Smart Endowment Strategies: John Griffith, Hirtle Callaghan

In this episode, John Griffith, Endowment Specialist at Hirtle Callaghan, discusses smart investment and endowment strategies for colleges and universities. Griffith also talks about how endowment actually works with host  Dr. Joe Sallustio, Senior Vice President-Global, Lindenwood University.

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John Griffith is the Endowment Specialist at Hirtle Callaghan.He has more than 35 years of nonprofit experience. John leads the firm’s holistic planning process for institutions, working closely with Investment Committees to design customized investment programs that are fully aligned with their goals and risk tolerance. He also works directly with endowments on specific, client-driven projects. These projects help committees tackle key strategic issues, including spending policy, liquidity policy, debt ratios and covenants, capital campaigns, operating reserves and governance.

From 2003 until 2014, he was the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Bryn Mawr College before joining Hirtle Callaghan. As the Treasurer at Bryn Mawr, he oversaw an $850 million endowment, managed cash, issued debt, and was responsible for budgeting and strategy planning. At Bryn Mawr, he assisted in modernizing and diversifying the endowment. During the latest recession, Bryn Mawr was one of only a few colleges whose debt rating was upgraded.

Prior to Bryn Mawr, John spent 15 years in various financial roles at the University of New Hampshire. John started his career at Coopers & Lybrand. John earned a Masters in Finance from Bentley University and a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire.

Connect with the EdUp Team: Elvin Freytes and Dr. Joe Sallustio.

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