Select from diversified pools and socially responsible investing.
Investment Advisors participating in our Private Gift Fund may customize investments for their clients. Please contact us to learn more.
The St. Louis Community Foundation investment pools offer a variety of choices, based on philanthropic goals, preferred asset types, risk tolerance and time horizon. Investment pools grow tax free.
Each of our investment pools have been constructed by third-party investment managers. We provide access to world-class investment managers and alternative investment strategies available only to large institutional investors. Investment pools are reviewed regularly by the Community Foundation..
Charitable fund investment choices are allocated to one of the following investment pools, and you may recommend changes to the investment allocation at any time.
| Attributes | Fund Description |
|---|---|
| Greater Volatility / Longer Term
|
Long-Term Growth: This pool seeks maximum growth and controlled risk through a diversified portfolio of global stocks, bonds, and alternative investment strategies. It is appropriate for assets that will remain invested for several years to benefit from long-term opportunities that can only be realized from a patient investment strategy. Assets are exposed to market risks and may experience significant volatility and principal loss over the short term. Pool is generally invested in 75% equity and 25% fixed income securities, and is managed by The Vanguard Group. |
| Social Responsibility: This pool seeks long-term growth through a diversified portfolio of global stocks, bonds, and mutual funds from companies with strong financial and social records. Investment managers consider positive and negative social factors when evaluating companies, ranging from environmental sustainability to involvement with the manufacture of weapons, tobacco, and alcohol, and exclude investments in some of these areas. This pool is appropriate for assets that will remain invested several years. Assets are exposed to market risks and may experience significant volatility and principal loss over the short term. Pool is generally invested in 70% equity and 30% fixed income securities. | |
| Balanced: This pool is designed for growth at more moderate levels of risk. It is appropriate for assets that will remain invested for an intermediate time period to several years. Assets are exposed to market risks and may experience principal loss from year to year. Pool is generally invested in 50% equity and 50% fixed income securities, and is managed by The Vanguard Group. | |
| Wealth Preservation: This pool is designed to outperform money market returns and provide a high degree of liquidity for near-term grant distributions. This pool is appropriate for assets that will remain invested for anywhere from a time horizon of a few years to several years. Market values may be relatively stable from year to year but may experience volatility. Pool is generally invested in 25% equity and 75% fixed income securities, and is managed by The Vanguard Group. | |
| Lesser Volatility/ Shorter Term | Money Market: This pool is designed to preserve principal and provide current income and liquidity by investing in high quality, short-term financial instruments. It is appropriate for fund advisors seeking stability or minimizing the risk of principle reduction due to market volatility. Pool is managed by US Bank. |
Click here for more information on investment pool return performance.
Social Impact Investing
Some St. Louis Community Foundation donors actively engage in social impact investing, aligning their investments with their social and environmental values. If this type of investing interests you, the St. Louis Community Foundation can work with clients and their professional advisors for a customized solution. Contact us for more information.
Notes on investment pools above:
A small portion of each pool may be held in cash at all times to provide liquidity for grant distributions. Investment expenses are in addition to an administrative support fee charged by the Community Foundation. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate such that investments, when redeemed for grantmaking, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Historical returns are net of fees over full market cycles. Actual returns will fluctuate and may be negative from year to year. Estimated expenses are subject to change and include investment management, consulting, administration, and custody.
Investment fees vary based on the particular investment advisor chosen to implement the strategy and the specific strategy selected. The Community Foundation passes through the investment management fees incurred by that fund’s investment pool on a monthly basis at cost. The Community Foundation also recoups a modest fee across all funds to offset costs associated with our outside investment management services.
