Recommended Best Practices in Managing Foundation Endowments

While foundations differ in sophistication, resources, staff, and amount of financial resources, there are both specific responsibilities incumbent on foundation boards and generally accepted principles for investment management. These best practices are universal to effective management of investment portfolios as applied to fit the specific circumstances of each foundation. These best practices rest on the overarching principle common to all foundations: the board or governing body has a fiduciary obligation to prudently manage investment assets either directly if it has sufficient expertise, with the assistance of experts,or by delegating primary responsibility to a committee with sufficient experience and expertise.