TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 (Pre-Conference)
Delegates-Only Day
7:30 AM | Conference Registration Opens
8:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Local Excursions
“Wellness Welcome”- Relax with yoga and poolside networking to follow; with Brent Kessel, CEO & Co-Founder, Abacus Wealth Partners
Enjoy this all level Vinyasa Flow workout that will take you through a variety of poses to help you open your mind, body and spirit for the Gathering. Elements of balance, core strengthening, muscular flexibility and mental acuity are combined with keen focus on the breath and breathing techniques. The Yoga class is followed by a casual networking reception poolside.
Seeking San Juan: A Walking Tour of Old San Juan’s Waterfront, with Maria Jobin-Leeds, Board Chair, Access Strategies Fund and local guides ‘Sold Out’
Join a small group of fellow urban explorers for a 2.5 hour guided walking tour of Old San Juan. This 465-year-old neighborhood was originally conceived as a military stronghold to fend off marauders. We will visit fascinating historical sites such as El Morro Grounds, Cuartel de Ballaja, Casa Blanca Gardens, Casa Blanca, Caleta de Las Monjas, La Rogativa and El Convento Hotel. Easy snacks can be found along the way!
Paddle Boarding with Jason Scott, Board Member, Encourage Capital
Hoping to get out on the water before you hit the conference rooms? Jump on the paddleboard adventure at nearby Condado Lagoon Natural Reserve. What’s included? Transportation to the Lagoon, equipment, and a basic class for beginners provided by an instructor. Experienced paddlers can take off on their own! Time on the water = 1.5 hours.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Welcome Intensive
Recommended for New Members and Gathering Newcomers!
The Welcome Intensive provides an introduction to the concepts of values-based investing in an expert-led, small group setting. This program is intended for asset owners new to values-based investing and offers a unique opportunity to dive into the Confluence community with a cohort of new peers and allies.
Facilitators will lead a morning discussion group about fiduciary duty, engaging investment advisors, and other topics critical to new investors. The Welcome Intensive will conclude with a special lunch hosted by the facilitators and Confluence staff.
Trainers:
Adam Cummings, Trustee, The Nathan Cumming Foundation
Katherine Kroll, Sustainable Investing Analyst, Brown Advisory
Tom Mitchell, Managing Director, Cambridge Associates
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Welcome Intensive Cohort Lunch
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Practitioners Lunch
1:00 PM - 5:15 PM | Practitioners Institute - Vision 20/20: Reflect and Protect
Open to all Confluence Practitioner Member Delegates
Ten years ago the concept of impact investing was born from the 2008 financial crisis and became an inspiration for a new way to invest with values. Over the past decade the industry has grown in ways beyond our best held dreams, and in others ways, not quite as much as we’d hoped. This afternoon session brings together some of the institutions and individuals that helped launch Confluence for reflection and provocative discussion about how far we’ve come, and the journey ahead as we seek to protect the original spirit of values based investing at a time when competing forces are battling for control of the economy.
Join us for large group discussion about where we’ve found ourselves and where we go from here.
1:00 PM | Welcome Remarks
Suzanne Biegel, Chief Catalyst, Catalyst at Large, and Co-Producer, GenderSmart Investing Summit
Greg Ratliff, Vice President, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
1:10 PM | Opening Discussion with Jed Emerson, Founder, Blended Capital and Dana Lanza, Co-Founder & CEO, Confluence Philanthropy
1:55 PM | Reflections and Group Discussion with Asset Owners
Speakers:
Steve Godeke, Godeke Consulting and Confluence Co-Founding Member (Moderator)
Regan Pritzker, Board Member, Libra Foundation
Rey Ramsey, Independent Trustee, Member of the Investment Committee and interim CEO, Nathan Cummings Foundation
Emira Woods, Trustee, Wallace Global Fund
2:55 PM | Break
3:05 PM | Reflections from Foundation Leaders
Speakers:
Greg Ratliff, Vice President, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (Moderator)
Stacey Faella, Executive Director, The Woodcock Foundation
Jon Jensen, Former Executive Director, Park Foundation and Co-Founder Confluence
Cynthia Muller, Director Mission Investments, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Susan Phinney Silver, Director of Mission Investing, David and Lucile Packard Foundation
4:05 PM | Reflections and Group Discussion with Investment Advisors
Speakers:
Matthew Weatherly-White, Managing Director, Caprock (Moderator)
Patricia Farrar-Rivas, CEO, Veris Wealth Partners
Raúl Pomares, Founder & Managing Director, Sonen Capital
Jeff Scheer, Managing Director, Pathstone
Jason Scott, Board Member, Encourage Capital
5:10 PM | Closing Reflections
Lisa Renstrom, Board Member, Bonwood Social Investments, and Confluence Board Member
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Learners Institute
Open to all Registered Delegates
1:00 PM - 1:50 PM | Diversity & Impact of Your Investments
Organized with Aperio Group
With social diversity now a growing concern among value-minded asset owners, what are the most effective points of leverage within an asset owner’s control? Is the field developing a better understanding of tools that investors can use to effect better social equity outcomes? What are the questions we should ask for each asset class, and what is realistic in terms of responses and time frame?
Speakers:
Liz Michaels, Chief of Staff and Director of ESG/SRI, Aperio Group (Moderator)
Cara Early, Assistant Vice President, Breckinridge
Tamara Larsen, Executive Director, Agility/PWP
1:50 PM - 2:00 PM | Break
2:00 PM - 2:50 PM | Creating a Healthy Decision-Making Culture
Organized with Syntrinsic Investment Counsel
Historically, foundations have siloed the management of their investments and their grant-making, effectively relegating the expression of mission to just 5% of the endowment. The past decade, however, has seen an uptick in the push for foundation boards and investment committees to consider a more synergistic and impactful deployment of their full weight and resources. Guided by advisors steeped in this dialogue, this session will explore the building blocks of fostering a healthy decision-making board culture that nurtures critical discussion and enables the emergence of shared values toward the alignment of mission and fiduciary responsibility.
Speakers:
Ben Valore-Caplan, Chief Executive Officer, Syntrinsic Investment Counsel (Moderator)
Susan Dorsey, VP for Finance and Administration, Gates Family Foundation
Kristi Petrie, Executive Director, AJL Foundation
Bill Repplinger, CFO, General Service Foundation
2:50 - 3:00 PM | Break
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Practicum for Public Equities
Organized with Zevin Asset Management
Whether the issue is climate change, poor labor standards, or racial equity, finding alignment between foundations’ investment portfolios and their grantmaking missions is often challenging. In this session, participants will learn about divestment and engagement strategies to move companies away from socially and environmentally damaging practices. The group will explore questions key to all foundations: What do we own? Where should we divest or invest? How can we use our investor voice and influence to move the economy away from harm to people and planet, and towards regeneration? Participants will analyze a model stock portfolio and identify troubling companies and sectors, using example frames provided by the facilitator to screen company lists. Then they will discuss impactful stock portfolio strategies, deciding between divestment, shareholder advocacy, or a blended approach.
Speakers:
Sonia Kowal, President, Zevin Asset Management (Moderator)
Tim Dunn, Chief Investment Officer and Founder, Terra Alpha Investments LLC
Lisa Hayles, Vice President of Institutional Investment Services, Boston Common Asset Management
Main Conference
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM | Bomba Beach Party and Dinner in Celebration of Confluence Philanthropy’s 10-Year Anniversary
Registered Delegates & Invited Guests Only
Party Theme: Circular Economy: Thrift Your Island-Wear
Attendees are encouraged to engage in the circular economy and wear their most fun thrifted or repurposed island wear. The more creative and colorful the better!