Nonprofit organizations and endowments face a unique challenge: balancing the need for capital preservation with the imperative for long-term growth. As market conditions evolve, so too must the investment strategies that underpin these vital missions. The Shift: From Treasuries to Growth-Oriented Portfolios Historically, many nonprofits have favored conservative investments — think treasuries and money market funds. Read More
Nonprofit Endowments Demystified: How to Get Started
Key Takeaways from a Live Webinar with Nonprofit Finance, Fundraising, and Governance Experts If you work in the nonprofit sector, chances are you’ve had at least one conversation about endowments that ended with more questions than answers. Are endowments only for large institutions? Do they take funding away from today’s mission? And how do you even know if your organization is ready? To tackle those questions Read More
Unlocking Hidden Value: How Nonprofits Transform Financial Management into Growth
Many nonprofit leaders face a common challenge: they know their organizations have financial potential, but they're unsure how to unlock it. At Fairlight Advisors, we've worked with dozens of nonprofits to discover that significant value often lies dormant in existing assets and policies. Through strategic financial planning, we help organizations move from survival mode to sustainable growth. The Power of Read More
Market & Economic Snapshot Q4 2025
The artificial intelligence boom continued to be a primary driver of market performance in Q4. That partially drove international and emerging market equities to outperform U.S. stocks for the first time since 2017. Download full snapshot here. Read More
Treat Donors Like Investors: The Mindset Shift Nonprofits Need Now
Donors want confidence, not desperation. Learn how to attract major gifts by signaling financial readiness, bold vision, and long-term impact. Big donors today think like investors. They want to see confidence and strategy, not desperation. They want to join success, not rescue struggle. And they want measurable impact—not just good intentions. Here’s how nonprofits can shift from a scarcity mindset to an investor Read More
Building a Fearless Nonprofit Sector in Uncertain Times
Insights from CalNonprofits’ Annual Policy Conference CalNonprofits’ Annual Policy Conference at The California Endowment in Los Angeles. The theme — “United, Fearless & Powerful”— underscored the urgency of this moment for nonprofits. With federal uncertainty and tightening budgets, nonprofit leaders must not only adapt but lead with clarity and courage. This post summarizes key insights and strategic Read More
Market & Economic Snapshot Q3 2025
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Market & Economic Snapshot Q2 2025
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Finding a Voice During Troubling Times: Nonprofits, Education, and Action
Considering recent federal budget cuts, threats to nonprofits, and general fears about the future of medical research and higher education, Fairlight reminds us that we are not voiceless, and we can do something. That something, for Fairlight Co-Founder Maya Tussing, was a meeting with Representative Susan DelBene of District 1 in Washington to consider the state of the country. They discussed the threat of the One Read More
Your Voice, Amplified: Why Podcasting Might Be Your Nonprofit’s Secret Weapon
What if I told you there's a medium where one-third of listeners actually change their behavior based on what they hear? Welcome to the untapped potential of nonprofit podcasting. Picture this: 135 million Americans tune into podcasts every month—that's more people than voted in the last presidential election. Yet most nonprofits are sitting on the sidelines of this audio revolution, watching for-profit brands Read More
