As colleges and universities face mounting pressures from all directions - donors, politicians, alumni, and various interest groups - the ability of governing boards to maintain their independence has never been more crucial. This autonomy isn't about resisting political influence; it's about ensuring that boards can fulfill their fiduciary duties and make decisions that serve their institutions' missions and values. Board independence is key to institutions maintaining their role as crucial incubators of innovation, discovery, and democratic values. In this podcast, AGB President and CEO Fram Virgee discusses the vital role of independence and neutrality in today’s environment.

As colleges and universities attempt to navigate today’s challenging economic environment, they are increasingly relying on their endowments to fund operating costs. That sometimes means spending beyond their endowment’s spending policy guidelines, which presents a difficult dilemma: How do they serve present needs yet also safeguard the institution’s long-term financial sustainability? In this podcast, AGB’s David Bass speaks with Cambridge Associates’ Tracy Filosa about the balance that institutional leaders must strike between, on the one hand, meeting current demands and, on the other, ensuring that adequate resources will be available for future generations of stakeholders.

Foundation boards must create leadership succession plans for themselves and their CEOs. In addition, a strong institution-foundation partnership is crucial when a university leadership transition occurs. In this podcast, originally presented as a webinar, AGB Consulting’s Natalie Boehm speaks with AGB Senior Consultant Jane DiFolco Parker and AGB’s Executive Director of Philanthropic Governance David Bass about the vital role of succession planning in ensuring continuity and growth for foundations.