Meet Our Team

Ryan Frydenlund serves as a strategic adviser at Raffa Investment Advisers, where he works closely with nonprofits and associations on governance and investment-related best practices. In this role, he partners with organizations to navigate complex challenges, strengthen decision-making frameworks, and align financial strategy with long-term mission outcomes.

Ryan is deeply engaged in the nonprofit and association community and is known for his ability to translate complex investment and governance concepts into practical, actionable guidance. Leveraging his extensive network across the sector, he launched the Raffa Learning Community in 2025—an initiative designed to bring together subject matter experts and industry leaders to share insights and foster ongoing education for nonprofit and association professionals.

In addition to his advisory work, Ryan actively contributes to the firm’s strategic direction as a leader and Director of Operations. He is actively involved in ensuring that Raffa’s staff are equipped with the tools, systems, and processes needed to serve the unique needs of nonprofits and associations, and he contributes to positioning the firm as a leader in this space. He also participates in client engagements to help address complex operational and strategic issues.  Ryan joined Raffa in 2017 and has contributed significantly to the firm’s growth and evolution. Prior to Raffa, he began his career at Cambridge Associates, LLC, where he supported investment operations, research, and performance analysis for institutional portfolios.

An active contributor to the field, Ryan has developed educational content and spoken through organizations including the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the Colorado Society of Association Executives (CSAE), National Council of Nonprofits, UST Education, Association TRENDS, Association Forum, and Association Societies Alliance, among others. He currently serves on the Programs Committee for the Colorado Society of Association Executives (CSAE).

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Wake Forest University and has earned multiple advanced industry designations, including the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation, the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement®, and the Sustainable Investing Certificate. He is an investment adviser representative of Raffa Investment Advisers.