What’s unique about nonprofit investing and why does it matter?

What’s unique about nonprofit investing and why does it matter?   

Raffa Investment Advisers will review what’s unique about nonprofit investing and why paying attention to those nuances are important to the effectiveness of your investment program. 

Learning Outcomes:    

Nonprofit executives and volunteers will learn what’s uniquely important about the management of reserves, including that:

The goal is to empower nonprofit executives to work more effectively with advisors in support of the volunteer leadership’s effort to be effective investment stewards.

Dennis Gogarty, CFP®, AIF® - President, Founder

Dennis launched his investment advisory career with Raffa Financial Services, Inc.  in 2002 and co-founded Raffa Investment Advisers in 2005.  He has served as the firm’s President and lead investment adviser representative ever since.

A major focus of Dennis’ career is promoting the need for increased investment education and transparency.  He is the founder of the Study on Nonprofit Investing (SONI), an annual study promoting access to information that allows nonprofits to benchmark their investment performance and policies with their peers. 

Dennis is a past Chair of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Finance Section Council.  Additionally, he offered his knowledge and expertise to support local nonprofits as a volunteer committee member for organizations including St. John’s Community Services Foundation and Street Law.  Dennis has lectured on issues impacting nonprofit investing for the following organizations: the Council on Foundations, the Greater Washington Society of CPAs, the AICPA, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), BoardSource, and the Finance and Administration Roundtable (FAR). 

Dennis completed the Certificate in Financial Planning program at the Georgetown University Center for Continuing and Professional Education and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Frostburg State University.  Dennis is a Certified Financial Planner™, an Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, and an investment adviser representative of Raffa Wealth Management, LLC.

Mark P. Murphy, CFA - Chief Investment Officer

Mark P. Murphy is Raffa Investment Adviser’s Chief Investment Officer. Mark supports all areas of the firm’s analytical and due diligence processes and leads and develops the firm's overall investment strategy.

Mark has been with Raffa Investment Advisers since 2010. Mark’s career in financial services began in 2004 at Cambridge Associates, LLC where, as Investment Performance Analyst, he performed a variety of research and analytical functions including the effect of asset allocation and security selection on risk and return. Mark then joined CapitalSource Finance, LLC as Senior Account Executive where he managed a portfolio of commercial real estate loans. Mark’s responsibilities included financial analysis and due diligence in support of overall strategy recommendations.

Mark has lectured on issues impacting nonprofit & association investing for the following organizations: the Greater Washington Society of CPAs, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), BoardSource, Association TRENDS, and the Finance and Administration Roundtable (FAR).

Mark graduated from the University of Richmond, cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance. A Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder, Mark earned the right to use the CFA designation after meeting the CFA Institute’s educational and professional requirements. The CFA designation is globally recognized and attests to a charterholder’s success in a rigorous and comprehensive study program in the field of investment management and research analysis. Mark is a member of the CFA Society of Washington D.C. and the Greater Washington Society of CPAs Nonprofit Section.  He is an investment adviser representative of Raffa.