Nonprofit endowment investors depend on the stock market to be reasonably consistent so they can meet their philanthropic program spending. Unfortunately, the stock market has been extremely unpredictable or volatile, zigzagging like a rollercoaster, reacting emotionally to the latest news. So how do nonprofits with a true endowment navigate these volatile market conditions? Here are 3 things nonprofits should know Read More
3 Things Nonprofits Should Know About Cash
So far two regional banks have failed and others are struggling which is a very nasty way reminding us that importance of nonprofits having emergency cash on hand. In these chaotic economic times, here are three things nonprofits should know about emergency reserve cash. Have a Nonprofit Reserve? Use it! With a recession looming, emergency funds is lifeline toward strength. Document and monitor reserve spending with Read More
How to Manage Nonprofit Cash
Well, it’s happened. A regional bank failed and others are struggling. What does it mean for a bank to fail? It means the bank cannot fulfill its obligations to depositors or borrowers. While bank failures are rare, we are again reminded that they do happen. Since the year 2000, over 500 banks have failed, the majority during the great recession of 2008. Why should nonprofit leaders care about this? Many small to Read More
Why Target Date Funds in Your 403B?
Whether your nonprofit is starting a 403 B Plan or you are reviewing your retirement plan investments, having Target Date Funds in the line-up is a good thing. Why are Target Date Funds a good thing in a 403 B or Nonprofit Retirement Plan? At Fairlight, we often find nonprofit employees asking us questions like “Where should I put my money” and “How often do I need to look at my retirement plan”? We also hear Read More
Three Lessons For Nonprofits When Banks Fails
On Friday, March 10th, major headlines around the world announced the failure of Silicon Valley Bank (ticker SVB) and the largest bank failure since Washington Mutual in 2008. Understandably, this made investors nervous, including nonprofit leaders and board members even though many did not hold deposits with SVB directly. The question on their minds: “Our my bank deposit accounts at risk now? Were other, regional or Read More
A Fairlight Advisors Nonprofit Financial Planning Update: 9.30.22
Well, it's been a wild ride in the stock market this week for nonprofit investors, much like living at home with a teenager, I've still got one of my own here. But we've all been teenagers once upon a time, we've been cold, one minute, hot and bothered the next up, down. And that's a lot of what we've been experiencing in the market this week. But here at Fairlight advisors, we sit down with our nonprofit endowment Read More
Nonprofit Financial Resilience and the Network Gap
Having a powerful network can bolster a nonprofit’s donor base, ensure financial resilience and open access to additional funding sources. But what happens when the Executive Director and Board Members do not have a powerful network? The result is a Network Gap. I have been following LinkedIn’s Research and Social Impact focus on The Network Gap and have been continuing to ponder it terms of nonprofit fundraising and Read More
Three Things Financially Resilient Nonprofits Do
The very recent risk of a federal funding freeze and the recent stock market selloff have shown us that financial stability for nonprofits is fragile. Even with good nonprofit financial planning, organizations survive on the thinnest of margins, focusing all resources on the philanthropic mission, often with very little wiggle room to maneuver out of an emergency. An untimely mistake or an unanticipated loss can Read More
Nonprofit Investing and Emerging Markets
At Fairlight Advisors, we have long advocated that a nonprofit endowment investment strategy include a well-diversified, global market portfolio which includes both equity and fixed income allocations to emerging markets. The last five years of returns have been lumpy for Emerging Markets to say the least. While there were some bright spots such as China’s faster recovery from the pandemic in Q’3 of 2020, there were Read More
Lucy Shair Foundation: New $5,000 Grant for Women in Finance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 30, 2022 MEDIA CONTACT: Amanda Rogalski, aarogalski@rogomarketing.com, 616-540-9231 Apply by October 15, 2022 GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – With a goal to ensure women who want to enter or advance in the finance industry succeed, the Lucy Shair Foundation for Women in Finance is taking applications for a $5,000 grant to cover expenses such as Read More
