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 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.

June 11, 2025 Donohue Pens Third Installment in Conflicts of Interest Series

In the third installment of MFDF Chair Buddy Donohue’s conflicts of interest series, featured in Fund Board Views, attorney conflicts of interest are addressed.

June 10, 2025 Atkins Appears Before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on SEC Budget

While Member questions were a brief portion of the total hearing, topics addressed included a move away from regulation by enforcement, the development of a cryptocurrency regulatory framework, investor protection, proxy advisory firms, SEC staff departures, PCAOB consolidation, SEC civil case dismissals, and the impact of EU sustainability regulations on U.S. companies, among other topics.

June 9, 2025 Department of Labor Withdraws Crypto Guidance, ESG-Era Rule for ERISA Plans

The Department of Labor (DOL) under the Trump Administration announced it would end its defense of former President Biden’s ESG rule and rescind 2022 guidance that expressed the former Administration’s concerns with including cryptocurrency in retirement plan investment menus.

June 5, 2025 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Testifies on Capitol Hill

The hearing focused on the impact of tariffs, outbound investment, the Basel III Endgame, recent market volatility, digital assets regulatory framework, and the role of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, among other topics.

Upcoming Events

Full calendar

June 17, 2025
Current Landscape of Securities Lending
Join Lori Paris with Northern Trust Securities Finance as she provides the basics of security lending that fund boards should know in their oversight roles. The webinar will broadcast live from 2 pm - 3 pm (ET).
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June 18, 2025
MFDF Spotlight - Fund Director Independence
The next MFDF Spotlight webinar will be led by Tom Westle, partner with BlankRome, as he discusses fund board directors' independence. This will broadcast live from 2 pm - 2:30 pm (ET).
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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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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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