TIFF Investment Forum
CEO Insights
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At the 2024 TIFF Investment Forum, CEO Kane Brenan shared insights on TIFF's strategic approach to navigating current challenges while reinforcing its commitment to clients and philanthropic efforts. He emphasized the importance of innovative investment strategies and maintaining strong partnerships in today’s evolving financial landscape.
Kane noted it had been five years since the last TIFF Forum, held pre-pandemic in 2019. In that time, the world has faced significant challenges, including a global pandemic, unprecedented US inflation, and major political instability, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, tensions in Israel and Hamas, and the US Capital Riot. Given these developments, the need for impactful work of TIFF’s clients is greater than ever.
When asked what prosperity means to them in a TIFF survey, clients frequently responded with a target rate of CPI+5%. In addition, on average, clients also believe their investment portfolios will need more than a traditional passive 65% equity/35% fixed income allocation to achieve these goals. Kane explained that TIFF’s strategy to obtain CPI+5% includes the use of active management, private equity, hedge funds, and occasional macro tilts.
A 2023 client survey highlighted the value TIFF provides in terms of investment results and its role as a strategic partner for endowments and foundations. Key offerings include TIFF’s intellectual capital (with 27 pieces delivered in 2024), fundraising best practices, and competitive fees which enhance client’s’ net returns. TIFF remains committed to non-profits, both as clients and as a philanthropic organization.
In closing, Kane focused on TIFF’s future, reaffirming the organization’s credo, which remains unchanged since TIFF’s founding, focus on delivering strong investment results, maintaining the strength of the TIFF Board, and expertise in non-profits. He emphasized that TIFF continues to attract top-tier talent to support its work in delivering investment results and strategic thought leadership to its clients.
Kane noted it had been five years since the last TIFF Forum, held pre-pandemic in 2019. In that time, the world has faced significant challenges, including a global pandemic, unprecedented US inflation, and major political instability, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, tensions in Israel and Hamas, and the US Capital Riot. Given these developments, the need for impactful work of TIFF’s clients is greater than ever.
When asked what prosperity means to them in a TIFF survey, clients frequently responded with a target rate of CPI+5%. In addition, on average, clients also believe their investment portfolios will need more than a traditional passive 65% equity/35% fixed income allocation to achieve these goals. Kane explained that TIFF’s strategy to obtain CPI+5% includes the use of active management, private equity, hedge funds, and occasional macro tilts.
A 2023 client survey highlighted the value TIFF provides in terms of investment results and its role as a strategic partner for endowments and foundations. Key offerings include TIFF’s intellectual capital (with 27 pieces delivered in 2024), fundraising best practices, and competitive fees which enhance client’s’ net returns. TIFF remains committed to non-profits, both as clients and as a philanthropic organization.
In closing, Kane focused on TIFF’s future, reaffirming the organization’s credo, which remains unchanged since TIFF’s founding, focus on delivering strong investment results, maintaining the strength of the TIFF Board, and expertise in non-profits. He emphasized that TIFF continues to attract top-tier talent to support its work in delivering investment results and strategic thought leadership to its clients.