Our mission is to secure the financial futures of our clients and those who depend upon them.

Foundations & Endowments

Investment expertise and lived experience underpin our understanding of the unique financial needs of charitable foundations, endowments, and non-profit organizations.

Working with charitable Boards and investment committees, Portia Capital develops bespoke investment strategies designed to help clients preserve their legacy and confidently deliver on their philanthropic mission over the long term.

Case Study

In 2016, Michelle Connell was approached to manage and advise on the investment and property portfolios of a private community foundation. Founded in 1955, this Foundation seeks to support deprived communities situated west of a major southern U.S. city, which has historically been economically dependent on the now declining energy industry.

Step 1.
Identifying Financial Goals

The Foundation’s Board of Directors had become increasingly frustrated with the performance and service received from their previous wealth management/brokerage firm. The Board’s priority was to find a firm that could better balance its liquidity requirements (to meet current distributions) while, in real terms, preserving the investment portfolio that underpinned the Foundation’s sixty-year legacy. Equally, as the Foundation’s stewards, they felt it essential to have greater access to and communication with those managing the Foundation’s assets.
Historically, the Foundation’s investment portfolio was passively invested with no exposure to Alternative Investments, relying instead on mutual and index funds. Portia Capital was appointed as an outsourced, hands-on CIO to design and implement an investment strategy that aligned with the foundation’s risk tolerance and financial requirements.
Goal 1: Preserve Capital Over the Long Term
To conserve the Foundation’s legacy and long-term viability by protecting the investment portfolio from significant downside risk.
Goal 2: Generate Income Streams
Underpinning the Foundation’s distribution flows of 5%, the lifeblood of its essential work, is critical to its ability to plan for the future.
Goal 3: Grow Capital
To ensure inflation protection for the investment portfolio and capture upside that allows the Foundation not only to continue its mission but also to expand it.

Portia Capital developed a tailored investment strategy to meet the Foundation’s financial goals, whilst remaining in line with its risk appetite. The strategy focused on three key pillars:
1. Proactive Investment
By taking a proactive and hands-on investment approach, Portia Capital sought to mitigate the downside risk the portfolio might otherwise be exposed to – due to any significant market corrections – and capture upside value from market dislocations by identifying mispriced stocks and securities with strong underlying fundamentals.
2. Expert Manager Selection
Portia Capital leveraged its competitive advantage – a proven driver of long-term returns – by combining its broad investment experience and longstanding professional network to secure unique access to third-party specialists and up-and-coming investment managers.
3. Enhanced Portfolio Diversification
Portia Capital capitalized on its 23-year specialist experience to carefully introduce Alternative Investments into the portfolio, to exploit the attractive income and capital growth opportunities associated with assets classes such as private equity, venture capital, seed capital and infrastructure investments.
Alternative Investments added an essential component to the portfolio’s diversification strategy as these assets deliver return profiles that differ from those of publicly traded stocks and bonds.

Step 2.
Crafting Investment Strategy

Delivering Results

Over the last nine years, Portia Capital's consistent investment performance has enabled the Foundation to increase its distributions by more than 94% (as at December 31, 2024). This performance has not only allowed the Foundation to continue with existing charitable endeavours but also build a much-needed 9,000 sq. ft. youth center for the local community.

Client’s View

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We have prospered to the point that we have been able to bless our city with hundreds of thousands more dollars than we had in the past.

President of the Foundation

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. All investments involve risk including loss of principal. Certain investments involve greater or unique risks that should be considered along with the objectives, fees, and expenses before investing.