U.S. stocks added to the year's gains in the third quarter as economic resilience surprised many investors. Bond yields rose as the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate. We give a lot of attention in this report to the U.S. dollar, its role as the global reserve currency, and why that matters. Download full snapshot here. Read More
Why Big Donors May Hesitate to Fund an Endowment From Scratch
In this article: Major donors may be hesitant to create an endowment for a nonprofit that has no history of managing long-term investments. A board-designated fund, thoughtful investment policies, engaged leadership, and demonstrated financial stewardship can help an organization show donors that it’s prepared to manage a significant gift responsibly. A nonprofit may dream of receiving one major gift that creates an Read More
When Was the Last Time You Reviewed Your Investment Policy? A Nonprofit Case Study
Many nonprofit organizations have an investment policy. Far fewer have a process to ensure the policy is regularly reviewed, updated, and actively followed. That distinction may seem small, but for one museum, it became an important lesson in financial resilience. The Challenge The museum's leadership believed they had the basics in place. An investment policy existed. Reserve funds had been established. Board Read More
Before You Build an Endowment, Build the Infrastructure
In this article: Nonprofits preparing an endowment need operating reserves, coordinated policies, defined oversight, and reliable reporting. Building these systems first protects current programs, supports donor intent, and gives long-term investments a responsible framework. An endowment can help a nonprofit support its mission across generations. It also introduces new responsibilities that can place real pressure Read More
Webinar: Can We Fund Our Mission Next Year?
What Every Nonprofit Leader Should Be Thinking About Right Now Can We Fund Our Mission Next Year? Funding uncertainty is no longer a future concern. It's today's reality. From delayed government payments to changing donor priorities, nonprofit leaders are facing difficult Read More
How an Endowment Can Strengthen a Capital Campaign: A School’s Path to Long-Term Financial Resilience
Many nonprofit organizations assume they need to choose between funding today's priorities and planning for tomorrow. In reality, some of the most successful organizations do both. At Fairlight Advisors, we've worked with nonprofits that discovered an important lesson before launching major fundraising efforts: donors are often more willing to invest when they see an organization thinking beyond the immediate project Read More
A Board Fund Can Be a Lifeline During Funding Cuts
In this article: A board-designated fund can give nonprofits a controlled internal source of support when grants, earned income, or government funding changes. Before drawing from it, leaders should review policies, donor intent, liquidity needs, board approvals, and replenishment plans with a professional who can assess the organization’s specific facts. A funding cut doesn’t stay tucked inside a budget. It can be Read More
What Giving USA’s Latest Report Means for Nonprofit Endowments
The latest Giving USA report offers encouraging news: charitable giving in the U.S. reached an estimated $617.2 billion in 2025, crossing the $600 billion mark for the first time. That headline is worth celebrating. But for nonprofit leaders and boards, the more important question is: What does this mean for long-term financial resilience? The answer is nuanced. Giving is growing — but not evenly, not predictably, Read More
Best Practices for Nonprofit Board Members: Building Financial Resilience That Lasts
Why Board Financial Leadership Matters More Than Ever Many nonprofit board members assume their role is to review financial statements and approve budgets. Those responsibilities are important, but they’re not enough. Strong missions require strong finances. And strong finances require boards that actively shape financial resilience, not just monitor it. The difference shows up in how organizations respond to Read More
