Held at the Associated Grant Makers office in Boston, Federal Street's John LaPann, Dan Gross, and Jen Christian Murtie presented a two hour session on the basics of investments for foundations.

The training was designed for senior staff and board members of foundations who wanted to better understand how their financial resources are invested and managed and learn new ways to oversee and make decisions on a large pool of assets.

The Federal Street team discussed each of the essential players in the investment industry including investment consultants, custodians, money managers, brokerage firms, and banks and explained how these organizations interact and are compensated.  The session taught what investment consultants do for foundations: develop asset allocation strategies, research and recommend money managers, create an Investment Policy Statement, oversee and help implement an investment program, and report on and analyze investment performance.

In addition, the group gave insights into, and examples of how foundations can align their investments with their mission through MRIs, actively invest in socially screened funds (SRIs), and engage in proxy voting and shareholder resolutions to have a social impact.  The balance of the session was a lively discussion on the major investment asset classes, the indexes that are used to rate performance, and ways to evaluate the foundation's investment performance.

This program was developed by Federal Street Advisors at the request of a longtime client.  Clients wishing to bring this program to their teams should contact Jennifer Christian Murtie at jmurtie@federalstreet.com.