Following the post-COVID stimulus hangover in 2022, the bull market has continued to run. One of the key factors was the Federal Reserve’s decision to
How We Partner With Endowments and Foundations
Published Date : July 30, 2024
“Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” ― Plato
At Sand Hill, we are proud of our partnership with many endowments and foundations, helping them navigate the increasingly complex investment landscape with confidence and ease. With our long history of supporting nonprofits, we take a comprehensive and customized approach to endowment management that is rooted in best practices. Our goal is to serve as a trusted investment adviser—aligning our interests directly with theirs, turning challenges into opportunities—and helping to drive the long-term success of the organization’s mission. We believe our structure, investment offering, and collaborative approach help support the strong and successful partnership that these types of organizations need to truly thrive.
One of the first questions that endowments and foundations often ask—and certainly should ask when evaluating financial advisors—is about the organization’s structure and whether they are a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). This is critical because RIAs, unlike brokers, are held to the highest fiduciary standard and are legally obligated to act in a client’s best interest and disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Sand Hill operates as an RIA and is honored to serve as a fiduciary to our clients. We are well-versed in the complexities of institutional money management and offer objective investment advice supported by a team of experienced professionals. Since board trustees also have a fiduciary duty of their own to the organizations they serve, we can provide fiduciary training to help safeguard against potential liabilities.
For over 25 years, we have helped nonprofits create comprehensive investment strategies and investment policy statements (IPS), the long-term governing document. Given the unique nature of endowments, we collaborate with trustees to ensure that the IPS properly captures the organization’s mission and goals while also ensuring alignment with peers, a fiduciary best practice. We take a quantitative approach to the IPS that strives to eliminate ambiguity but is flexible enough to serve as the organization’s long-term investment road map that can withstand short-term committee turnover. Backed by professional investment expertise, we advise organizations on sustainable withdrawal rates while also addressing areas such as governance issues, asset allocation ranges, benchmarking parameters, restrictions, and any specific mission related investment considerations.
Organizations can count on Sand Hill to be accessible and transparent. We meet regularly with nonprofit investment committees to share an approachable market outlook and portfolio review. Our suite of tailored investment solutions is managed by an in-house research team. We utilize a global allocation across multiple asset classes—using both public and private securities—that balances the need for growth with the need for capital preservation. We believe achieving proper diversification and regularly rebalancing against extremes can help organizations generate superior risk-adjusted returns over time. As an open-architecture firm (meaning no use of proprietary products), we have access to a wide range of investments at competitive fees with no hidden costs. Behind the scenes, we also offer a secure online portal, charitable remainder trust management, liquidity account management, and continuing education, as well as assistance with audits and other ad hoc projects.
We fully understand the challenges that nonprofits face. Our commitment to creating meaningful change in the communities we serve through leadership, volunteerism, and through our professional investment management of nonprofit endowments is a constant in our relationship with clients. Endowment management can be a rewarding experience for all involved, and we value the partnerships we have built over time. If your organization is interested in exploring our endowment management offerings, please let us know. We would be pleased to be of service.
Articles and Commentary
Information provided in written articles are for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. There is a risk of loss from investments in securities, including the risk of loss of principal. The information contained herein reflects Sand Hill Global Advisors' (“SHGA”) views as of the date of publication. Such views are subject to change at any time without notice due to changes in market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. SHGA does not provide tax or legal advice. To the extent that any material herein concerns tax or legal matters, such information is not intended to be solely relied upon nor used for the purpose of making tax and/or legal decisions without first seeking independent advice from a tax and/or legal professional. SHGA has obtained the information provided herein from various third party sources believed to be reliable but such information is not guaranteed. Certain links in this site connect to other websites maintained by third parties over whom SHGA has no control. SHGA makes no representations as to the accuracy or any other aspect of information contained in other Web Sites. Any forward looking statements or forecasts are based on assumptions and actual results are expected to vary from any such statements or forecasts. No reliance should be placed on any such statements or forecasts when making any investment decision. SHGA is not responsible for the consequences of any decisions or actions taken as a result of information provided in this presentation and does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information. No part of this material may be (i) copied, photocopied, or duplicated in any form, by any means, or (ii) redistributed without the prior written consent of SHGA.
Video Presentations
All video presentations discuss certain investment products and/or securities and are being provided for informational purposes only, and should not be considered, and is not, investment, financial planning, tax or legal advice; nor is it a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Investing in securities involves varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that any specific investment will be profitable or suitable for a particular client’s financial situation or risk tolerance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Individual performance results will vary. The opinions expressed in the video reflect Sand Hill Global Advisor’s (“SHGA”) or Brenda Vingiello’s (as applicable) views as of the date of the video. Such views are subject to change at any point without notice. Any comments, opinions, or recommendations made by any host or other guest not affiliated with SHGA in this video do not necessarily reflect the views of SHGA, and non-SHGA persons appearing in this video do not fall under the supervisory purview of SHGA. You should not treat any opinion expressed by SHGA or Ms. Vingiello as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of general opinion. Nothing presented herein is or is intended to constitute investment advice, and no investment decision should be made based solely on any information provided on this video. There is a risk of loss from an investment in securities, including the risk of loss of principal. Neither SHGA nor Ms. Vingiello guarantees any specific outcome or profit. Any forward-looking statements or forecasts contained in the video are based on assumptions and actual results may vary from any such statements or forecasts. SHGA or one of its employees may have a position in the securities discussed and may purchase or sell such securities from time to time. Some of the information in this video has been obtained from third party sources. While SHGA believes such third-party information is reliable, SHGA does not guarantee its accuracy, timeliness or completeness. SHGA encourages you to consult with a professional financial advisor prior to making any investment decision.
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