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.

Learn more about MFDF

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.

September 23, 2026 SEC Proposes Updates to Transfer Agent Rules

The proposal would change registration and annual reporting requirements for transfer agents, modernize current rules in light of technological advancements, and establish new requirements related to turnaround, risk management, and inactive securityholders, among other changes.

September 22, 2026 MFDF Comment Letter: Electronic Delivery

MFDF’s letter applauds the SEC’s efforts to modernize shareholder communications by allowing funds the choice to communicate virtually all disclosure materials to their shareholders electronically, absent the affirmative choice of a shareholder to opt out of electronic disclosure.

September 21, 2026 Survey of S&P 500 Boards Notes Declining Turnover, Fewer Women Directors Added

364 new independent directors were appointed to S&P 500 boards in 2026 — the lowest number of new directors since 2016. Board diversity held steady in 2026; 49% of S&P 500 directors identify as diverse, as defined by the former Nasdaq Board Diversity Rule, down marginally from 49.6% in 2025 to 49.3%.

September 17, 2026 A Mix of Judicial Perspectives on AI Use in Legal Matters

Among several practice points and recommendations, the Fried Frank attorneys stated that companies should monitor the evolution of the law in this area as more cases are decided and inform and train directors, management, and employees with respect to AI use on legal-related matters and issues.

September 16, 2026 K&L Gates Publishes Prediction Market Report

The report highlights that in April 2026, “sponsors filed registration statements with the SEC for additional prediction market ETFs on other topics such as the price of cryptocurrencies and oil next year and whether there will be a recession in the future, and ETFs investing in contracts related to sports outcomes are also in registration.”

Upcoming Events

Full calendar

September 24, 2026
Diversity Working Group
In September 2026, MFDF's Diversity Working Group will discuss neurodiversity and disability in the context of inclusion in the boardroom.
Learn more
September 29, 2026
Board Leadership Roundtable
In September 2026, MFDF's Board Leadership Roundtable will meet to discuss having difficult conversations as a leader of a board or a committee.
Learn more
October 1, 2026
In Focus - 2026 Mid-Term Election Preview
Mindset’s Senior Director, Cassandra Brzezinski and Principal, Heather Slavkin Corzo, will walk through potential outcomes of the mid-term elections and highlight the impact the results may have on Congress, the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee, as well as financial markets more broadly. This virtual discussion will take place on Zoom from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (ET). Spaces are limited.
Learn more

Newest Resources

See all

September 18, 2026

Webinar Archive: How the SPIVA U.S. Scorecard Understates the Performance of Actively Managed Mutual Funds - What Directors Should Know

IAA President & CEO Karen Barr will moderate a webinar from a new academic study "How the SPIVA U.S. Scorecard Understates the Performance of Actively Managed Mutual Funds" conducted by K.J. Martijn Cremers, Jon Fulkerson, and Timothy B. Riley. This webinar originally aired on September 17, 2026.
Learn more
September 15, 2026

Webinar Archive: Intermediary Fees: What Today’s Trends Mean for Independent Directors

Barrington Partners shares key insights from its latest Intermediary Fee Survey to help independent directors understand how current market trends may inform effective fee oversight. This webinar originally aired on September 14, 2026.
Learn more
September 11, 2026

Webinar Archive: How Tokenization is Reshaping Funds: A Director’s Guide

Stradley Ronon partners Jamie Gershkow and Jesse Kanach will outline practical frameworks to help independent fund directors understand the fundamentals of tokenization and key considerations related to oversight of tokenized products. This webinar originally aired on September 10, 2026.
Learn more

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.

Watch Replay

Board Diversity Resources

Explore news and resources relating to fund board diversity.

Learn More