The New Era of Philanthropy: Reframing Fiduciary Duty to Unlock Capital for Impact

Please join Morgan Lewis, Boston Impact Initiative, The Boston Foundation, and New England Impact Investing Initiative for an Interactive Dialogue with Dimple Abichandani on Governance, Capital, and Impact.

We will explore how charitable institutions can deploy capital more strategically, govern more boldly, and accelerate impact in a rapidly changing landscape.

Philanthropic assets in the United States have reached record levels, yet wealth inequality continues to widen, and social safety nets are shrinking in the current political environment. The question is not whether we have enough capital—it’s whether we are deploying it with the urgency this moment demands.

With $1.75 trillion in foundation endowments and $326 billion in rapidly growing DAFs, most institutions still deploy only 5% annually toward mission, while the other 95% sits in traditional portfolios, often working at cross-purposes to grant strategies. The barriers are familiar: concerns around fiduciary duty, questions about risk and returns, uncertainty over governance implications, and a lack of practical frameworks for board conversations.

But what if these barriers aren’t as fixed as they seem?

Join Dimple Abichandani, author of A New Era of Philanthropy and philanthropic advisor, Betty Francisco, CEO of Boston Impact Initiative, and Carl Valenstein, partner in the corporate and business transactions practice and impact investing leader at Morgan Lewis, for a discussion that goes beyond theory to practice.

We will explore:

• How to reframe fiduciary duty to see the 95% as your most underutilized strategic asset
• Spending policy as a governance tool for accelerating mission impact
• Barriers and opportunities for impact investing in philanthropic portfolios
• Frameworks for impactful philanthropic governance that enable transformation
• How to have these conversations with trustees, investment committees, and family members who see risk differently

You will leave with practical tools you can bring directly into your next board meeting, plus an autographed copy of A New Era of Philanthropy.

Who Should Attend?

• Foundation trustees and board members
• Family office principals and investment officers
• Donor-advised fund sponsors and advisors
• Philanthropic consultants and legal counsel
• Investment advisors working with mission-driven clients

Agenda

8:30–9:00 am | Breakfast
9:00–10:15 am | Program
10:15–10:30 am | Book Signing

Questions?

Please contact Amaris White.