2025 Foundation Leadership Forum:
Plan Your Travel to Take Advantage of Leadership Sessions and Workshops

The Forum program begins on Wednesday, January 29, and concludes Friday, January 31.

The program opens with four special pre-conference leadership sessions:

1:00-4:00 PM ET | Roadmap to Success for Foundation Board Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Chairs-Elect

Consistently cited as one of the most valuable sessions of the Forum, this workshop addresses the special roles and responsibilities of foundation board chairs. Learn strategies for fostering effective board leadership, forging an effective partnership with the foundation chief executive, troubleshooting common board challenges, and elevating the work of the board and committees. A capstone breakfast on the final conference day will bring the group back together to discuss actionable insights from the conference.

(This session is intended for foundation board chairs, vice chairs, and chairs-elect.)

1:00-4:00 PM ET | Endowment Governance Workshop

Foundation board members and leadership teams bring rich professional and philanthropic experience to their work, but even those with deep financial and investment experience may be unfamiliar with the unique governance challenges associated with higher education endowments. This workshop, intended for foundation staff and board members, addresses:

• The ways that higher education endowments differ from other types of investments and the fiduciary and other standards applicable to the staff and board members responsible for endowment oversight
• Different management structures
• The role of the investment committee and the responsibilities of committee chairs, members, and staff
• Best practices and red flags for investment committees

1:15-2:45 PM ET | Roadmap to Success for New Foundation Chief Executives

CEOs who are new to the role will learn from seasoned foundation leaders about the challenges and opportunities they will encounter, questions they should be asking about the organizations they’re leading, and critical conversations they should be having with their board, institution leaders, and other constituents.

(This session is intended for foundation chief executives new to their role in the past 18 months.)

1:15-2:45 PM ET | Roadmap to Success for Future Foundation Executives

Prospective foundation executives will gain an understanding of the role foundation leadership team members play in supporting, engaging, and leveraging the board. Participants will learn from industry experts about the qualities boards and institutional leaders seek in candidates for CEO and other cabinet-level staff, questions they should ask about prospective foundation leadership opportunities, and ways to successfully navigate search processes.

(This session is intended for senior foundation staff below the level of chief executive who aspire to become a foundation CEO.)

We will also conduct peer and affinity group meetings for other attendees starting at 2:15 PM ET.

The program concludes with workshops from 1:15 to 3:30 PM ET on Friday, January 31. These interactive sessions provide an opportunity to explore important topics and learn from industry experts as well as your peers from other foundations. Topics addressed might include strategic planning for foundations, AI in advancement, assessing your endowment management program and conducting the OCIO RFP process, and real estate ventures and partnerships.