2026 Endowment Leadership Series
-
You must log in to register
- Member - $395
- Non-member - $595
February 17-March 12, 2026
In conjunction with the release of the highly influential 2025 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments, NACUBO will again offer a robust, online series diving deep into key endowment topics. Over the course of nine webinars, thought leaders from leading investment companies and higher education will share their expertise on current trends and challenging topics. This series is designed to be all-encompassing endowment education—from the basics to advanced, nuanced management questions. Participants will leave with insights into how to effectively manage their institution’s portfolio—and ideas for where to go next.
Peruse the schedule below for details about each webinar. They are available à la carte or at a discount if you register for the full series.
CPE Available: 9 Credits in Specialized Knowledge, Finance, and Information Technology
Recordings
All webinars will be recorded. Registrants for the series will receive an email when each recording is available.
Sponsors
NACUBO thanks the following supporters of this event:
Primary Contributor
Premier Sponsors
Classic Sponsors
-
Live Event: 03/12/2026 at 2:00 PM (EDT)
This session will bring together concepts addressed throughout the Endowment Leadership Series and offer a deeper content dive. Expected topics include spending, borrowing from endowment funds, large withdrawals from board designated funds functioning as endowments, approaches for honoring donor wishes that are no longer applicable, financial statement disclosures and other endowment communications, governance, and administrative and fund tracking considerations.
-
Live Event: 03/10/2026 at 2:00 PM (EDT)
In an evolving financial landscape where institutions find themselves with little financial flexibility, how can advancement teams collaborate with business officers and legal counsel to maximize the use of restricted resources? Panelists will share practical approaches for both loosening fund restrictions and leveraging restricted and internally committed balances to address financial needs. They will also cover effective strategies to engage stakeholders in deploying underutilized funds, developing contingency plans, and lessening the financial impact of recent federal directives. This session will conclude with a discussion on innovative uses of AI that can help ensure fund deployment aligns with donor intent and enhances institutional financial resilience.
-
Live Event: 03/05/2026 at 2:00 PM (EST)
With a new U.S. administration in office, continued geopolitical volatility, higher interest rates, sticky inflation, and pricey equity markets, many higher education endowments are facing a more complicated investment landscape. This session is designed to help you cut through the noise and focus on what matters most for your portfolio today. Speakers will explore emerging strategies, highlight how approaches may differ depending on endowment size, and offer practical ways to evaluate and explain portfolio shifts. The session will also help you consider how to evaluate whether your investments align with your institution’s spending needs, risk tolerance, and time horizon.
-
Live Event: 03/03/2026 at 2:00 PM (EST)
Strong governance is essential for endowments navigating today’s uncertain environment. This session will help investment committees, boards, and senior staff assess their current governance structures, clarify fiduciary roles, and evaluate management models to ensure alignment with mission and long-term sustainability. Drawing on real-world examples from colleges and universities, speakers will explore how high-performing committees balance oversight and delegation, strengthen decision-making, and adapt policies for evolving needs. Attendees will gain practical insights and tools to refresh their governance approach—enhancing clarity, performance, and accountability across their endowment and investment programs.
-
Live Event: 02/26/2026 at 2:00 PM (EST)
With yields starting to come down, “safe” assets may no longer be safe for your endowment’s long-term health. The endowment can be better source of support for schools if liquidity is managed properly and with an eye toward long-term growth. This session challenges CFOs to rethink the role of cash and bonds, quantify the opportunity cost of excess liquidity, and explore the value of incorporating illiquid assets strategically. Participants will leave with actionable tools to assess how much liquidity is too much—and how to strike the right balance between stability today and sustainability tomorrow.
-
Live Event: 02/24/2026 at 2:00 PM (EST)
Higher education is undergoing a period of transformation that will be shaped by evolving student expectations, the rise of hybrid learning formats, and accelerating technological change. As universities adapt, their endowments will continue to play a vital role in providing stability, fostering innovation, and sustaining long-term priorities. Drawing on BlackRock’s research paper, Meeting the Challenge of the New Regime in Endowment Portfolios, this session explores how institutions can reorganize their investment strategies while remaining aligned with the changing priorities of the universities they support. Attendees will learn how to implement dynamic portfolio construction, rethink diversification, leverage active management and alternatives, and align governance and risk frameworks to meet their long-term objectives. Endowment leaders will be given the practical tools and advice they need to manage through these structural shifts in global markets.
-
Live Event: 02/19/2026 at 2:00 PM (EST)
Over the past quarter century, the endowment model has undergone a structural evolution shaped as much by the contraction of public markets as by the expansion of private ones. The last calendar year, 2025, in particular has tested the resilience of many endowment portfolios and higher education institutions. Governments have reduced their direct and indirect support; public capital markets have weathered substantial uncertainty; and private market distributions have remained subdued, creating pressure on cash flows. Endowment fiduciaries are reassessing asset allocation with fresh urgency. Join us to examine the longer-term evolution of both markets and endowment portfolios.
-
Live Event: 02/18/2026 at 2:00 PM (EST)
This session provides an overview of the results of the 2025 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments, the most comprehensive analysis of endowment investment returns, asset allocations, and governance policies and practices at U.S. higher education institutions and affiliated foundations.
-
Live Event: 02/17/2026 at 2:00 PM (EST)
Experts will cover how endowments are managed to provide a steady and reliable source of funding over the long term. This session will also explain the basic structure of endowment funds; laws governing endowments, donor restrictions and governance; investment management; and current economic and political pressures that impact endowments.
Commonfund Institute is among the nation’s most trusted sources for relevant, useful, and proprietary data, analytics, and best practices in financial management. The Institute provides a wide variety of resources, including conferences, seminars, roundtables, and online learning through Commonfund Institute Online. Insights cover topics such as endowments and governance; proprietary and third-party research such as the Commonfund Benchmark Studies®; publications including the Commonfund Higher Education Price Index® (HEPI); and events such as the annual Commonfund Forum and Investment Stewardship Academy. For more information, visit www.commonfund.org.
Contacts
George Suttles, Executive Director | George.Suttles@commonfund.org | 646-348-9248
Allison Kaspriske, Director | Allison.Kaspriske@commonfund.org | 203-563-5021
Resources
Bank of America has been a leading investment advisor to endowments and foundations for over 160 years. With approximately $94B1 in institutional nonprofit and private foundation assets under management, our dedicated team of approximately 190 professionals located in offices throughout the United States supports your mission with a comprehensive suite of fiduciary services, including:
- Tailored investment services - We build customized investment programs designed to serve as an extension of your staff, supporting your institution’s spending needs. We take into account your income objectives, risk tolerance and liquidity requirements while observing the highest standards of fiduciary responsibility. Investment decisions are made using a total portfolio approach in which the objective is not simply to outperform benchmarks but to help meet a broad spectrum of goals for your institution.
- Consulting and advisory support - Fulfilling your institution’s mission goes beyond a successful investment program. Our specialists provide assistance with other important matters that are essential in helping you to meet your goals —governance, Board education and assessment, and fundraising strategies, among others.
- Administrative support - We help you to optimize your staff resources and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements by establishing operational protocols and developing and implementing policies and procedures to improve your institution’s administrative efficiency.
Contacts:
Bill Jarvis, Managing Director, Philanthropic Strategy & Delivery Executive, william_jarvis@bofa.com
Bernie Reidy, Managing Director, National Endowment and Foundations Executive, bernard.reidy@bofa.com
Resources
We partner with endowments and foundations to build innovative, resilient and agile portfolios that are aligned to their mission and designed to deliver their individual governance and investment needs.
We do this by leveraging our investment advisory heritage, our deep knowledge of the global investment universe, and our capabilities across research, advice and solutions.
As a partner to endowment and foundation portfolios, we look beyond any single perspective on the investment landscape to pursue outcomes that address today’s investment challenges and importantly, prepare our clients for the future. Visit us online to learn more.
Resources
Top considerations for Endowments & Foundations 2026 - In this paper, we address four top considerations that E&Fs should keep in mind heading into the new year.
'Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated’: The future of private markets – In this paper, we share key insights important to building a resilient, future-ready portfolio.
The endowment model in 2026 - Explore how the Endowment Model has evolved over 25 years and discover key strategies for 2026 to invest through unprecedented economic uncertainty.
Higher education: Evolving and advancing through the sector’s challenges – In our two-part series, we explore the complex challenges higher education institutions are currently facing and provide actionable insights to help navigate this evolving landscape.
Contact
Texas Hemmaplardh, U.S. Endowment & Foundation Business Leader, 212.345.0713, texas.hammaplardh@mercer.com
Cori Trautvetter, U.S. Endowment & Foundation Commercial Leader, 314.243.4533, cori.trautvetter@mercer.com
John W. Bristol & Co., Inc. (“JWB”) is a privately owned, independent investment adviser established in 1937 to advise college and university endowment funds and we have been helping clients in the educational field fulfill their missions for the better part of nine decades. The firm manages equity, fixed income, and balanced accounts totaling approximately $7.1 billion for 117 clients as of December 31, 2025.
Based on the NACUBO NSCEE study, our 10-year balanced account results rank in the top quartile of college endowment results for 2024 and have ranked in the top quartile on a 10-year basis for the past 10 years. This top-tier performance begins before your freshman class was born.
Our time-tested process has delivered equity returns superior to the S&P 500 over the past 10 years as well.
Endowments seeking to move into the top quartile should contact us to learn more.
Contact:
Benjamin M. Williams, Managing Director, Client Development, contact@jwbristol.com
Resources
Established in 1988, Prime Buchholz has a long history of serving higher education as OCIO and as an investment advisor. Founded by two university CFOs, educational institutions represent approximately one-third of our 250 clients. We have a deep-rooted understanding of the unique needs of colleges and universities—our lasting client relationships highlight our ability to cater to their specific needs. Our proprietary analytics platform, PrimePlus®, automates data workflows, integrates multiple sources, and delivers real-time investment insights to our clients.
Contact:
Adam Leech, adam.leech@primebuchholz.com, 207.216.7483
