FFOG Membership Eligibility
Financial and investment professionals of large private foundations that have a diversified investment program are eligible for either Regular or Affiliate Membership. Members typically work for foundations that have investment policies that call for allocating assets among multiple asset classes and engaging outside investment managers to manage those assets.
"Large" private foundations are defined as those with at least $200 million in assets.
FFOG members are employees of independent or family private foundations, or private operating foundations.
FFOG has two categories of membership, Regular Members and Affiliate Members.
Regular Members
To be a Regular Member, you must:
- be a full-time staff member and a senior finance or investment professional who works directly with the CEO, board and/or investment committee of your foundation,
- have as your principal responsibility the financial and/or investment management of the foundation's assets, and
- not be engaged in these activities as an independent contractor, consultant, agent, or advisor.
Most foundations have one Regular Member. In situations where there are two senior-level professionals, typically both a CFO and a CIO, and they each report to the foundation's chief executive, that foundation may have two Regular Members.
Regular Members enjoy all of the benefits of FFOG membership, including an invitation to attend the semi-annual FFOG meetings.
Regular Members can sponsor Affiliate Members from their foundation.
Join FFOG as a Regular Member »
Affiliate Members
Affiliate Members can only be added once a foundation has a Regular member. They are typically the finance and investment professional staff members who report to the Regular Member.
To be an Affiliate Member, you must:
- be sponsored by the Regular Member from your foundation,
- be an employee of the foundation,
- be involved with investments, treasury, accounting, tax, human resources, technology or administrative functions at that foundation, and
- not be engaged in these activities as an independent contractor, consultant, agent, or advisor.
An Affiliate Member may attend the semi-annual FFOG meetings if the foundation's Regular Member is unable to attend. Affiliate Members have full access to the FFOG website.
Join FFOG as an Affiliate Member »
Financial Commitments of Membership
Annual dues are collected to cover the costs of maintaining the website, distributing survey results, and other administrative costs.
Regular Member dues are $1,000 per year. Affiliate Member dues are $250 per year.
Registration fees for the semi-annual meetings are set at a level to cover the meal and facility costs associated with those meetings. Members cover their own transportation and hotel costs to attend meetings.
Other Commitments of Membership
FFOG is a volunteer-run organization, which has no professional or administrative staff. It relies heavily upon the willingness of its members to serve as directors, officers and committee members. FFOG members in specific cities or geographic areas also volunteer to serve as host committees for the semi-annual meetings, taking on the responsibility of organizing the program and logistics for those meetings.
The usefulness of the periodic surveys conducted by FFOG depends on full member participation. The surveys are designed and conducted, and the results are compiled by members who volunteer a great deal of their time. Participation in the three major surveys - investments, admin costs and compensation - is an expected part of FFOG membership.
To maintain FFOG as a "safe" forum where members feel free to share expertise and experiences, members are expected to keep all FFOG information and communications confidential. While FFOG members can use generic information from FFOG surveys, discussions, meetings, etc. within their own foundations, FFOG members never distribute FFOG material to non-members or betray the confidence of their fellow members. All members are expected to sign a confidentiality agreement and renew this commitment annually.
Becoming a Member
