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.

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.

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 and allocate assets appropriately in volatile times. 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.

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.

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.

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!