Golden Griffin Fund (GGF), CFA Research Challenge Regional winner's 14th year in a row.
- Available to both undergraduate senior finance majors and graduate students in the MS in Finance and MBA Program (MBA program may require additional courses).
- Real world experience in investment management and equity analysis in a student run, real money investment fund.
- Students participating in the GGF have the opportunity to apply and participate on the team for the global Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Research Challenge.
- GGF utilizes a trading room known as the Nelson D. Civello '67 Family Financial Markets Lab. The lab is equipped with Bloomberg Terminals hosting software for Bloomberg Professional Service.
View a video overview of the trading room
- GGF Students secure Bloomberg Certification, the leading information system that enables students to receive updates on the world financial markets in real time. Available to both undergraduate senior finance majors and graduate students in the MS in Finance and MBA Program (MBA program may require additional courses).
Meet The Director of the Golden Griffin Fund
Steven A Gattuso, CFA, CFP, CMA, assistant professor of economics & finance, was named director of the GGF in August 2013. An alumnus of Canisius, Mr. Gattuso is a former assistant vice president and portfolio manager for M&T Bank Corporation/Wilmington Trust. Mr. Gattuso holds certified chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP), and certified management accountant (CMA) credentials. Currently he serves as president of the CFA Society of Buffalo.
2024 CFA Institute Research Challenge Regional Winners, 14th year in a row.
A four-person team from the Canisius University Golden Griffin Fund (GGF) secured first place in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge of Western New York, held Saturday, February 10th. Canisius University has dominated the CFA Research Challenge in Western New York since its inception in 2010. This year marks the 14th consecutive first-place win for Canisius.
Congratulations First place 14th year in a row
2019 CFA Institute Research Challenge
Canisius was one of only five universities, worldwide, to advance to the Global Finals of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge held in New York City on Thursday, April 25. The Canisius team competed against Ateneo de Manila University, Instituto Tecnologico de Mexico, Moscow University and the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Ateneo de Manila University, our Jesuit partner in the Philippines, won the global competition.
Congratulations on advancing to the Global Finals
2015 Global Winners - CFA Institute Research Challenge
A team of Canisius students won the Global Finals at the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge held in Atlanta, GA, on Friday night. More than 4,000 students from 865 universities from around the world competed for a spot in the Global Finals to show they have what it takes to be successful investment management professionals.
Congratulations World Champions! Canisius Wins Global Finals at CFA Challenge
GGF Experience
Current Students - The Application link for the GGF program for the 2025-2026 academic year is below.
Download the 2025-26 GGF application which is due to Professor Gattuso by January 31, 2025.
Apply to the Golden Griffin Fund
GGF 2023-2024 Annual Report
The Golden Griffin Fund (GGF) is an investment-management course for both undergraduate seniors and MBA finance majors at Canisius. The fund grew from its initial $100,000 investment from the college’s endowment, and is now valued at more than $400,000. The student-run, real-money investment fund is invested in over 30 individual stocks and three equity Exchange Traded Funds. It is specifically designed to educate students about the inner workings of the capital markets, while providing them with real-world learning experiences in investment management and equity analysis.
GGF Fund Student Final Presentations
DUE TO THE WEATHER TODAY ALL PRESENTATIONS WILL BE MOVING TO FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2024. THE UPDATED SCEDULE WILL START AT 10AM AND WILL BE EMAILED OUT SHORTLY. ANY QUESTIONS EMAIL WALKOWK@CANISIUS.EDU
The presentation dates will be Thursday, 12.5.24 and Friday, 12.6.24 (1:00pm-4:30pm) in Grupp Fireside Lounge.
The plan is to hold them in person both days and to simultaneously broadcast as a Zoom webinar (if we can). You may join in person, or by video and audio through your computer or mobile device. Please feel free to come in and out as much as you need.
A large interactive audience is a key element to the success of the presentations as they students rely on outside questions and comments to enhance their analysis.
We would be glad if you could find time in your schedule to attend and to participate by asking questions and making observations.
Please feel free to invite others that may be interested.
Join Zoom Meeting using the link below.
https://canisius.zoom.us/j/95767286664?pwd=MEpTZTBjY3Q2Tk1JTjdCOThNaWpHQT09
Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice
The Golden Griffin Fund requires students to research, create, and manage portfolio holdings (stocks), analyze and recommend companies to add to the portfolio, and grow the fund through the solicitation of new investors.
“The Golden Griffin Fund will help finance students bridge the gap between the classroom and the real investment world,” explains Nelson D. Civello, professor of finance and former professional adviser to the GGF. “Students analyze different business models and market opportunities, apply various valuation techniques, and understand fundamental industry drivers.”
In the fall, students focus on conducting corporate research, development of an investment strategy and potential stock selections. The spring semester concentrates on fundamental stock research that will ultimately compose and shape the portfolio. Full-time faculty advisors and professional mentors empower students to take over the fund and make important management decisions to grow its value.
The GGF operates out of a trading room known as the Financial Markets Lab in Old Main. The lab is furnished with various multimedia equipment including multiple PC workstations, cable-access televisions and data projection screens. In addition, the lab is equipped with eight Bloomberg Terminals which include the software platform for the Bloomberg Professional Service, which is a leading information system that enables students to receive up-to-the-minute information on the world financial markets. Canisius College was the first higher education institution in Western New York to have Bloomberg technology.
Watch: What is the CFA Challenge? Watch: Research Challenge Wrap-Up