Pension Fund

Updated:

National Audubon Society Cash Balance Pension Plan

The National Audubon Society established its cash balance pension plan to deliver defined retirement benefits to eligible staff. The society itself dates to...

National Audubon Society Cash Balance Pension Plan logo

National Audubon Society Cash Balance Pension Plan

The National Audubon Society established its cash balance pension plan to deliver defined retirement benefits to eligible staff. The society itself dates to 1905 and focuses on bird habitat protection through advocacy and education programs. The plan holds positions in Siguler Guff Distressed Opportunities Fund and Siguler Guff Small Buyout Fund. It also owns a minority interest in Related Opportunistic Real Estate Fund and maintains stakes in SPYX, BAGIX, and Metis US Climate Aligned Index Portfolio. Allocations span the United States with emphasis on North American markets. Cambridge Associates has served as investment advisor since 2020. Grant Thornton LLP acts as auditor. The plan participates in the Council of Institutional Investors through historical board connections. Governance ties the plan directly to the society's 501(c)(3) structure, with investment decisions informed by the organization's conservation mandate rather than external LP commitments.

General information

Firm type

Pension Fund

Year founded

1905

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

New York

Corporate office

225 Varick Street 7th Floor, New York, NY, United States

Principals

Elizabeth Gray

CEO

Victor Hymes

Board Member

Ajay Shah

Board Member

Greg Giesler

Board Member

Sector focus

Private EquityReal EstateESG

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at National Audubon Society Cash Balance Pension Plan?

Elizabeth Gray serves as CEO of the National Audubon Society. Board members Victor Hymes, Ajay Shah, and Greg Giesler provide oversight. Cambridge Associates acts as external investment advisor.

Does the plan participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The plan holds limited partner interests in Siguler Guff Distressed Opportunities Fund and Siguler Guff Small Buyout Fund. It also maintains a minority ownership stake in Related Opportunistic Real Estate Fund.

What asset classes does the plan currently hold?

Holdings include private equity funds, opportunistic real estate, common trust funds, beneficial interests in trusts, and public positions in equity, fixed income, and climate-aligned ETFs.

How does the plan incorporate ESG criteria?

The plan applies a mission-aligned investment policy that includes a bird-friendly portfolio screen. It integrates Sustainable and Impact Investing research into manager selection.

Where does the underlying wealth come from?

The plan is funded to provide retirement benefits to employees of the National Audubon Society, a nonprofit organization focused on bird conservation.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

Need institutional-grade insight on pension funds?

Altss delivers:

Principals with verified direct contactsAllocation history by asset classOSINT-derived deal signals
Book a demo

Prefer a guided tour?

We’ll walk you through:

Interactive funding timelinesCustom mandate & allocation filters
Book a demo

More New York Pension Fund profiles