Category: Insights

TIFF has a long history of making “opportunistic” private investments. The label can easily be misunderstood. To some, “opportunistic” may sound short term and risky or imply some sort of exception to an otherwise well-founded, long-term strategy. Sometimes the difference between a single, off-the-beaten-path investment and a less traditional but long-term strategic investment approach may seem blurry, especially to our members, who aren’t with us analyzing investments every day. In the past, we at TIFF even employed a fund category labeled “opportunistic” for many of our direct investments in companies alongside our managers and investments in fund interests acquired on the secondary market. The category was more of a convenience than a statement about ranking assets or strategies. The fact is, thinking of secondaries and direct PE investments as somehow outside the bounds of a core private investment approach devalues the importance of this form of investing to our PE program.

This is an excerpt from a longer article. Please download the PDF to read more.

Note: This article was first published in March 2017; it has been updated in September 2023.

Strategy Director Spotlight Series: Secondary Schools
Embracing the Endowment Model and Fighting the Tide of Restricted Giving

When people classify nonprofits by type, higher ed institutions are often grouped together. In truth, private colleges and private secondary schools are much more aligned with each other than public and private higher ed. They tend to have additional expenses – which usually mean greater endowment dependence for private higher and secondary ed institutions.

They are also vulnerable to increasingly restricted donor giving, which is affecting all nonprofits.

Finally, private secondary schools face another hurdle: The size of their endowments can sometimes be too small to allow for a fully diversified portfolio – particularly among alternatives.

How should private secondary schools combat these challenges? Click here to find out.

If you have questions about alternatives implantation given your organization risk, liquidity, and spending needs, please reach out to your TIFF member strategy director, or contact TIFF to learn more.

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.

How does a declining market and recession impact the operations of not-for-profit organizations that rely on charitable giving? The answer: it depends. Samantha Gross, Associate Director of TIFF’s Member Strategy team, discusses the impact on not-for-profits during a market downturn, and why Private Foundations should employ a solid investment plan.

Watch here: TIFF’s Strategy Director Spotlight Series: Private Foundations

Investors have weathered a sustained challenging market environment with continuing effects of the pandemic compounded by war and macroeconomic factors.

In periods where returns and liquidity are under pressure, even the most sophisticated investors can be tempted to reduce – or even eliminate – commitments to Private Markets.

We espouse to our clients the importance of not trying to “time” Private Markets – and instead to commit consistently at a steady level year in and year out.

Download our new white paper: Screw Your Courage to the Sticking Place: Continuing to Invest in Private Markets through 2023