Trusted Insight for Independent Oversight

MFDF is an independent association for independent directors of mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds, and other registered investment companies.

MFDF helps independent directors navigate an evolving regulatory environment and steward shareholders’ investments. MFDF provides tailored educational resources and facilitates peer-to-peer networking, with offerings that include webinars, white papers, and interactive conferences. As an independent association, MFDF’s membership includes a wide range of fund boards and represents a diverse community of directors.

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Educational Offerings

MFDF provides comprehensive and high-quality educational resources tailored to independent directors. Explore upcoming programs, including webinars, single-day in-person seminars, multi-day conferences, and informal networking discussions.

Insights for the Field

The nature of the work of independent directors is ever-evolving. Read the latest news, practical guidance, comment letters to regulators, and other viewpoints.

Become a Member

Your goal is to steward your investors’ resources. We promise to steward yours. We take our role as your trusted partner seriously. And we pride ourselves on accessible membership dues and meaningful opportunities to learn and connect.

June 23, 2025 Event of Interest: ACA Webinar Highlights AI Risks from Third Party Vendors

Mike Pappacena, Partner at ACA Group, and John de Freitas, Director at ACA Group, will walk through real-word scenarios and best practices in AI risk management, improve vendor due diligence, and elaborate on ways to reduce AI risk exposure.

June 18, 2025 IM Director Natasha Greiner to Depart SEC, Brian Daly to Lead IM Division

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that Natasha Vij Greiner, Director of the Division of Investment Management, would be stepping down effective July 4. On June 13, Chairman Atkins announced Brian Daly would be leading the Division of Investment Management effective July 8.

June 17, 2025 MFDF Event: Spotlight Program - Fund Director Independence

Tom Westle, a partner at BlankRome, will discuss fund director independence and the factors required to meet SEC's requirements for registered investment companies.

June 16, 2025 MFDF Event: Current Landscape of Securities Lending

Key concepts, terminology, mechanics of the process, roles and responsibilities of borrowers and lenders, and requirements specific to mutual funds in the security lending market will be covered in the webinar.

June 12, 2025 Dimensional Amends ETF Share Class Application Clarifies Board Role

The amendments from May 29, instead require the advisor to provide an assessment to the board of the breached thresholds and then provide remediation recommendations for the board to consider. Additionally, the revised application removes some of the prescriptive information that the board would have to be given in what appears to be an attempt to better equip the board to exercise its oversight rather than management.

Upcoming Events

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June 24, 2025
Director Discussion Series - Open Forum via Zoom
MFDF's DDS meetings provide an opportunity for independent directors and CCOs to discuss timely issues with peers and experts. This Zoom meeting will be held from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (ET).
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June 26, 2025
In Focus: Strategic Preparation for Director Turnover
Independent chairs Eve Guernsey (Lord Abbett) and Joseph Obermeyer (Voya) will discuss strategic approaches to succession planning in the boardroom. This virtual event will take place on Zoom at 1 pm (ET).
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Chicago July 9, 2025
Director Discussion Series - Open Forum (Chicago)
MFDF will host an in-person Director Discussion Series lunch in Chicago to facilitate discussions for independent directors and CCOs to discuss timely issues brought up by participants. The event will be in-person from 12 pm - 2 pm at the offices of Ropes & Gray LLP in Chicago.
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Newest Resources

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MFDF Member Series - Leveraging MFDF Membership to Locate Future Directors

Leslie Beckbridge, MFDF's Operations and Member Services Manager, highlighted MFDF's Director Candidate Database, a service that provides curated candidate lists in response to member boards' requirements. The webinar provided an overview of the Database, discussed how members can use it as part of succession planning efforts, and shared insights to get the best results from your inquiry.

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Board Diversity Resources

Explore news and resources relating to fund board diversity.

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