1. Spending Policy Forum 2013 JFNA Investment Institute
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

2. Policy Development Example | Spending Policy Approaches
Description
Traditional
Pre-specified percentage of moving average of market value – typically 5% of a three year moving average of beginning market values
Inflation Based
Increase spending each year based on rate of inflation
Income Based
Spend all current income
Banded Inflation
Last year’s spending plus an inflation rate, but bound by ranges, e.g. – no more than 6.5% nor less than 3.5%
Spending Reserve
Segregation of 5-10% of market value in separate account, invested in 90 day treasury bills. Reserve is drawn down when endowment performance is less than policy target
Stabilization Fund
A fund created from endowment returns in excess of the target spending rate which is used to control the long run growth of the total endowment. The stabilization fund is invested alongside the endowment, but with a different (higher) spending rate.
“Yale Rule”
The amount released under the spending rule is based on a weighted average of prior spending adjusted for inflation (80 percent weight) and the amount that would have been spent using 5 percent of current Endowment market value (20 percent weight).
“Stanford Rule”
The calculation is an average weighted 60% on the actual payout from the current year and 40% on the target payout rate. This policy results in a “smoothing” of the payout amount, and it is designed to cushion the university from swings in the yearly endowment value due to market fluctuations.
February 12, 2013
2013 JFNA Investment Institute | Palm Beach Gardens, FL

3. Effective Spending Rate
By Fiscal Year
NOTE: All performance information reflects net total returns. Fiscal year end for the majority of educational institutions is June 30th. For the foundations and operating charities sectors fiscal year end is typically December 31st. Information for educational endowments is drawn from the NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. Information for other sectors is drawn from the Benchmarks Study for the respective sectors. Copyright 2013 The Common Fund for Nonprofit Organizations and the National Association of College and University Business Officers. All rights reserved.
February 12, 2013
2013 JFNA Investment Institute | Palm Beach Gardens, FL

4. Educational Endowments
Spending Policy
Educational Endowments
Foundations
Operating Charities
Total
Top Quartile
Percentage of a moving average
75%
66%
47%
42%
72%
50%
Spend all current income 4% 8% 6% 5%
Average percentage
4.7%
5.1%
5.0%
Decide on an appropriate rate each year
11%
14%
20%
19%
25%
Grow distribution at a predetermined inflation rate * 0% 1% 3%
Spend a pre-specified percentage of beginning market rate
12%
Average pre-specified percentage spent
4.8%
4.9%
1.0%
Last year's spending plus inflation with upper and lower bands 2%
Weighted average or hybrid method (Yale/Stanford Rule) 7% 9%
13%
Meet IRS minimum of 5 percent
56%
Other
NOTES:
* Less than 1 percent, results not meaningful or not applicable.
NOTE: All performance information reflects net total returns. Fiscal year end for the majority of educational institutions is June 30th. For the foundations, operating charities and healthcare sectors fiscal year end is typically December 31st. Information for educational endowments is drawn from the NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. Information for other sectors is drawn from the Benchmarks Study for the respective sectors. Copyright 2013 The Common Fund for Nonprofit Organizations and the National Association of College and University Business Officers. All rights reserved.
February 12, 2013
2013 JFNA Investment Institute | Palm Beach Gardens, FL

5. Important Notes | Market Commentary
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Important Notes | Market Commentary
Information, opinions, or commentary concerning the financial markets, economic conditions, or other topical subject matter are prepared, written, or created prior to printing and do not reflect current, up-to-date, market or economic conditions. Commonfund disclaims any responsibility to update such information, opinions, or commentary. To the extent views presented forecast market activity, they may be based on many factors in addition to those explicitly stated in this material. Forecasts of experts inevitably differ. Views attributed to third parties are presented to demonstrate the existence of points of view, not as a basis for recommendations or as investment advice. Managers who may or may not subscribe to the views expressed in this material make investment decisions for funds maintained by Commonfund or its affiliates. The views presented in this material may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of any Commonfund fund, or of any Commonfund managers. Market and investment views of third parties presented in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of Commonfund and Commonfund disclaims any responsibility to present its views on the subjects covered in statements by third parties.
February 12, 2013
2013 JFNA Investment Institute | Palm Beach Gardens, FL

6. Important Disclaimer
Use Of This Presentation This presentation is copyrighted by Commonfund; all rights reserved. While you may copy it for your personal use, you are not permitted to publish, transmit, or otherwise reproduce this presentation, in whole or in part, in any format to any third party without the express written consent of Commonfund. In addition, you are not permitted to alter, obscure, or remove any copyright, trademark or any other notices that are provided to you in connection with this presentation
February 12, 2013
2013 JFNA Investment Institute | Palm Beach Gardens, FL

7. Controlled Growth Distribution Policy
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Unrestricted Endowment Distribution Policy
Target distribution = 2.5% more than prior year
Adjustments will be made to ensure that …
… distribution equals 4% to 7% of assets …
… this notwithstanding, year-over-year change must fall within range of +8% to –4%
Additional risk controls:
No increase – in dollars or as % of assets – allowed in year following a distribution cut

8. Under “normal” conditions …
CGDP Flowchart
Under “normal” conditions …
For existing endowments baseline is previous year’s distribution
For new endowments baseline is set at 5.5% of assets
… distribute 2.5% more than previous year
as long as distribution falls within 4-7% of assets
… raise distribution to 4% of assets, unless:
… increase distribution by +8% above previous year
… reduce distribution to 7% of assets, unless:
… reduce distribution by -4% below previous year …
… that the distribution cannot go up (in dollars or % of assets) in any year following a cut
If the normal increase would cause the distribution to fall above or below 4-7% of assets …
If distributing 4% of assets would require raising the distribution by +8% or more from the prior year …
If distributing 7% of assets would require cutting the distribution by -4% or more from the prior year …
Subject to the requirement …

9. CGDP Objectives Greatly improve payout consistency
Budget focused distribution policy based on dollar amount, not percentage
Greatly reduced market dependence – eliminates “feast or famine” reliance on market performance
Distributions grow steadily in real terms - targeted annual increases with limits
Limits frequency and severity of distribution cuts
Balance tensions between long- and short-term objectives
Growing endowment assets is a long-term process
Managing budgetary needs is a short-term process
Key Benefits:
More predictable distributions
Less year-to-year variability
Endowment assets growing in real terms rather than shrinking
Larger distributions over very long run

10. Joseph in Egypt Revisited Navigating Fat Years and Lean Years

12. ‘Steady State’ (Smooth Spend-Down)
Endowment
Outlays

13. Barriers to ‘Replacement’ Funding
‘Branding’
Lack of Alternatives
Grantee Dependency

14. ‘Big Finish’ (Large Terminal Grants)
Endowment
Outlays

15. ‘Big Start’ (Major Initial Grants)
Endowment
Outlays

16. From the Beginning, Think About Ending
Can the Mission Be Completed?
If Not, Can It Be Carried On When You’re Gone?
What Resources Will You Need at the End to Ensure Success?