Wealth Management Insights

Discover how turning passion assets like art, jewelry, and rare coins into charitable gifts can maximize impact and minimize tax burdens.

Looking for more predictable spending—even in turbulent waters? Learn how to maintain a steady course and ensure consistent funding, even when markets are rough.

The need for effective disaster relief is more pressing than ever. But with so many organizations and causes to choose from, how can you ensure your donations are making the biggest impact possible?

Thinking about joining a nonprofit board? Discover the key questions to ask and strategies to ensure your time, treasure, and talent make the biggest impact.

Nonprofit workers champion community causes, but often neglect their own financial health. Uncover the financial challenges they face and explore solutions to secure their future.

Confronted with inflationary pressures, uncertain returns, and a broad array of investment choices, boards of endowments and foundations face a formidable task—developing a strategy that is structured for today’s investment environment while remaining focused on their long-term mission.

Is your foundation making the most of its required distributions?

Want to ramp up your giving? Consider deploying more today and recycling for future grantmaking with “recoverable grants.”

Are workforce shortages holding your organization back? By enhancing your retirement plan to include a robust financial wellness program, nonprofits can compete for top talent without breaking the bank.

For the first time in years, small and medium-sized institutions outperformed their larger peers. Here’s how smaller organizations can capitalize on their recent success.

Is your IPS overdue for a check-up? Here are the common signs it’s time for an update—and a second opinion.

While interest rates remain high, they may have peaked—creating a dilemma for nonprofit fiduciaries. It could be time to rethink your organization’s reserves.

Social sector leaders are the first to say their most valuable asset is their people. Here’s the best way to back that up.

Why should wealthy individuals and families engage in philanthropy, and what’s the best way to get started? Experts on giving answer these questions and more.

Looking for a powerful way to support your favorite causes and reduce your tax burden? Here’s how to handle charitable contributions in 2023.

Giving circles are a great way for new donors to spread their philanthropic wings. Learn more about this growing form of collective giving.

Looking to better align your decision making with your values? Whether you’re a philanthropist or leader in the social sector, Sharon Schneider has practical tips for you.

Will generative AI revolutionize the social sector? Here’s everything your board needs to know.

The social sector is feeling uneasy after the release of Giving USA's most recent report, which sparked headlines like “steepest drop ever”. But there's more to the results than meets the eye.

What do you get when you connect the dots between business and philanthropy? An innovative humanitarian solution that delivers hundreds of millions in emergency financial relief to workers worldwide.

What happens when the family foundation makes it to the third generation? Change is inevitable—but can be managed effectively.

We break down the NACUBO report through the eyes of an advancement professional at a two-year college. How do the survey results resonate with her real-life experience on the ground?

What’s changed in the social sector since Dan Pallotta wrote his best-selling book “Uncharitable” in 2008? According to Dan, an entrepreneur and philanthropy innovator, not much. Find out why.

Investment committees are wrestling with a challenging long-term outlook for public markets. Are private market alternatives the answer?

Organizations in flux often feel like they're under siege. But a reset can also be a chance to reimagine the trajectory. Hear tips from a transition expert.

Everybody’s data is important—no matter how big or how small. Candid’s Cathleen Clerkin suggests seemingly small actions that nonprofits and foundations can take to improve insights into giving trends.

Donors collectively give huge sums to disaster relief. But the staggering amounts involved raise a key question: What’s the most effective way to give in the wake of a disaster?

Discover the answers to top questions we’re hearing from clients and their advisors heading into this giving season.

Can you invest trust assets in a fund that seeks both financial and nonfinancial goals without violating your fiduciary duties? That’s the question we set out to answer in our first long-form research piece in 10 years.

How can small colleges or community colleges position for financial success? By navigating capital market pressures while building a culture of philanthropy.

Private equity may provide greater long-term return potential and lower volatility—provided your organization is comfortable with illiquidity and sizes the allocation appropriately.

Is ESG investing compatible with being a fiduciary? Our new research provides a road map for fiduciaries as they evaluate strategies incorporating ESG considerations.

The push-pull between higher yields and inflation has left fiduciaries befuddled when it comes to cash. Hear how one forward-leaning CFO navigated these tricky waters.

Digital currencies are disrupting philanthropy. But is it a case of “if you build it, they will come”?  Here’s what nonprofits and foundations should look for when going down this path.

The auto industry illustrates the difficulty of finding a perfectly sustainable private sector investment, while shining a light on a better way to make progress.

How much can we really extrapolate from this year’s NACUBO report? While the top line results offer some clues for nonprofits and the social sector, it’s essential to broaden the lens for institutions of different sizes.

As foundations and nonprofits broaden their exposure to alternative investments, many are also shifting towards responsible investing. What lies at the intersection? Impact investing in private equity and venture capital—a way to raise the bar in investment portfolios.

As foundations and nonprofits broaden their exposure to alternative investments, many are also shifting towards responsible investing. What lies at the intersection? Impact investing in private equity and venture capital—a way to raise the bar in investment portfolios.

After three years of strong markets, many investors who deferred gains received an unwelcome surprise this April: a tax bill for the rally they enjoyed. Now, as they look ahead, could giving be the answer?

Third party ratings don’t tell the whole story of how ESG issues affect return potential—or how companies may improve their ESG performance in the future. 

A systematic framework can help investors avoid surprises—and set a gold standard for ESG issuance. 

With inflation spiking, decision-makers at nonprofits and foundations are under pressure to eke out as much return as possible. We take a second look at cash, leaving no stone unturned in the search for value.

Feeling generous, but not quite ready to part with your wealth? Consider bequeathing assets to your favorite organization instead.

Recent prominent articles criticizing responsible portfolios have unsettled nonprofit fiduciaries. We think the critics have missed the point.

ESG has come under fire lately in several high-profile articles in academia and the media, prompting fiduciaries to raise concerns. Is ESG really all it’s cracked up to be? During this episode, we separate fact from fiction when it comes to responsible investing. 

Investors are eager to buy bonds that help create a better, more sustainable world. Here’s how to navigate the evolving landscape.  

What can the giving world expect in 2022…a continuation of recent trends—or some reversals? Two frontline leaders share their takes on topics like donor retention, accessing DAFs, and how inflation factors in. 

There’s no guaranteed path for inflation ahead. Has your investment committee thought through the potential challenges, assessed your organization’s sensitivity, and proactively positioned for a potential spike?

McKenzie Scott sent shockwaves through the philanthropy world with her transformational gifts over the past two years. But what is it like to be a smaller organization on the receiving end of a game-changing donation? We talk to an expert in the field—David La Piana—about the promise and pitfalls of this kind of “sudden windfall”. 

In the wake of a tumultuous year, is there an opportunity to change the giving paradigm? We revisit age-old “rules of thumb” around sustainable payout levels for donor-advised funds and private foundations. 

As year-end 2021 approaches, with tax changes on the horizon, donors and nonprofits should reevaluate their strategies for charitable giving. 

Whether it's project-based green bonds, social bonds, or sustainability-linked bonds, fixed income is increasingly becoming the “go-to” for mature companies looking to fund their transition to a sustainable future. Bernstein Sustainable Credit Portfolio Manager Shawn Keegan discusses the brave new world of sustainability-focused fixed income. 

As gifting cryptoassets to charitable organizations gains traction, consider whether accepting digital currency makes sense for your institution from philosophical, ethical, financial, and logistical perspectives.

What does it take to design a charitable giving strategy like MacKenzie Scott’s? Leading with your values.

In an uncommon year, American generosity proved resilient. Laura MacDonald, chair of the Giving USA Foundation, digs into this year’s report and what the numbers mean from a practitioner’s point of view. 

As the economy reopens amid muted expectations for stock and bond returns, it’s a great time for nonprofit and foundation leaders to reevaluate whether their investment committees are poised for success. 

Athletes and entertainers bring something extra to the field of philanthropy. By leveraging their popularity, they can use their stature and cultural influence to make their impact exponentially larger.

Why is Atlanta, long known as a mecca for upward mobile African-Americans, number two in America in income inequality? And as home to the second-largest number of Black-owned businesses in the country, why are their employees often not counted in census data? In this episode, Latresa McLawhorn Ryan of the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative shares how her nonprofit challenges systemic bias and introduces new systems and structures of capital to achieve shared prosperity. Learn how AWBI helps people of color build wealth in a way that has a responsibility to the community.

Potential tax increases may increase the benefits of charitable giving. How should donors take advantage?

As organizations do more to align mission, vision, and values, many are looking more closely at the “G” in “ESG”. How can you ensure your board is following best practices when it comes to governance? Senior Portfolio Manager Valerie Grant developed a proprietary metric to evaluate public company boards while managing responsible investing strategies. Now she applies those same principles to boards in the nonprofit sector—with somewhat surprising results.  

Was 2020 as catastrophic for giving as many feared? The short answer is no. Surveying the landscape, an array of recent reports points to some surprisingly good news. While not all organizations benefited equally, the overall story was one of incredible generosity—despite the pandemic. In today’s episode, we highlight some of the bright spots, including online giving, the democratization of philanthropy, and evolving preferences among grantors and mega-donors.  

The NACUBO Study of Endowments is considered the definitive benchmarking report for the nonprofit sector. But the average endowment size for respondents is close to $1 billion. In today’s episode, we distill the findings for small- to mid-size mission-driven organizations. Rather than wading through hundreds of pages, Bernstein Senior Investment Strategist Greg Young joins Clare to get to the “so what” for your organization.. 

Many organizations with a mission to support underserved populations are striving to better reflect the communities they’re meant to serve. They’re on a journey towards a more inclusive culture, and open to change.  

What do Stacy Abrams, Kamala Harris, and Raphael Warnock have in common? They are all graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). These vital institutions are hubs of leadership and entrepreneurship that continue to produce and elevate Black talent.

Our experts offer investment committees strategic advice for calibrating cash, one of the most overlooked parts of an organization’s portfolio. 

Last year’s tax incentives on charitable giving were renewed as the world continues to deal with the fallout from the pandemic. Here’s how to maximize the benefit while helping those in need.

Two Bernstein professionals overseeing tax planning and giving strategies share the conversations that are resonating with donors this year. How is the CARES Act creating a once-in-a-lifetime giving opportunity in 2020?  

The CARES Act helped spur a tremendous outpouring of generosity in 2020. But many of its charitable giving tax incentives apply only to this year. Donors should mobilize now before those tax benefits disappear.

More than ever, mission-driven organizations need a strategic approach to cash to preserve liquidity while minimizing a potential long-term performance drag. Here are some key questions for a savvy cash strategy.

Is investing responsibly among your duties as a fiduciary? Here's a roadmap for investment committees considering the question, along with ways to measure “responsibility” in your portfolio. 

Hear what we've learned about families' top concerns, multi-generational dynamics, and the creative strategies being employed during this time of upheaval. 

Many nonprofits wish they could do more to help the most vulnerable right now. But a focus on funding might obscure another avenue. Investing their assets responsibly.

Updated nonprofit accounting rules will take time and resources to implement. But astute nonprofits will see this as a chance to better tell their financial stories.

The pandemic is prompting many mission-driven organizations to step up their online game. Few have changed the way they operate and build their brand in this increasingly online world. That must change. 

Find out why hundreds of purpose-driven organizations partner with Bernstein for their investment management and operational needs.

Proven leaders from both the social sector and the arts discuss their biggest challenges, innovative responses, and what the post-pandemic future may hold. Tune in for actionable insights for your own organization.  

With risk assets offering better rewards than in the recent past, investment committees should take a fresh look at high-yield debt.

The pandemic’s burden is falling disproportionately on vulnerable populations. Could channeling nonprofits' tremendous purchasing power through supplier diversity be a strategic solution? 

Are you skittish about jumping into the market after March’s steep decline? You’re not alone. But entering the market isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. You may find it more palatable to slowly dip your toes in the water and buy a little at a time. 

With time of the essence, many funders and nonprofits are searching for the best way to mobilize. Here are the four most impactful moves

Nonprofit and Foundation board members face intense pressure to make game-changing investment decisions right now. Here's a roadmap to navigating next steps.

With the world of philanthropy turned upside down, Henry Berman, CEO of Exponent Philanthropy, suggests creative ways lean funders can shine. 

The COVID-19 crisis is exposing vulnerabilities nonprofits have faced for years. But they now have a chance to innovate, making them stronger and better prepared for tomorrow.

The $2 trillion fiscal stimulus relaxes some of the limitations on charitable income-tax deductions and provides nonprofits with access to capital--welcome relief for organizations starved for funds.

How can nonprofits navigate today's mounting challenges? Hear prescriptive insights for overcoming the pandemic recession, fundraising uncertainty, and potentially lower investment returns. 

As a faith-based organization, you provide much more than a place of worship. Partner with us so you can focus on what’s most important: Your Mission. Your Ministry. Your Faith.

Do your duties as a fiduciary change as the economic and investment landscape evolves? The answer is no, and here's why.

How can you enhance your strategic asset allocation to navigate the return environment ahead? One solution: Alternatives. 

Each day in America, there are 28 hate crimes perpetrated with a gun. How can we change the narrative to one of positivity and hope? 

A few charitable organizations raised more money last year, but most have seen a fall-off. CCS Fundraising's Greg Hagin explains how a select few are attracting capital.   

Nonprofits are seeking solutions that combine cost efficiencies and mission advancement. Supplier diversity strategies offer a powerful opportunity to do just that.

This comprehensive guide to philanthropic giving is an easy-to-read compendium of giving strategies and related investment advice aimed at helping charitably minded individuals create a legacy of giving; implement strategies to support a specific mission; and invest for impact.

Shareholder engagement represents a fundamental part of being an active owner and can lead to lasting improvements in corporate behavior. Oftentimes patience and two-way dialogue end up being the ultimate push that spurs action.  

Over the last decade, investment policies reflected rules written when stock returns were strong, and volatility and inflation were unusually low. But what worked well for nonprofits last decade probably won't in the next one.

Religious giving has dwindled, while many organizations' costs are often outpacing donations. Members of the Council of Church Advisors weigh in with some perspective and advice.  

Whether you are considering a private foundation, or already have one, you can count on Bernstein and Foundation Source to support your philanthropic mission and legacy.

Despite their differences, many religious organizations face a decline in giving while the cost to maintain real estate holdings has spiked. How can they increase current revenues to support burgeoning costs?

Whether you’re a nonprofit raising funds to support your mission, or you’re a funder providing philanthropic support, disruption is afoot! How can technology enhance fundraising and asset deployment?  

Do you feel passionate about protecting the environment? Investors can be part of the solution by helping to stave off looming climate risks.  

Employees who serve their organizations’ mission are falling behind on securing their own long-term financial wellbeing. How can nonprofits help?  

There are values that many of us can support. Now there’s a way to ensure your investments reflect them.   

Many nonprofits have been forced to think about alternative resources to support their missions. Building a social enterprise could be the answer. 

Last year's volatility served as a wake-up call for investment committees. Fiduciaries are questioning their policies and exploring strategies to help address market stress. Fortunately, they have several tools at their disposal.

How can you establish an effective investment committee? We talk with two committee members who are a model of success.  

Are you out of shape? Stuck in a rut, doing the same old things yet expecting different results? We're not talking about your personal life! This is about your organization's finance and investment committee.

While most nonprofits are concerned about investment risk, there’s more to risk than volatility. Here's how to avoid a knee-jerk reaction to market moves.  

How can fiduciaries of nonprofits and foundations develop a strategy for today's investment environment while being focused on their long-term mission? Follow this roadmap. 

How can fiduciaries of nonprofits and foundations develop a strategy for today's investment environment while being focused on their long-term mission? Follow this roadmap. 

Many investors are increasingly interested in pursuing good returns and good values at the same time—and we can help them achieve that end. “Purpose in a Portfolio,” offers a concise introduction to responsible investing while answering the three most common questions we hear: What is values-based investing? Can I still secure competitive returns? Can responsibility be measured?

Finding an advisor who understands your mission can be challenging. Here’s how to ensure you’re paired with a like-minded partner who shares your values.

Most business owners aspire to choose the best retirement plan for both themselves and their employees. Yet, the best option isn’t always clear. With our comprehensive guidebook, “Change the Plan, Not the Goal: A Business Owner’s Guide to Choosing a Retirement Plan,” business owners can select the best plan for themselves—and their firm.

Striving for social benefits and strong returns? Align your portfolio with the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Leaders of nonprofit organizations and foundations that support them are seeking creative budget balancing solutions without sacrificing critical programs and services. Bernstein's Clare Golla, Head of Endowment and Foundation Advisory, sat down with Linda Zager, President and CEO of The Back Office Cooperative, for a discussion on how to increase buying power, build an effective procurement process, and align your cost structure with your mission.

As part of our Looking Forward, Giving Back campaign, we sat down with a panel of three inspiring leaders whose organizations support underserved constituents on local, national, and global scales. Each organization’s work has become more urgent than ever—and requires novel approaches that might inspire others.

Virtual branding can be a powerful pathway to action. But where do you start? Our branding professionals offered helpful tips and tricks for leveraging virtual channels.

Don’t settle for the status quo. Pursue change by investing responsibly in the world you want.

Bernstein answers common questions about responsible investing: what is it and why is it the best approach?

With smoothing, you can tap your portfolio to meet the moment while safeguarding assets for down the road. Find out how.

Bernstein examines how investors can make a social difference through investments in municipal bonds. 

Back-to-school is fraught with uncertainty this year, as schools grapple with the best way to meet students’ needs. We spoke with an expert panel about inequities in school funding, unconscious bias, and culturally relevant curriculums—along with proven private sector solutions.

David Rubenstein walks us through his philanthropic journey, why he chose not to “burden” his children with excessive wealth, and how he made his mom proud. He also talks COVID-19’s lasting influence, the US and global economy, leadership and the election, and much more.