The Investment Committee (IC) provides fiduciary oversight and strategic direction for the foundation’s endowment, in alignment with NCF’s mission. This includes fostering progress toward NCF’s financial and impact goals. Since 2010, the committee has outsourced management of the endowment to a full-discretion OCIO. Our current OCIO, appointed in 2021, is Bivium Westfuller. Committee members do not vote on individual investments, although they may contribute potential ideas to the OCIO. The IC consists of members of the Board of Trustees, the Chair of the Board, the President/CEO, and several independent committee members. Independent IC members are elected by the board for three-year terms and may be re-elected for up to three additional terms. Independent members play a critical role in developing NCF’s mission-aligned investing strategy, enhancing fiduciary oversight, and identifying opportunities for greater impact and alignment. They are fully equal to trustee members, including in voting power and eligibility to chair the committee. 

 

• Evaluate and provide advice to the board and staff as to how NCF’s investment policy and strategy, investment activities, risk management controls, and processes are aligned with the foundation’s mission, values, and goals.

• Monitor and evaluate the performance of the OCIO, such as by regular review of quarterly reports, participation in investor calls, and attendance of IC meetings.

• Periodically report to NCF’s board on endowment assets, performance relative to the foundation’s investment objectives, mission impact, and other matters the IC deems relevant.

• Retain or dismiss outside professionals when appropriate to ensure effective execution of the IC’s responsibilities.

• Provide continuing education and mentorship to the board and staff around general portfolio theory, mission/impact investing philosophy and strategies, or other timely topics.

• Be a thought partner with staff in shaping the execution of NCF’s investing goals, particularly as they relate to mission-alignment and optimizing the total mission-impact of the institution.

• Think creatively, raise insightful questions, and bring a fresh and unique perspective to IC deliberations on key issues like market dynamics, economic analysis, or investing strategy.

 

• Highly capable and experienced in the fundamentals of institutional asset and portfolio management; CIO-level experience with university or foundation endowments, family offices, and/or private or public pension funds is a plus.

• Experience with mission/impact investing. Interested in exploring the intersection of financial performance and institutional impact across the capital spectrum.

• Passion for NCF’s mission and familiarity with the nonprofit sector; experience related to racial, economic, and/or environmental justice is a plus.

• Comfortable communicating technical investment concepts and terminology clearly to individuals with less investment experience.

• Intellectually curious, able to offer probing questions, and comfortable examining alternate points of view in a respectful, collaborative, and rigorous way.

• Culturally competent and self-aware. Engages in thoughtful and constructive dialogue, respects group decisions, and promotes cohesion with the foundation’s mission and values.

• Understands ethical responsibilities and consistently upholds the highest professional standards of conduct. Avoids situations where personal interests conflict with the foundation’s.

 

Interested parties should submit a resume and letter of interest, describing your motivation for applying and the contributions you would like to make to our progress, to [email protected] no later than July 31, 2025. E-mails should contain the subject line “Application: Independent IC Member.”