Upcoming Events

LUNCHEON PROGRAM

Monday, February 13, 2012

"How Individuals and Organizations Can Protect Themselves From Investment Fraud"

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Unfortunately investment fraud can occur at even the most well managed organizations, and when it does, it puts programming, services and organizational plans at risk. Inoculating your organization from investment fraud, and knowing how to discover and rectify fraud if it does occur, are important strategies for any steward of investment assets.

These panelists will present aspects of fraud detection and prevention as they describe the recent case of a charitable organization that inadvertently invested in a fraudulent fund. Ken Hart of Cornerstone Advisors will discuss aspects of the case that relate directly to investment management, including checks and balances and keys to fraud detection. Pete Miller of Clark Nuber will present on various accounting reviews that may be done, including discussion of what a standard audit does and does not do. LaVerne Woods of Davis Wright Tremaine will look at governance issues, including standard of care and relevant investment law.

Presenters:
Kenneth Hart, CFA, Chief Executive Officer, Cornerstone Advisors

Cornerstone Advisors has been serving ultra high net worth families, and their charitable foundations, for close to 30 years. Through their RISE service they support nonprofit organizations and endowments in planning, managing and preserving their financial assets while advancing their social missions. Cornerstone's decades of work with both foundation trustees and major donors bring them unique perspectives on the expectations and working style of philanthropists.

Ken joined Cornerstone Advisors in 1994 and became CEO of the firm in 2011. Ken serves as Chair of the Executive Management Team and is a member of the Board of Directors and Investment Policy Committee. Ken has the privilege of providing strategic leadership to the company and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the business, including client management, investment management, operations, and business development. He is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University.

Pete Miller, CPA, Principal, Clark Nuber

As a principal in the public accounting firm of Clark Nuber and a Certified Fraud Examiner, Pete Miller manages audit engagements in various industries from manufacturing to technology and construction. He has specialty skills in the audits of employee benefit plans (i.e. 401k), internal control audits and reporting in the form of SAS 70/SSAE 16 reports, as well as fraud investigation and prevention services. Pete is a graduate of Western Washington University and serves on the board of directors of KidsQuest Children's Museum, Pacific NW Pollution Prevention Resource Center and the Washington Society of CPAs.

LaVerne Woods, Partner, Chair Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice, Davis, Wright, Tremaine

LaVerne Woods has over 20 years of experience in working with the nonprofit sector and is a frequent writer and speaker in the area both nationally and regionally. Her practice spans a broad range of issues affecting charities, including federal tax exemption, unrelated business income tax planning, governance, endowment management, mergers and joint ventures. She has a special interest in healthcare, social entrepreneurism and international philanthropy. LaVerne represents organizations across the nonprofit spectrum, including: family and corporate foundations, community foundations, supporting organizations, global health and relief organizations, hospitals, health plans, colleges and universities, research institutes, charitable trusts, social service and arts organizations, trade associations and government agencies.

Moderator: Kerry Kozlowski, Managing Director, Cornerstone Advisors

Kerry joined Cornerstone Advisors in 2008. She leads Cornerstone Advisor's business development efforts and is responsible for generating opportunities that enable the firm to attract and grow new clients. Prior to joining the firm, Kerry was Director of Business Development for Coldstream Capital Management and a Director at Silicon Valley Bank's Private Bank. Kerry began her investment career as an equity analyst with Barclays.

Location: McCormick & Schmicks Harborside Restaurant
Menu: Roasted Chicken, bacon-brussels sprouts, gremolata
Roasted Winter Squash, wild rice pudding (Vegetarian)

Event Details and Registration

VIRTUAL SEMINAR
February 14, 2012
10:00am 

Money Has No Value, Except What You Choose to Do With It
(Level: intermediate)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Many fundraisers approach prospects with a charity's compelling story of need and worth, and that is important. But what is the prospect's frame of reference? Do they hear a conversation about capacity, or commitment? When the conversation begins with an individual's view of generosity and values, the fundraiser can respond by demonstrating how philanthropy fulfills personal and community values. This session will feature gift scenarios illustrating how the fundraiser's paradigm of the call and process can shift towards donors' values, resulting in better dialogue, larger gifts and more meaningful activity.

Praise for this session from the National Conference on Philanthropic Planning: "Pamela is a must see-she is inspirational and offers best practice, donor centered insights every time."

SPEAKER:

Pamela Jones Davidson, J.D., is President of DAVIDSON GIFT DESIGN (Bloomington, IN), a consulting firm specializing in gift planning, planned giving program design and implementation, and training. She is also a Senior Vice President for THOMPSON & ASSOCIATES, offering estate planning services to nonprofits. Before forming Davidson Gift Design in 1999, she was a charitable gift planner and consultant for three years with Laura Hansen Dean and Associates, and served for eleven years with Indiana University Foundation, most as its (Executive) Director of Planned Giving and Associate Counsel.

Pam received her undergraduate and law degrees from Indiana University. She has previously been an examiner in the Estate and Gift Tax Division of the Internal Revenue Service, and later practiced business, corporate and probate law with the Indianapolis law firm of Bingham, Summers, Welsh & Spilman (now, Bingham McHale) before joining the nonprofit sector in 1985. She is a past chair of the National Committee on Planned Giving, and served NCPG in various capacities during her six years on the Board. She is also a past board member and past treasurer of the Indiana Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (now, Association of Fundraising Professionals), and a past board member and president of the Planned Giving Group of Indiana.

Location: Wells Fargo, 999 3rd Avenue, 40th Floor, Cascade Room,
Seattle WA 98111-3927
Host: Tammy Miller

Event Details and Registration