Bernstein Launches Web "Microsite" for Endowments & Foundations

Research sheds light on ways for nonprofit organizations to meet the challenge of reduced investment portfolios with increased demands on grant-making

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AllianceBernstein

Apr 06, 2011, 04:37 ET

NEW YORK, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernstein Global Wealth Management, a unit of AllianceBernstein L.P., announced today it has launched a website dedicated to helping endowments and foundations meet the pressing financial demands they face today through the careful management of their grant-making policies. The "microsite," which includes two groundbreaking research reports and four webcasts, is designed to help virtually any type of non-profit organization -- from family foundations to public foundations and endowments.

The site URL is www.alliancebernstein.com/nonprofits

It can also be reached through Bernstein's home page at www.bernstein.com

The research reports provide valuable insight into an area that is often given short shrift by nonprofits and their financial advisors: matching spending policy and asset allocation to the organization's mission. The four webcasts focus on the highlights of Bernstein's research, specifically:

How the concept of "Total Philanthropic Value" can help align grant-making policy with mission
An analysis of spending smoothing formulas, showing how they can be applied with greater effectiveness
Spending through an economic slump: Determining if high spending rates will threaten an organization's longevity
A study of popular hybrid spending models, showing how small changes to grant-making policy can have far-reaching ramifications

Bernstein's research comes at an opportune time. "Spending policy has become a hot button for nonprofits because of financial market volatility and local budget crises," says Brian Wodar, a Director at Bernstein. "Many nonprofits are struggling financially, yet the people and organizations that depend on their grants are more in need than ever."

"There are solutions," Wodar adds. "These are what our research explores. We use a unique quantitative tool to help nonprofits assess how changes in spending policy and asset allocation will affect their ability to balance the dual goals of spending and investing for the future."

About AllianceBernstein

AllianceBernstein is a leading global investment management firm that offers high-quality research and diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals and private clients in major world markets.

At December 31, 2010, AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE: AB) owned approximately 37.8% of the issued and outstanding AllianceBernstein Units and AXA, one of the largest global financial services organizations, owned an approximate 61.4% economic interest in AllianceBernstein.

Additional information about AllianceBernstein may be found on our internet site, www.alliancebernstein.com.

SOURCE AllianceBernstein