Investment Information

CCF is a respected fiscal manager of charitable funds, bequests, trusts and other complex financial instruments. We take a thoughtful approach to diversification in order to mitigate risk, eschew volatility and identify opportunities that add value. Managing money to meet the diverse grantmaking objectives and time horizons of our donors, we invest in four major investment pools. Donors may also set up customized investment management through our Charitable Asset Management Partnership (ChAMP).

Endowment Pool

OBJECTIVE: The Endowment Pool is invested for long-term growth and appreciation across multiple investment managers. It seeks to preserve the purchasing power and provide real growth of assets over an indefinite time horizon through long-term investment opportunities and portfolio diversification, while taking into account the level of liquidity required to meet withdrawals from the pool.

BEST FIT FOR: The Endowment Pool is home to all of CCF’s permanent endowments, and is best for a donor who is interested in long-term growth and expects the annual grant distributions to make up a small percentage of the fund’s assets.

GRANTMAKING HORIZON: 5-7+ years

FEES: Annual average of approximately 1.1%; fund manager incentive fees not included

ASSET ALLOCATION: 17% cash & fixed income, 50% equities, 15% alternative assets, 10% private equity, 8% real assets

Social Impact Endowment Pool

OBJECTIVE: The Social Impact Endowment Pool is invested in a diversified pool of equities and fixed income aiming to offer capital growth for long-term grantmaking. It seeks to preserve the purchasing power of assets over an indefinite time horizon by following a sustainable investing approach that combines rigorous financial, environmental, social and governance (ESG) analysis, while providing a relatively predictable and stable stream of distributions that keeps pace with inflation.

BEST FIT FOR: A donor who is concerned about environmental, social and governance indicators in investing, seeks long-term growth and expects the annual grant distributions to make up a small percentage of the fund’s assets.

GRANTMAKING HORIZON: 5-7+ years

FEES: Annual average of approximately 0.22%

ASSET ALLOCATION: 65% equities, 35% fixed income

Conservative Balanced Pool

OBJECTIVE: The Conservative Balanced Pool (formerly the Intermediate Pool) is invested to strike a balance between growth and liquidity by combining current income with an opportunity for moderate capital appreciation. It seeks to offer diversified exposure to investment-grade fixed income with maturities from 1-5 years as well as the entire U.S. equity market for purposes of grantmaking over an intermediate horizon.

BEST FIT FOR: A donor who expects to make significant distributions and has some tolerance for market fluctuations.

GRANTMAKING HORIZON: 3-7 years

FEES: Annual average of approximately 0.05%

ASSET ALLOCATION: 30% equity and 70% fixed income

Capital Preservation Pool

OBJECTIVE: The Capital Preservation Pool (formerly the Short Term Pool) is invested to meet the needs of funds with short-term grant objectives. It seeks to preserve principal and provide liquidity and working funds for present and future needs through investment in high quality, short-term fixed income and cash instruments.

BEST FIT FOR: A donor who seeks to avoid market volatility and expects the annual grant distributions to make up a large percentage of the fund’s assets.

GRANTMAKING HORIZON: 0-2 years

FEES: Annual average of approximately 0.12%

ASSET ALLOCATION: 100% short-term (under 6 months weighted average maturity) investment grade fixed income

Note: Investment fees refer to those fees paid to outside investment managers, which are separate from the administrative fees charged to funds.

For more information please contact Elizabeth Hernández at ehernandez [@] calfund [.] org or (213) 452-6219.