Broker Check

Governance

Built to endure.

Board members change. Good governance shouldn't.

We help boards and investment committees put clear policies, roles, and processes in place, so decisions are well informed, well documented, and consistent from one board to the next.

See how a plan comes together

Strong governance is easy to take for granted, until someone asks how a decision was made.

Choose the question closest to yours. We'll show you where it's answered.

One school's governance, built to outlast its board.

An independent school has a growing endowment and a board of nine trustees, most of them parents and alumni who serve three-year terms. Robert chairs the investment committee. Nina is the school's CFO. Follow their governance in seven chapters.

An illustrative organization. Names and details are hypothetical and do not represent an actual client. This page is general information, not legal advice.

The school's governance structure A building that rises chapter by chapter: the investment policy as its foundation, five pillars for clear roles, fiduciary knowledge, manager evaluation, records and reporting, and coordinated advisors, and a roof of regular review. Below it, a row of nine trustees who change over time.

Write policies that guide real decisions

The school's investment policy was written fifteen years ago and hadn't been opened since. We helped the committee rewrite it: what the endowment is for, how it's invested, how much can be spent each year, and how decisions get made.

What we do
Help establish clear investment policies, guidelines, and decision-making processes.
What you leave with
An investment policy your committee actually uses.

Define who does what

With trustees rotating every three years, responsibilities had blurred. We helped clarify the structure: what the full board decides, what the investment committee handles, what Nina and her staff manage, and where we fit.

What we do
Support your board and investment committee structure, roles, and responsibilities.
What you leave with
Clear roles for the board, the committee, and staff.

Understand the responsibility

Most trustees are generous with their time but new to overseeing an endowment. We hold orientation sessions on fiduciary responsibility and provide plain-language resources, so every member can take part in decisions with confidence.

What we do
Help boards and committees understand their fiduciary responsibilities and oversight role, and provide education and resources to help board and committee members make informed decisions.
What you leave with
Board members who understand their role, and have the resources to carry it out.

Evaluate managers the same way every time

Manager decisions used to depend on who was in the room that day. We helped the committee adopt a consistent process for evaluating investment managers and strategies: the same criteria, the same review schedule, and a written record of each decision.

What we do
Help create consistent processes for evaluating investment managers and strategies.
What you leave with
Manager decisions made by process, not personality.

Report it, and write it down

School leadership and the committee receive regular portfolio and investment reports, and every meeting ends with minutes and a record of what was decided and why. When a new trustee asks how a decision was made, the answer is on file.

What we do
Provide regular portfolio and investment reporting to leadership and committees, and help your organization maintain appropriate documentation, reporting, and accountability.
What you leave with
Reporting leaders can act on, and records that show how decisions were made.

Bring every advisor into the process

The school's CPA, its attorney, and the investment committee each held part of the picture. We coordinate among them, so the investment policy, the reporting, and the legal and audit requirements line up.

What we do
Coordinate with your organization's CPA, attorney, investment committee, and other advisors.
What you leave with
Advisors working from the same information.

Review it, so it endures

Governance isn't a one-time project. The committee now reviews its investments on a set schedule, and revisits its policies and practices regularly, so they keep supporting the school's mission as trustees come and go.

See it over time

What we do
Establish processes for regular investment reviews and policy updates, and review governance practices regularly so they continue to support your organization's mission and long-term objectives.
What you leave with
Governance designed to outlast any one board.
Chapter 1 of 7

Good governance is shared work.

Oversight of an organization's investments involves volunteers, staff, and outside professionals. We help each one understand their part, and keep them working from the same information.

  • Your boardSets direction, approves policy, and holds the committee accountable.
  • Investment committeeOversees the portfolio and managers, following a written process.
  • Staff and CFOCarry out decisions and keep records current.
  • CPA and attorneyAdvise on audit, tax, and legal requirements.

Begin with a conversation about your governance.

Bring your investment policy statement and committee charter, if you have them. We'll walk through what's working and what's missing.

Schedule a conversation