Willis Investment Counsel

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Home / Endowment & Foundation Funds

Endowment & Foundation Funds

Experience

Our first clients in 1981-1985 were trust funds, including charitable and pension trusts. We have served as a fiduciary for four decades. We have experience partnering with clients such as hospitals, colleges, corporations, private family foundations, and charitable trusts.

Services Offered

Willis Investment Counsel offers the following services to our endowment/foundation clients:

  • Education and counseling, including enterprise risk management1
  • Investment policy
    • Evaluation
    • Recommendation
    • Drafting
  • Asset allocation education, stress-testing, and recommendations
  • Investment management
    • Direct management (portfolio construction, security selection, etc.)
    • Indirect management (index fund selection, manager research, etc.)
  • Reporting and Accounting
  • Outsourced CIO role

1 Enterprise risk management integrates risks of the organization with portfolio risks to achieve a more holistic risk/reward outcome. Especially where spending policy, debt covenants, and DOE composite score issues are present, stress-testing a range of potential outcomes is part of our risk management process.

 

Firm Insight

The Willis Investment Counsel research and portfolio management team periodically publishes its views on the endowment/foundation landscape including risk management, diversification, fiduciary responsibility, and investment strategy.

Investment Principles for Endowment and Foundation Funds – June 2016

Targeted Rate of Return and Asset Allocation in a Low Return World – November 2016

The Drivers of Portfolio Outcomes – April 2016

The Role of Enterprise Risk Management in Not for Profit University and College Endowment Portfolio Strategy – April 2014

Paradox of Complexity: Pension Fund Management Evolution to Endowment Model and LDI – December 2013

Managing Private University and College Endowments: A Case for a Differentiated Investment Approach – August 2011

  • Home
  • Clients
  • Private Wealth
  • Institutions
  • Our Firm
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Commentary
    • In The News
  • Investments
    • Our Philosophy
    • Our Strategies
      • Managed Volatility and Income Strategy
      • Fixed Income Strategy
      • Core Equity Strategy
      • Small Cap Value Strategy
    • Our Performance
  • Contact

© 2016 Willis Investment Counsel

Phone: 770.718.0706

Fax: 770.718.0805

710 Green Street

Gainesville, GA 30501