ELS26: Endowment Leadership Series Capstone: Advanced Issues and Practical Applications

ELS26: Endowment Leadership Series Capstone: Advanced Issues and Practical Applications

Live Event: 03/12/2026 at 2:00 PM (EDT)

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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large withdrawals from board designated funds functioning as endowments, approaches for honoring donor wishes that are no longer applicable, financial statement disclosures and other endowment communications, governance, and administrative and fund tracking considerations.   

 

After this webinar, you will be able to— 

  • Explain how governance impacts strategic and operational objectives 
  • Contrast true endowment versus quasi endowment management  
  • Develop communication techniques for explaining the value of your endowment  
  • Understand legal parameters that affect the use of endowment funds 

Recording

This webinar will be recorded. Registrants will receive an email when the recording is available

CPE Available: 1 Credit in Specialized Knowledge

Each individual must register and attend separately to earn credit.

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NACUBO is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website www.nasbaregistry.org

Event Information

  • Level: Intermediate
  • Prerequisites: Minimum 1-2 years of experience as a professional in higher education or a related private industry.
  • Advanced Preparation: None
  • Delivery Mode: Group internet based
  • Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
  • Length: 60 minutes

Steps to Earn CPE Credit

You can only earn credit for attending the session live. CPE credit cannot be earned for watching the recordings.

To earn CPE credit, you will complete the following tasks under the Content tab, after the session has ended:

  1. Pass the CPE codeword quiz. Write down the codewords posted in the Zoom chat at random times throughout the session and complete the quiz at the end of the session. 
  2. Submit the CPE check-out code displayed at the end of the session. 
  3. Download your CPE certificate. 

You have until 5 pm Eastern Time on March 13, 2026, to complete these three steps or report technology issues with this site to online@nacubo.org.

For more detailed instructions, review the CPE Instructions page.

Sue Menditto

Senior Director, Accounting Policy

NACUBO

Sue Menditto is NACUBO’s expert on financial accounting and reporting, managerial analysis, and financial viability. She is charged with fulfilling higher education advocacy needs with the GASB, FASB, AICPA, and Department of Education. She was appointed to the IPEDS Finance Survey Workgroup in August 2023 as one of its financial reporting experts. She has also represented higher education on the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council (2006–2012), AICPA’s Revenue Recognition Task Force (2016–2017), and the Department of Education’s financial responsibility subcommittee (2017–2018).

Menditto informs the association’s research efforts on accounting issues, endowment management, and tuition discounting; writes member communications: news, advisories, accounting tutorials, and articles; and supports members’ professional development needs by providing subject matter guidance. She has also co-authored chapters of publications addressing accounting, public health, and analytics and regularly speaks on accounting and financial management topics at conferences.

Menditto began her career in public accounting, was a CFO and Controller for a not-for-profit organization, and a vice president for Bank of America where she specialized in change management and accounting policy. She holds degrees in psychology and accounting and is a certified public accountant.  

Jason Edwards

COO

Adavico

Jason Edwards joined Adavico in 2018 as the chief operating officer and is instrumental in advancing Adavico’s software and client accounting services divisions. A seasoned veteran of endowments, sub-accounting systems, and pooled fund administration, he focuses on creating company-wide best practices and enhancing product and service offerings. Before Adavico, Jason served as vice president of finance and administration at North Carolina Wesleyan University. He has also served in executive roles within an investment services administration firm and owned and managed a transfer agent providing services to over 100 consolidated investment pools. Jason holds a B.S. in Accounting from North Carolina Wesleyan University. Furthermore, his experiential learning of UPMIFA and FASB compliance standards offers valuable expertise for endowment administration.

Melissa Rencehausen

Controller & Assistant VP of Finance

Whittier College

Melissa is the Controller and Assistant Vice President of Finance at Whittier College, where she oversees accounting operations and leads the finance team. Her responsibilities include internal controls, audit and tax compliance, financial reporting, and strengthening the policies and systems that support the College’s long-term financial health. She sits on the College’s Cabinet and leads Audit Committee meetings, partnering closely with senior leadership and the Board on financial oversight and management. She brings 18 years of experience from the entertainment industry, including leadership roles at Universal Studios Hollywood and NBCUniversal, where she managed financial reporting and enterprise financial systems. After nearly two decades in corporate finance, Melissa transitioned to higher education to pursue mission-driven work with a direct impact on students and institutions. She remains actively involved with Whittier’s Business Administration Department and regularly speaks with accounting students about career pathways and professional growth. In 2025, she was selected to participate in NACUBO’s Emerging Leaders Program. A Whittier College alumna, Class of 2004, Melissa earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and later completed a Master’s in Professional Accounting from Syracuse University. A proud legacy graduate, she has deep ties to the Whittier community. Her mother is a member of the Class of 1978, and her husband, Brandon, is also a 2004 alumnus. Outside of her role at the College, Melissa is active in school and alumni communities and enjoys mentoring students and early-career professionals.

Key:

Complete
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CPE Codeword Quiz
5 Questions  |  1 attempt  |  3/5 points to pass
5 Questions  |  1 attempt  |  3/5 points to pass Five (5) codewords were posted in the chat during this session. You must select at least three (3) correct codewords within this multiple-choice quiz to be eligible for CPE credit.
You must register to access.
CPE Check-Out Code
Enter code to continue.
Enter code to continue. Submit the check-out code that was displayed at the end of the session. Click the eye icon to view and double-check the code before submitting. The code is case sensitive.
You must register to access.
CPE Certificate
1.00 CPE credit  |  Certificate available
1.00 CPE credit  |  Certificate available Download your certificate to finalize earning your CPE credit.
You must register to access.
ELS26: Endowment Leadership Series Capstone: Advanced Issues and Practical Applications
03/12/2026 at 2:00 PM (EDT)  |  60 minutes
03/12/2026 at 2:00 PM (EDT)  |  60 minutes
You must register to access.
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CPE Available: 1 Credit in Finance

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.

After this webinar, you will be able to—

  • Explain how governance impacts strategic and operational objectives
  • Contrast true endowment versus quasi endowment management
  • Develop communication techniques for explaining the value of your endowment
  • Understand legal parameters that affect the use of endowment funds

This webinar is part of the 2026 Endowment Leadership Series. You can register for this webinar on its own or register for the series.