Publications
Publications
- December 2009 (Revised February 2010)
- HBS Case Collection
The Investment Fund for Foundations (TIFF) in 2009
By: Luis M. Viceira and Brendon Christopher Parry
Abstract
In late June 2009, management at The Investment Fund for Foundations (TIFF) was considering expanding the footprint of the TIFF Diversified Fund (TDF), the first truly comprehensive endowment management vehicle offered under the TIFF banner. The recent large capital losses suffered by most endowments, including those of Harvard and Yale, had motivated some to question the two basic premises of the endowment investment model—that investors get rewarded for bearing illiquidity, and that a diversified blend of asset classes and strategies provides meaningful protection against capital losses under virtually all market conditions. Despite this questioning, the investment professionals at TIFF were convinced that this model remained viable as a means of generating superior long-term returns, and that TDF was a vehicle that provided TIFF's current and potential clients access to this model. But they were aware that they would need to increase their efforts to educate their clients on the benefits of this comprehensive approach to investing and also reflect on whether to modify the current structure of TDF, particularly regarding its liquidity provisions.
Keywords
Financial Crisis; Asset Management; Financial Strategy; Investment Funds; Risk Management; Product Marketing; Financial Services Industry; United States
Citation
Viceira, Luis M., and Brendon Christopher Parry. "The Investment Fund for Foundations (TIFF) in 2009." Harvard Business School Case 210-008, December 2009. (Revised February 2010.)