18th Annual CASE Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations: Breaking the Mold

Program

Preconference roundtables begin at 3:00 PM and end at 5:00 PM on Tuesday.
Conference begins at 8:00 AM on Wednesday and ends at 11:00 AM on Friday.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

PRECONFERENCE ROUNDTABLES

Tuesday, April 13

2:00 - 2:30 PM
CASE Orientation
Learn how to access CASE resources for foundation staff and how you can become more engaged in your professional association. CASE members and non-members welcome!

3:00 - 5:00
Preconference Roundtables
Connect with colleagues and share questions and ideas at these informal roundtable sessions.

• CEOs/Presidents/Executive Directors
• Financial Staff (CFOs, Controllers, Treasurers, etc.)
• Community College Foundation Staff
• COOs/Counsels/Development Staff

5:00 - 6:00
Welcoming Reception
Join us for an hour of networking as CASE welcomes attendees to the 18th Annual CASE Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Day 1, Wednesday, April 14

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Welcome & Keynote Presentation: The Road Ahead
Larry Kochard, co-author of Foundation and Endowment Investing: Philosophies and Strategies of Top Investors and Institutions, will share his thoughts and advice on institutional investing in the current economic climate.
Speaker: Lawrence Kochard, Chief Investment Officer, Georgetown University

9:45 - 11:00
Elective Sessions

• Executive Benefits for Nonprofit Organizations
  With increasing focus by Congress and the public on compensation on all sectors, learn some common (and some uncommon) perks offered in the non-profit industry and how they should be treated from a tax reporting and withholding point of view. We will also discuss the proper disclosure of benefits on Form 990.
  Speaker: Daniel P. Romano, Partner-in-Charge, National Not-For-Profit Tax Practice, Grant Thornton
• Legislative Update
  What is the status of President Obama's proposal to cap the charitable deduction? Will Congress retroactively extend the estate tax? This session will provide updates on these and other legislative and regulatory issues affecting IRFs.
  Speaker: Brian Flahaven, Director of Government Relations and Institutionally Related Foundations, CASE

9:45  - 11:00
Community College Foundation Workshop
Strengthening Fundraising Programs: Finding Prospects, Securing
Major Gifts and All the Stuff In Between!
Where do you find new individual prospects? Do you know who to ask and when to seek a major gift? Lisa M. Dietlin, author of Transformational Philanthropy: Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits, shares her advice for attracting entrepreneurs as donors, including practical advice and real life scenarios to guide you in your identification and cultivation of wealthy entrepreneurs.
Speaker: Lisa Dietlin, President & CEO, Lisa M. Dietlin and Associates

11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
Elective Sessions

• The Not So New Form 990
  Now that many organizations have filed the "New 990," learn what others have experienced and some best practice recommendations for your foundations. In addition, we will discuss the key areas of the Form 990 as well as pending changes for 2009 and beyond.
  Speaker: Daniel P. Romano, Partner-in-Charge, National Not-For-Profit Tax Practice, Grant Thornton
• Building the Investment Function at your Foundation
  Today's investment environment is difficult to predict and building your investment management team is always a challenge even in good economic times. Learn from two professionals the various models for managing your endowments and the advantages of each. When to outsource investment management...when to hire a CIO...when to hire money managers...when to manage funds internally...when to establish your own investment management company. This session will benefit investment management operations from the smallest to the largest portfolios.
  Speakers: Christopher Bittman, Partner, Perella Weinberg Partners; Sandy Wilcox, President, University of Wisconsin Foundation
• Improving Information Security
  Traditionally, college and university data networks have been open in order to foster access to and sharing of information. However, many institutions are reconsidering this position because risks have increased substantially over the past few years. Institutionally related foundations are custodians of substantial personally identifiable information (PII) and other sensitive data and must therefore take steps to ensure such information is managed properly. This presentation will provide an overview of the most common information security risks and steps IRFs can take to mitigate them.
  Speaker: Joel Hartman, University of Central Florida

12:30 - 2:00
CASE Commonfund Awards Luncheon

2:15 - 3:30
Elective Sessions

• How to Use the Management and Governance Checklist for IRFs
  This Management and Governance Checklist, developed by CASE and reviewed and approved by members of the National Committee for Institutionally Related Foundations, is intended for use by foundation staff and board members in conducting internal self-assessments and in examining the foundation's activities to assure compliance with laws, standards and best practices. Two foundation leaders will share strategies on how the checklist can be used by IRF boards and staff.
  Speakers: Dave Bahlmann, President/CEO, Ball State University Foundation; Glenn Kaufhold, Executive Director and CEO, Miami Dade College Foundation
• Foundation Funding and Fees
  This session examines traditional institutionally related foundation (IRF) funding structures using data from the 2009 CASE Survey on Foundation Funding Sources and Budget Restructuring. Panelists will discuss how their IRFs fund their operating budgets and any changes they have made or may make to their funding streams.
  Moderator: Rob Fischman, Chief Financial Officer, University of South Florida Foundation
  Speakers: Clark Cropp, Senior Vice President, Kansas University Endowment Association; Virginia Foltz, Assistant Vice President - Controller, Arizona State University Foundation
• Organizational Accountability and Ethics
  As leaders of your respective foundations it is not enough that you individually embrace ethical behavior and act ethically. You are responsible for the organizations you serve and assuring that the organization as a whole acts responsibly is a critical part of leadership. We will discuss and offer practical suggestions to make ethics integral to your organization.
  Speakers: Harold Parsons, Principal, Nonprofit and Government Group, LarsonAllen LLP; William LeClaire, Principal, Nonprofit and Government Group, LarsonAllen LLP

3:45 - 5:00
Rethinking the Foundation Business Model
It's clear that IRF's face a "new normal." In this interactive session, a distinguished panel of IRF leaders, moderated by Tom Mitchell, will share examples of how their foundations are doing things differently in this new environment.
Moderator: Tom Mitchell, President, University of California, Irvine Foundation
Speakers: Laura Brehm, President & CEO, University of Montana Foundation; Jim Moore, President, University of Arizona Foundation; Glenn Kaufhold, Executive Director, Miami Dade College Foundation

5:15 - 7:00
Reception

Day 2, Thursday, April 15

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Looking Beyond the Recession - An Economic Forecast
Sean Snaith will provide an economic forecast that looks at the causes and consequences of the current state of the business cycle.
Speaker: Sean Snaith, Economist, University of Central Florida

9:15 - 10:30 
Higher Education Philanthropy Outlook
Two philanthropy experts, Gene Tempel and Patrick Rooney, will share the latest data on giving to education and offer strategies on how foundations can strengthen their relationships with donors during these challenging times.
Speakers: Eugene Tempel, President, Indiana University Foundation Patrick Rooney, Executive Director, The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Elective Sessions

• Harnessing the Power of Social Media
  Twitter, Facebook and blogs are just some of the powerful tools you can use to build and solidify your foundation community. But how do you launch and then, and once they're built, how do you get the community you want and keep it engaged and contributing -- time, energy and money? What are the pros and cons, and when do you NOT want to use them? How do you establish goals, then measure your effectiveness in reaching them? In an engaging 75-minute session, digital media strategist, trainer and entrepreneur Dorian Benkoil will use real-world case studies and his own experience and knowledge to demonstrate in a hands-on yet strategic way what social media tools can do for you and your foundation, and how to use them.
  Speaker: Dorian Benkoil, Founder, SVP, Senior Consultant, Teeming Media
• Compliance Issues for Small Shops
  What are the consequences for an IRF if it has no operating reserves? With the volatility of the current economy, it is important to have a plan in place. We will discuss the need to establish a financial reserve, funding strategies, and the internal controls every small foundation should have in place to protect against fraud.
  Speaker: Leslie Berardo, Partner, Gainer, Donnelly & Desroches, LLP
• Setting Spending Policy
  As public colleges and universities respond to cuts in state appropriations and declining endowment investment returns, the need for private support becomes greater. Balancing the institutional needs with the state enactment of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) has led many Institutionally Related Foundations (IRFs) to re-examine their spending policies. What is the best spending model for your foundation? This session will examine the pros and cons of various models using the University of Iowa Foundation as a case study. Strategies for how to communicate about your IRF's spending policy will also be discussed.
  Speakers: Tiffani Shaw, Executive VP, COO & CFO, University of Iowa Foundation; Christopher Meyer, Managing Principal, Fund Evaluation Group

12:00  - 1:30
Affinity Group Lunch
Tables arranged by title - CEOs, CFOs, COOs, counsels, etc.

12:00 - 1:30
Community College Foundation Lunch Panel
A panel of community college foundation leaders will lead a discussion of key issues/challenges facing the field.
Speakers: Linda Fogerson, Executive Director, MiraCosta College Foundation; Steven R. Helfgot, President and CEO, Maricopa Colleges Foundation; Diane Shoger, Executive Director, Monroe Community College Foundation; and Kelly Zúñiga, Executive Director, Houston Community College Foundation

1:30 - 2:45
Elective Sessions

• Harnessing the Power of Social Media (repeat)
  Twitter, Facebook and blogs are just some of the powerful tools you can use to build and solidify your foundation community. But how do you launch and then, and once they're built, how do you get the community you want and keep it engaged and contributing -- time, energy and money? What are the pros and cons, and when do you NOT want to use them? How do you establish goals, then measure your effectiveness in reaching them? In an engaging 75-minute session, digital media strategist, trainer and entrepreneur Dorian Benkoil will use real-world case studies and his own experience and knowledge to demonstrate in a hands-on yet strategic way what social media tools can do for you and your foundation, and how to use them.
  Speaker: Dorian Benkoil, Founder, SVP, Senior Consultant, Teeming Media
• Strengthening your Management Team
  Building a team of leaders with high energy and impact is a mix of ‘art' and science. This session looks at practical and executable ‘best practices' for constructing and managing teams. We will encourage discussion and shared thinking from attendees about how to best apply these tools and methodologies for results specifically in IRFs.
  Speaker: John Reed, Quinn Reed Associates
• Leveraging your Auditor Relationship to Enhance Communications with Governance and Foundation Constituents
  Your auditor is your partner for financial accounting and compliance, not your adversary. The focus of this session will show how to partner with your auditors year round to ensure your foundation is in compliance with financial accounting standards and the ever changing world of accountability and transparency.
  Speakers: John Carter, President and Chief Operating Officer, Georgia Tech Foundation; Milford W. McGuirt, Partner, National Audit Sector Leader, KPMG

3:00 - 4:00
IRS Update (CPE)
From the new Form 990 to the college and university compliance project, the IRS continues to take an active look at the activities of higher education institutions. Lois Lerner will update participants on IRS priorities and their potential impact on IRFs.
Speaker: Lois Lerner, Director, Exempt Organizations, IRS

4:15 - 6:15 
Optional Seminar: Update on FASB Activities
Jeffrey Mechanick of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) will update attendees on FASB matters of interest to IRFs and their auditors, to help them "stay ahead of the FASB curve."
Speaker: Jeffrey Mechanick, Assistant Director, Financial Accounting Standards Board

7:00 - 9:00
Dinner Event
Sponsored by Fund Evaluation Group

 

Day 3, Friday, April 16

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Commonfund Seminar: Investments and Risk Management (CPE)
William Martin will provide practical guidance and strategies for strengthening risk management, with a specific focus on lessons learned from the recent financial crisis. Following his presentation, William Jarvis will provide an update from the new NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments on foundation endowment performance, asset allocation trends, spending and other key financial and governance metrics.
Speaker: William Jarvis, Managing Director, Commonfund Institute; William Martin, Chief Risk Officer, Commonfund

11:00 
Conference Adjourns

 

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3