For more than two decades, Eric Daniels worked as an institutional investor, regularly engaging with CEOs, CFOs, and boards while evaluating organizational leadership, strategy, governance, financial performance, risk, and capital allocation. As a former Partner and Managing Director at Manning & Napier, he developed a deep understanding of the financial discipline, decision-making, and oversight practices that contribute to institutional strength, resilience, and long-term success.

Through nonprofit board service, including leadership roles as Board Treasurer and on Finance and Investment Committees, Eric gained firsthand experience with the opportunities and challenges facing mission-driven organizations. These experiences brought together two complementary perspectives: evaluating institutions from the outside as an investor and helping guide them from the inside as a board leader.

A common pattern emerged. Many mission-driven organizations possess extraordinary programmatic expertise, commitment, and community support, yet lack the integrated financial stewardship infrastructure necessary to support long-term institutional resilience and durability. The challenge is often not a lack of resources or dedication, but the need to better connect financial discipline, organizational strategy, governance, risk management, and oversight.

Mission Steward Advisors was created to help address that gap.

The firm's work is grounded in a simple belief: durable community impact depends upon durable community institutions. Organizations that can withstand shocks, adapt to changing conditions, navigate leadership transitions, and sustain their missions over time are better positioned to create lasting benefits for the communities they serve.

Drawing on Eric's institutional experience and nonprofit governance leadership, Mission Steward Advisors helps mission-driven institutions strengthen Enterprise Financial Stewardship—the integrated financial discipline, governance, decision-making, risk management, and oversight practices that support organizational resilience, long-term sustainability, and durable mission impact.

Experience & Credentials

• Former Partner and Managing Director, Manning & Napier

• More than 20 years evaluating institutional leadership, strategy, governance, financial performance, risk, and capital allocation

• Nonprofit Board Treasurer and Finance and Investment Committee leadership

• Harvard Business School, MBA

• Stanford University, B.S. Electrical Engineering

• NACD Directorship Certification®

• Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®)