GEM was founded to do one thing, very well: protect and build the endowed assets of perpetual institutions.
This was the premise for our Outsourced Chief Investment Office (OCIO) as envisioned by founder Thrus Morton. After years in the investment industry and serving as head of Duke University Management Company, Thrus recognized the need for smaller endowments and foundations to access clear, consistent investment management and counsel. We remain true to that premise today, assuming responsibility for asset allocation, manager selection, risk management, and investment reporting. We take great satisfaction in this work and are humbled by the responsibility. By doing our job effectively, we empower our client investors to further advance their organizational missions.
Through approachability, responsiveness, and candor, we aspire to build collaborative client relationships as if we are “just down the hall.” This partnership mentality has shaped our holistic approach to endowment management. Whether we are facilitating investment management transitions, structuring customized portfolios, delivering consolidated performance and tax reporting, or providing thought leadership in areas such as ESG, we strive to offer the highest level of service.
Our size is intentional. We are big enough to capture economies of scale in investing, yet small enough to be nimble and pursue unique, smaller opportunities. We want to be equally agile in serving and engaging with our client investors, so we are selective about who we partner with. We aim to maximize portfolio results, not the size of our firm.
