Author: Amy Paterson

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how nonprofits operate, communicate, and serve their communities. In this discussion, experts from The Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland and Compass Pro Bono joined TIFF Investment Management to share how organizations can approach AI adoption strategically, drawing from Compass Pro Bono’s own implementation journey — what worked, what didn’t, and what others can learn.

Watch the Replay:

Key Takeaways:

• AI can significantly increase nonprofit efficiency when adopted thoughtfully. AI is already embedded in many common tools, and when used intentionally, it can augment human work and free staff to focus more time on mission-driven activities.
• Building a responsible, intentional AI strategy is essential for success. Compass Pro Bono’s experience shows that clear policies, targeted use cases, staff training, and a culture of experimentation create the foundation for safe and effective integration.
• AI can meaningfully redirect staff capacity toward high-value work. Teams can reclaim several hours per week—sometimes 10–12—by automating routine tasks and enhancing critical thinking tasks, allowing more time for strategy, storytelling, and stakeholder engagement.

Explore additional resources in the slide deck here↗.

The materials are being provided for informational purposes only and constitute neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. These materials also do not constitute an offer or advertisement of TIFF’s investment advisory services or investment, legal or tax advice. Opinions expressed herein are those of TIFF and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

These materials may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although TIFF believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, future results cannot be guaranteed.

Chief Investment Officer recently interviewed TIFF Managing Director, Client CIO Group, Anne Duggan, for a piece discussing her research on university endowment performance in FY25. She shared her expertise, adding that “this year was unique, in that both risk and safety net assets had solid positive performance.”

Read the full article here

The materials are being provided for informational purposes only and constitute neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. These materials also do not constitute an offer or advertisement of TIFF’s investment advisory services or investment, legal or tax advice. Opinions expressed herein are those of TIFF and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

These materials may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although TIFF believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, future results cannot be guaranteed.

Pensions & Investments recently interviewed TIFF Managing Director, Client CIO Group, Anne Duggan, for a piece discussing university endowment performance in FY25. Duggan shared her analysis that, as the spread between public and private markets has begun to narrow, endowments with private exposure have seen positive returns.

Read the full article here

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The materials are being provided for informational purposes only and constitute neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. These materials also do not constitute an offer or advertisement of TIFF’s investment advisory services or investment, legal or tax advice. Opinions expressed herein are those of TIFF and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

These materials may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although TIFF believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, future results cannot be guaranteed.

Higher Ed Dive recently covered TIFF’s article, “FY25 Performance Drivers: Insights from the Biggest University Endowments.” Written by Anne Duggan, Managing Director, Client CIO Group, the article analyzes the factors that led large endowments to post double-digit returns in FY25 and suggests that private markets investments served as a major catalyst for the strong performance.

To learn more about the TIFF’s analysis, read the press article here.

The materials are being provided for informational purposes only and constitute neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. These materials also do not constitute an offer or advertisement of TIFF’s investment advisory services or investment, legal, or tax advice. Opinions expressed herein are those of TIFF and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

These materials may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although TIFF believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, future results cannot be guaranteed.

TIFF held Impact Day on Tuesday, November 4, 2026, bringing our team together for a series of inspiring conversations with leaders across sectors — from technology and education to philanthropy and conservation. The day underscored TIFF’s commitment to learning from organizations driving meaningful change, deepening our understanding of the impact they aim to achieve, and exploring how we can translate those insights into our own work and communities. Here are some of the highlights from each of the day’s speakers.

Matt Gillin, Relay Network
Matt discussed his journey as an entrepreneur, from his family’s influence to founding two successful companies. He emphasized the importance of believing in your mission, staying agile, and harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to amplify — not replace — human potential. Matt described AI as a platform shift unlike any we’ve seen before and reminded us that while the greatest risk may be not deploying AI fast enough, it’s ultimately human creativity and curiosity that move organizations forward.

Kerry Woodward, Philadelphia Financial Scholars
Kerry spoke about expanding access to personal finance education for Philadelphia students by equipping educators and bringing practical, classroom-ready resources to schools. She also highlighted the PFS Summer Experienceship, which provides students with real-world exposure, skill-building, and mentorship across local organizations, helping them grow financial confidence and envision pathways into future careers.

Keith Palmer, Travis Manion Foundation
Keith shared powerful lessons on leadership and teamwork drawn from his service in the Marine Corps and his work supporting veterans and families of the fallen and mentoring young people. He reminded us that effective leadership starts with “mission first, people always” — an understanding that you can’t accomplish the mission without investing in your people. Anchored in the Foundation’s guiding principle, “If Not Me, Then Who…,” Keith spoke about the importance of mentorship, community engagement, and collaboration as the true drivers of meaningful leadership and impact.

Oliver Bass, Natural Lands Trust
Oliver shared reflections from his 28-year career at Natural Lands Trust, highlighting how the organization’s endowment provides the financial stability needed to pursue mission-critical work — from protecting open spaces and managing development pressures to restoring wildlife habitats. He spoke about how the nature of conservation challenges has evolved, even as the organization’s purpose remains constant, and emphasized that strong financial partnerships make it possible to achieve long-term environmental impact.

A Commitment to Promoting Exchange

Impact Day is born out of one of TIFF’s most fundamental beliefs: that continual learning and open exchange strengthen how we serve our clients. By embracing broad perspectives, we challenge ourselves to think more creatively and to deepen our impact on the communities and missions we support. We’re grateful to each of the speakers for their insightful stories and contributions.

The materials are being provided for informational purposes only and constitute neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. These materials also do not constitute an offer or advertisement of TIFF’s investment advisory services or investment, legal or tax advice. Opinions expressed herein are those of TIFF and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

These materials may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Although TIFF believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, future results cannot be guaranteed.