Thursday, September 18, 2008

Check out select ASF resources related to Thursday's sessions.

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Opening Plenary Luncheon
James A. Joseph, former U.S. ambassador to South Africa, is one of the foremost thought and moral leaders in the philanthropic field. Before serving in South Africa, where he was the first and only U.S. ambassador to present his credentials to President Nelson Mandela, Joseph was the first chairman of the board of directors of President Clinton's Corporation for National Service. He also served President Carter, President Reagan, and President Bush. Joseph was president and chief executive officer of the Council on Foundations from 1982-95, undersecretary of the Department of Interior from 1977-81, and a vice president of Cummins Engine Co. and president of the Cummins Engine Foundation from 1971-76. A Louisiana native and former civil right activist in Alabama, Joseph now chairs the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation and directs the United States-Southern Africa Center for Leadership and Public Values, which he founded at both Duke University and the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

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1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Early Afternoon Sessions

101 From Vision & Mission to Strategies & Tactics
Your vision and mission define the goals of your grantmaking – what you want to achieve through the work of your foundation. Learn about creating or strengthening these important tools and translating them into grantmaking strategies and tactics.
SPEAKER
• Marianne Philbin, Consultant, Foundation & Nonprofit Consulting, Chicago, IL

201 Mary Tyler Moore to MySpace: Generations Working Together
More foundations than ever before include multiple generations in the board room, but generational differences sometimes interfere with effective decision making. Learn how to recognize differences and communicate despite the gaps – moving forward with the work of your foundation.
SPEAKERS
• Lisa Lunday, Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation, San Mateo, CA
• Anne Morgan, Consultant, Norman, OK

201 Inside the Beltway: Legislative Update NEW TIME
The upcoming election has everyone talking about change. How will change at the federal level affect charitable reforms and the scrutiny of private foundations? Hear the latest from Capitol Hill and what it means for your foundation.
SPEAKERS
• Steve Gunderson, President & CEO, Council on Foundations, Arlington, VA
• Tim Walter, President & CEO, Association of Small Foundations, Washington, DC

201 Small Assets, Big Impact
Small, targeted grants at the right moments can make a huge difference. This is a chance to step back and look at your grantmaking through the lens of leverage. What are ways to be on the lookout for opportunities to leverage? What are ways to get more impact from the grants you currently make? Get ideas from ASF and your peers.
SPEAKER
• Doug Bauer, Senior Vice President, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, New York, NY

101 Investments 101: Demystifying the Lingo
Trustees and staff alike need to understand the fiduciary responsibilities of a foundation board. But where do you begin? Get the basics in this workshop, including the terminology: asset allocation, risk reduction, diversification, and more.
SPEAKERS
• Kevin Sanchez, Vice President – Investments, Golden Gate Wealth Management, UBS Institutional Consulting, Walnut Creek, CA
• Trent V. Sanden, Vice President – Investments, UBS Institutional Consulting, Seattle, WA

301 The Secret of Effective Grants: The Power of Intuition
What are the best ways to address social problems? Though data and analysis offer some answers, we’ll examine the powers and perils of experienced-based “soft knowledge” and the role of intuition in grantmaking.
SPEAKERS
• Gabriel Works, Senior Consultant, Works Associates, Grand Rapids, MI
• Chet Tchozewski, Executive Director, Global Greengrants Fund, Boulder, CO
MODERATOR
• Muffy DiSabatino, Director, The DiSabatino Family Foundation, Aspen, CO

201 From Venture to Engaged Philanthropy
Engaged philanthropy is about being directly involved with your grantees, developing collegial relationships, and helping them to build their organizational capacity. A group of small foundations has been using this approach for 10 years and has lessons to share. Join us for a look at venture philanthropy in the past decade – the key elements of this approach and how it can be helpful to your foundation.
SPEAKER
• Paul Shoemaker, Executive Director, Social Venture Partners Seattle, Seattle, WA

301 Foundation Investing: Current Trends and the Economic Outlook NEW!
Join this session for a lively presentation on how smaller foundations are attempting to capture the returns of their larger foundation peers. Where are there opportunities versus roadblocks? We will also address current market volatility and hear expert thought on where the economy is headed.
SPEAKER
• David Cleary, Managing Director, Lazard Asset Management LLC, New York, NY


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3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Late Afternoon Sessions

101 Tax & Legal Issues for Small Foundations
NEW TIME
What is self-dealing? Who are disqualified persons? What are taxable expenditures? In an age of heightened scrutiny of private foundations, it is essential that all foundation trustees and staff are familiar with the tax code and basic laws that govern foundations.
SPEAKER
• Karen Leaffer, Special Counsel, Faegre & Benson, Denver, CO

101 Getting Ready to Give: Setting Up a Grantmaking Program
Setting up a grantmaking program requires multiple, thoughtful decisions about how your foundation will find the organizations that advance your mission, and support them. Get tips developing a clear and deliberate process, from guidelines to grant awards.
SPEAKERS
• Jan Jaffe, Founder & Project Leader, GrantCraft, New York, NY
• Lindsey Stammerjohn, Executive Director, John Gogian Family Foundation, Torrance, CA

101 Giving Beyond Our Borders
An increasing number of ASF members fund communities and programs beyond U.S. borders – leveraging modest resources with significant impact. Connect with foundations doing this work and learn about the various ways to give internationally.
SPEAKERS
• Weldon Mikulik, Vice President, Journey Charitable Foundation, Taylors, SC
• Kerry Olson, Founder & President, Firelight Foundation, Santa Cruz, CA
• Erik Schultz, Board Member, Arthur B. Schultz Foundation, Ketchum, ID
MODERATOR
• Marc Manashil, Executive Director, The Clarence Foundation, Oakland, CA

101 Make a Plan: Develop an Investment Policy Statement
Whether your foundation manages its own assets or employs the services of outside investment professionals, an investment policy statement (IPS) provides a roadmap to guide your decision making. Learn more about this important step in achieving your long-term investment and grantmaking objectives.
SPEAKERS
• Nina L. Cohen, First Vice President & Managing Director, Philanthropic Advisory Services, Philadelphia, PA
• Stanley R. Smiley, Senior Vice President, Financial Network Investment Corporation, an ING Company, Teaneck, NJ
• Alan McKnight, Trusco Capital Management, Altanta, GA
MODERATOR
• Frank Merrick, Vice President, The Merrick Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK

301 Evaluating Investment Performance: Benchmarking & Indexing
What benchmarks should you use to measure the performance of your foundation’s investment portfolio? Can you trust your advisors to supply the right ones, or do you need to rely on a third party? Learn more about benchmarks and indexing to make sound decisions about your foundation’s investments.
SPEAKERS
• George Cooke, Senior Vice President – Investments, Citi Institutional Consulting, Barrington, IL
• Larry Ekstrom, Director – Investments, Citi Institutional Consulting, Barrington, IL

301 Beyond Your Comfort Zone: Taking Risks in Grantmaking
Foundations are often criticized for being too “safe” in their giving, but what does it mean for a foundation to take a risk? Hear how others have answered this question and taken risks accordingly, and discuss what taking risks might mean for your foundation.
FACILITATOR
• Ann Tartre, Senior Advisor, Community Giving Resource, San Diego, CA

201 Thriving Trees: Succession with Many Family Branches NEW!
As foundations age and families grow, some foundations find that there are too many family members for the number of slots on the foundation’s board of trustees. What are models for keeping as many people as possible engaged in the foundation’s work, even if they can’t serve on the board? Learn creative ways to be inclusive, while cultivating good will among family members and future board members.
SPEAKERS
• Claire Costello, National Practice Executive, Philanthropic Management, Bank of America, New York, NY 
• Susan Price, Vice President, National Center for Family Philanthropy, Washington, DC

101 Recruiting & Orienting New Board Members NEW!
Every foundation should have policies for selecting new board members—even if yours is a family foundation and the board members are all in the family. And each board should orienting the new members to the foundation’s mission and vision as well as the policies and procedures of the foundation. Learn how to put measures in place to do both well.
SPEAKER
• Anne Kemp, Trustee, Greenlee Family Foundation, Lafayette, CO

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Networking Event at Denver Art Museum

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