Nonprofit and endowment search

Independent OCIO and Investment Consultant Search

Alpha helps nonprofit fiduciaries translate mission, governance, spending, liquidity, and portfolio needs into a disciplined comparison of OCIO providers and institutional investment consultants.

35+Years of investment experience
110+Institutional searches
$120B+Assets represented

Direct answer

What should nonprofits look for in an OCIO?

The right provider must fit the institution’s mission, governance, spending policy, liquidity needs, risk tolerance, portfolio complexity, internal resources, and expectations for service and accountability.

Institution first

A familiar category does not guarantee the right fit.

Provider scale, brand, or a standard nonprofit offering cannot replace mandate-specific due diligence. Alpha begins with the institution and then evaluates the market against its actual needs.

Because Alpha does not manage assets, its search process is designed around the fiduciary decision rather than a competing investment product.

Institution-specific priorities

Connect the investment model to the mission.

GOVERNANCE

Board and committee responsibilities

Define decision authority, staff and committee roles, education needs, reporting, escalation, documentation, and continuing provider oversight.

PORTFOLIO

Spending, liquidity, and risk

Connect the spending policy, operating needs, donor restrictions, illiquid assets, private commitments, and risk capacity to implementation.

RELATIONSHIP

Service, fees, and alignment

Evaluate the assigned team, nonprofit experience, customization, all-in economics, conflicts, reporting, culture, and institutional fit.

Institution-specific search support

Bring your mission and governance to the decision.

Alpha helps boards and investment committees evaluate provider fit in light of their responsibilities, resources, and long-term objectives.

Independent perspective

Talk with Alpha about your institution.

Discuss the challenges behind your current investment relationship or a potential change.

Discuss your search with Alpha →

Independent, data-informed evaluation

Use relevant evidence—not generic performance claims.

Alpha’s search experience, the Alpha Nasdaq OCIO Index, and OCIO Analytics help fiduciaries evaluate providers in a more relevant institutional context.

What should a nonprofit evaluate in an OCIO or investment advisor?

A nonprofit should evaluate governance support, spending and liquidity needs, asset allocation, donor or legal restrictions, private-market capabilities, risk, performance evidence, fees, reporting, conflicts, and the provider’s experience with institutions of similar size and complexity.

Can an OCIO replace a nonprofit investment committee?

No. An OCIO can accept authority for responsibilities defined in the mandate, but the board or investment committee retains responsibility for setting objectives, approving policy, selecting the provider, defining delegation, and monitoring the relationship.

When should an endowment or foundation run a search?

Triggers may include a change in governance, staff, spending needs, liquidity, service requirements, investment model, provider personnel, fees, or performance. Institutions may also periodically evaluate an incumbent to confirm that the relationship remains appropriate.

Does Alpha manage nonprofit or endowment assets?

No. Alpha provides independent search and evaluation support and does not offer OCIO or investment consulting services. It does not compete with the providers it helps institutions evaluate.

A better selection process starts here

Build a search around your institution’s mission.

Alpha can help your board or investment committee clarify governance, compare qualified providers, evaluate an incumbent, and make a defensible selection.