term goals.
• Improve decision-making with expert guidance on complex strategies like impact investing and private markets.
• Navigate volatility with confidence to build greater resilience in uncertain economic environments.

 Amplify the OCIO approach to align with your organization’s unique investment goals and mission.

Unlocking long-term prosperity requires more than capital, it demands partnerships grounded in respect, reconciliation, and shared opportunity. Explore the critical role of foundations, endowments, and mission-aligned investors in supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and community-led economic development. Take back to your office strategies to:

• Develop innovative funding models and investment readiness strategies.
• Shift from transactional support to transformative collaboration.
• Embed equity, reconciliation, and Indigenous leadership into impact portfolios.

Advance reconciliation and shared prosperity by embedding equity, respect, and Indigenous leadership across every investment portfolio.

While endowments and foundations typically invest with a long-term horizon, short-term funding requirements for operations, grants, and programs can create challenges in effective portfolio management. Source your plan of action by:

• Balancing the protection of long-term capital with meeting immediate funding needs.
• Clearly articulating funding needs during periods of economic downturn or heightened market volatility.
• Avoiding the liquidation of assets at suboptimal times.

Adapt your investment approach to manage both long-term objectives and short-term funding demands with confidence and precision.

This session is designed to energize your foundation’s committee. Discover how every member, regardless of their experience, can drive collaboration, and unlock the group’s full potential. It will explore the power of emotional intelligence, with practical strategies to strengthen relationships, enhance decision-making, and where everyone benefits. Join us and transform your committee dynamics and make a lasting difference to your foundation.

Portfolio diversification is essential for achieving higher, sustainable returns. Discover the benefits and risks of various asset classes and how they can enhance your portfolio.

1. Fixed Income: Investments that provide regular income through interest payments and are typically considered lower risk than equities. 
2. Alternative Investments: Diverse assets outside traditional stocks and bonds, including hedge funds, venture capital, and collectibles, often targeting higher returns with lower correlation to traditional markets. 
3. Multi-Asset Funds: Investment funds that allocate capital across various asset classes to balance risk and return based on prevailing market conditions. 
4. Real Estate: Tangible property investments that generate rental income and potential appreciation, serving as a potential hedge against inflation. 
5. Private Equity: Investments in privately held companies aimed at long-term growth, often involving active management to improve performance. 
6. Private Debt: Loans provided to private companies or projects, typically offering higher yields compared to public debt instruments.

Beyond the initial selection process, the real value in working with external managers lies in building strong, aligned, and performance-driven partnerships. Move beyond transactional relationships to create enduring, mission-aligned collaborations with money managers. Take away specific solutions to:

• Develop long-term manager relationships that reflect your organization’s values and goals.
• Engage managers in strategic conversations around impact, transparency, and accountability.
• Establish governance practices that promote consistent communication, performance tracking, and periodic re-evaluation.
• Identify red flags and pivot when a manager no longer aligns with your strategy.

Enrich existing manager relationships to ensure they remain an asset, not a liability, to your portfolio and mission.

Review the key solutions and takeaways from today’s sessions. Source a summary of action points to implement in your work. Discuss tomorrow’s highlights!