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November 19, 2024 - As winter and spring gala seasons draw near, charitable organizations and their donors look forward to evenings of glamour and glitz, food and fellowship. But before we get too caught up in the fun of fundraising, let’s take a minute to consider what the IRS (aka “The Gala Grinch”) has to say o ... Read More
November 1, 2024 - Here are five key takeaways from our third-quarter market update:
CAPITAL MARKETS: HighGround's Capstone Fund posted positive returns for the quarter and exceeded its benchmark across all time periods. Global markets closed the quarter with robust ... Read More
November 1, 2024 - Though it’s only the first day of November, Christmas is just 54 days away, and the New Year follows closely in 61 days. The holiday season—and gift-giving—is officially upon us! Wherever you find yourself in the gift-giving process, you’re likely also considering your year-end charitable contribut ... Read More
August 9, 2024 - HighGround was pleased to have four interns with us this summer. We recently sat down, fireside, to learn more about our Accounting intern, Geonna Waddell, and her experience working at HighGround.
Where are you from? What school do ... Read More
August 12, 2024 - HighGround was pleased to have four interns with us this summer. We recently sat down, fireside, to learn more about our Investment and Information Systems intern, Dakota Qualls, and his experience working at HighGround.
Where are ... Read More
August 14, 2024 - HighGround was pleased to have four interns with us this summer. We recently sat down, fireside, to learn more about our Information Systems intern, Oli Endashaw, and his experience working at HighGround.
Where are you from? What schoo ... Read More
August 7, 2024 - HighGround was pleased to have four interns with us this summer. We recently sat down, fireside, to learn more about our Client Solutions intern, Avery Klotz, and her experience working at HighGround.
Where are you from? What school d ... Read More
August 5, 2024 - Here are five key takeaways from our second-quarter market update:
CAPITAL MARKETS: HighGround's Capstone Fund posted positive returns for the quarter and exceeded its benchmark on a 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year basis. Global markets started the quarter on a negative ... Read More
June 28, 2024 - After more than 24 years of dedicated service, HighGrounder Cheryl Tristan retires this month. Cheryl began her HighGround career on the investments team, later became Operations Manager, and serves now as Client Reporting and Trust System Administrator. Throughout the years, Cheryl has worked diligently an ... Read More
July 1, 2024 - HighGround’s Joe Hancock and Katie Warren were recent guests on Jason Parker’s The Sound Retirement Planning podcast to discuss donor-advised funds, the increasingly popular charitable giving to ... Read More
June 24, 2024 - HighGround’s Joe Hancock and Katie Warren were recent guests on Jason Parker’s The Sound Retirement Planning podcast to discuss donor-advised funds, the increasingly popular charitable giving t ... Read More
June 18, 2024 - HighGround’s Joe Hancock and Katie Warren were recent guests on Jason Parker’s The Sound Retirement Planning podcast to discuss donor-advised funds, the increasingly popular charitable giving tool. In th ... Read More
May 21, 2024 - HighGround received thought-provoking questions from the gift planners who attended our workshop at last month's American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA) Conference. In this blog post, we're excited to share the answers to some of their questions.
What is the average cost of an appraisal ... Read More
April 30, 2024 - Here are five key takeaways from our first-quarter market update:
CAPITAL MARKETS: HighGround's Capstone Fund posted positive returns for the quarter and exceeded its benchmark on a 1- and 3-year basis. Global markets diverged during the quarter as e ... Read More
April 28, 2024 - HighGround received insightful questions from nonprofit leaders who attended our Mission Advancement with Donor-Advised Funds workshop at #Outcomes24 earlier this month. In this blog post, we're excited to share the answers to some of those questions.
Is there a minimum&nb ... Read More
February 14, 2024 - The IRS may not be the first thing you think of on Valentine’s Day, but as Americans exchange flowers and heartfelt messages, the IRS has given us some gifts of its own. Improved regulations that benefit both charitable donors and charities are worth celebrating, so today we’re looking at the 2024 t ... Read More
January 31, 2024 - National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) recently released its 2023 Donor-Advised Fund Report, which captures data from the 2022 fiscal year of 1,151 donor-advised fund (DAF) sponsors. As the report notes, in 2022 the U.S. economy saw a decline i ... Read More
December 14, 2023 - Every December, HighGround sends Christmas cards to our client partners. For nearly a decade, those cards have been thoughtfully designed by Lacy Cagle, HighGround's Director of Creative, Communications, & Culture. We recently sat down, fireside, with Lacy to learn more about her design process and the ... Read More
December 8, 2023 - It may be the first week of December, but it’s not too late to meet your philanthropic goals while realizing some tax savings. Here are four strategies you can employ before December 31st to amplify your giving this year.
1. THINK BEYOND CASHWhile most donations to charity are made ... Read More
November 6, 2023 - Lights are going up on Main Street near the HighGround office, downtown department stores are installing festive window displays, and local coffee shops are unveiling their seasonal drink offerings. Perhaps you are booking travel arrangements or drawing up a Thanksgiving menu. The holiday season is upon us.
For donors, ... Read More
November 2, 2023 - Certain charitable organizations in Texas can look forward to an additional tax exemption in 2024, as Texas House Bill 456 was signed into law this past June and will take effect on January 1st. ... Read More
August 29, 2023 - HighGround was pleased to have four interns with us this summer. We recently sat down, fireside, to learn more about one of our Investments interns, Carson Hays, and his experience working at HighGround.
Where are you from? What scho ... Read More
August 24, 2023 - HighGround was pleased to have four interns with us this summer. We recently sat down, fireside, to learn more about our Client Solutions intern, David Bradley, and his experience working at HighGround.
Where are you from? What schoo ... Read More
August 22, 2023 - HighGround was pleased to have four interns with us this summer. We recently sat down, fireside, to learn more about our Trust and Legal intern, Kara Simmons, and her experience working at HighGround.
Where are you from? What sch ... Read More
August 17, 2023 - HighGround was pleased to have four interns with us this summer. We recently sat down, fireside, to learn more about one of our Investment interns, David Wulfert, and his experience working at HighGround.
Where are you from? What sch ... Read More
May 3, 2023 - Since our founding in 1930, HighGround’s team of legal experts has helped charitably minded individuals creatively and strategically support the important work of nonprofits. Our team can help individuals and families establish a charitable giving plan based on their unique needs and goals, utilizing tools like gift annuities ... Read More
March 27, 2023 - HighGround Advisors is moving from a fund of hedge funds to a direct portfolio. But why? And what exactly IS a hedge fund? HighGround Director of Public Markets Steven Thieme shares his expertise about the asset class and HighGround's approach to investing in hedge funds.
... Read More
March 22, 2023 - To acknowledge dedicated and thoughtful employees who embody our core values, HighGround established the Tal Award, named for former HighGround COO Tal Roberts. The award recipient is selected by HighGround peers through a nomination process.
At our annual all-staff Vision Meeting in February, Ruth Price was nam ... Read More
March 3, 2023 - Private credit has become an institutionalized and deeply capitalized asset class over the past ten years. But what exactly IS private credit? HighGround Director of Private Markets Philip Godfrey shares his expertise about the asset class and closes our series with HighGrou ... Read More
March 1, 2023 - Private credit has become an institutionalized and deeply capitalized asset class over the past ten years. But what exactly IS private credit? In this series, HighGround Director of Private Markets Philip Godfrey shares his expertise about the asset class, outlining its key ... Read More
February 27, 2023 - Private credit has become an institutionalized and deeply capitalized asset class over the past ten years. But what exactly IS private credit? In this series, HighGround Director of Private Markets Philip Godfrey shares his expertise about the asset class and, in this po ... Read More
February 23, 2023 - Private credit has become an institutionalized and deeply capitalized asset class over the past ten years. But what exactly IS private credit? In this series, HighGround Director of Private Markets Philip Godfrey shares his expertise about the asset class, beginning with definitio ... Read More
January 12, 2023 - Are you maximizing your charitable giving in retirement? A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is one way to do just that, and since recent legislation has expanded QCDs, now is a good time to take a fresh look at this unique way to give.
WHAT IS A QCD?At age 73, individuals must begin t ... Read More
December 19, 2022 – Have you ever wondered if there is a way to improve the return on your nonprofit’s invested operating reserves with minimum risk and ample flexibility? In this market, some investors may benefit from building a short-term Treasury ladder. A Treasury ladder is an investment strategy used by investors to minimize ri ... Read More
December 8, 2022 - In a recent blog post, we reviewed the latest donor-advised fund (DAF) growth statistics and considered the charitable giving vehicle’s skyrocketing popularity among donors. It’s true a DAF can help do ... Read More
December 6, 2022 - National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) recently released its 2022 Donor-Advised Fund Report, which captures data from the 2021 fiscal year of nearly 1,000 donor-advised fund (DAF) sponsors. As the report notes, the U.S. economy grew in 2021, wi ... Read More
December 2, 2022 – December is here, and holiday gift-giving is upon us. Some of us finished buying gifts for family and friends weeks ago and now have them beautifully wrapped under the tree. Others of us have only just begun Googling “gift ideas for mother-in-law” and are prepared to pay for expedited shipping. Wherever you a ... Read More
November 21, 2022 - In our real estate series, we have explained why owners of appreciated property may consider donating their real estate to receive an income tax deduction and avoid capital gains tax. In Part 1, we considered various giving vehicles, and in ... Read More
November 17, 2022 - As we discussed in Part 1, the real estate market may be cooling due to rising interest rates, making it a great time to donate appreciated property to obtain a charitable deduction and avoid capital gains tax. We looked at how the gift vehicle you use ... Read More
November 15, 2022 - The Texas real estate market is showing signs of cooling off, following home prices that soared by nearly 30% in the past two years. Inflation hitting a 40-year high and the corresponding rapid succession of interest rate hikes threw wate ... Read More
August 17, 2022 - HighGround was pleased to have two interns with us this summer. We recently sat down, fireside, to learn more about our Investments intern, Joseph Isbell, and his experience working at HighGround.
Where are you from? What school do you go t ... Read More
August 17, 2022 - HighGround was pleased to have two interns with us this summer. We recently sat down, fireside, to learn more about our Client Solutions intern, Josiah Niekerk, and his experience working at HighGround.
Where are you from? Where do you go t ... Read More
July 11, 2022 - Operating reserves are vital to the health of a nonprofit. But what should you do with them until they are needed?
An operating reserve is an undesignated portion of a nonprofit’s net assets that is set aside to sustain the organization through unexpected challenges. It serves as an emergency fund, a rainy ... Read More
July 5, 2022 - Having defined private equity in Part 1 and described its key characteristics in Part 2, we turn now to HighGround's approach to investing in private equity.
Hi ... Read More
June 30, 2022 - Private equity investing differs from public equity investing in significant ways. Having defined private equity (PE) in Part 1, we now consider private equity's key characteristics.
LIQUIDITYA private equity ... Read More
June 28, 2022 - The term “private equity” has become an integral part of almost every conversation about investing, owing to private equity’s prominence in the business media as a capital provider, deal maker and generator of consistently high returns to investors. Private equity investment activity and fund ownership are ... Read More
May 31, 2022 - Whether politics, pandemic, surging inflation or rising energy prices, divisiveness and uncertainty abound in our country today. You may be wondering how current events and future outcomes will affect your investments. At HighGround, we wish to give you peace of mind by stewarding well what you have entrusted to us and by reso ... Read More
May 3, 2022 - A charity must determine whether selling or retaining gifts of mineral interests will provide the greatest benefit over the long term. While mineral interests may be readily sold through various brokers, most buyers will only be willing to pay a purchase price of approximately 1½ to 2 times annual production. As a result, it ... Read More
April 28, 2022 - Even before a donor approaches your charity with a gift of mineral interests, you should be prepared to receive such a gift by having acceptance policies in place and understanding the appraisal process.
ACCEPTANCE POLICIESCharities should have acceptance policies addressing the critical issue ... Read More
