In 1988, Torrington residents Carlton D. Fyler, a chauffeur, and Jenny R. Fyler, an educator, continued their lifelong interest in supporting the moral, artistic, intellectual, and physical development of children in their community by bequeathing their estate to the Community Foundation.
Over the years, their gift of $1 million has supported their philanthropic goals providing more than $1.5 million in grants to nonprofits that share their vision, while the Carlton D. Fyler, and Jenny R. Fyler Fund balance continues to grow in principal with a balance of almost $2.2 million to date.
What if there was an easy and effective way to build support for the causes you care about? With the Community Foundation’s help you can maximize the purchasing power of your charitable dollars while simultaneously increasing the dollars you have available to spend. Growing your charitable fund and its capacity to make a difference is central to our work.
The Foundation is uniquely positioned to help you and local nonprofits strategically invest your charitable funds in order to maximize your granting dollars today while preserving and growing permanent philanthropic capital for grants and distributions, forever.
Since 1969, the Community Foundation has been privileged to serve as the financial steward of philanthropic funds entrusted to us by our generous and devoted community of Northwest Connecticut donors and fundholders.
Our goal has always been to nurture and enhance the value of these philanthropic assets over the long term – as markets allow from year to year – by seeking the highest possible inflation-adjusted returns directed by an asset allocation policy overseen by our Board and operating at all times within a prudent level of risk as determined by the ongoing vigilance of our Investment Committee, which reports to the Board.
The Community Foundation employs a total-return approach – the industry standard – in which asset yield and appreciation are weighed equally in investment decisions. In the interest of transparency and compliance, our financial and investment reports are executed in accordance with investment concepts and best practices governed by both the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act, and Uniform Prudent Investors Act. We are also pleased to continue offering customized accounting so each of our funds enjoys individualized reporting, while also benefitting from the economies-of-scale garnered from our pooled investment strategy.
And, beginning in 2023, in proud partnership with DHK Financial Advisors, a decades-experienced financial advisor managing over $1 billion in assets, we are proudly committed to the following five core investment principles:
(1) long-term horizon;
(2) broad diversification;
(3) low investment fees;
(4) timely reporting & accountability;
(5) reduced complexity.
This integrated Investment Philosophy allows us to most effectively fulfill our mission of improving lives in our NW Corner with grants and scholarships today –and every day – while retaining the powerful ability to continue doing so in perpetuity.
Making sound strategic portfolio decisions using a disciplined asset allocation and manager evaluation process can have profound influence on results.
All Foundation investment relationships are guided by the Community Foundation’s Investment Policy, and managers are expected to periodically rebalance target allocations to maintain portfolio equilibrium, increase value and support your charitable spending expectations.
The Community Foundation is privileged to have an active Board of Directors that is responsible for setting the mission and strategic direction of the organization, including overseeing Foundation finances, operations and policies. As part of this responsibility, the Board appoints an Investment Committee that provides close oversight of all charitable asset investments entrusted to the Foundation while remaining accountable to the Board for all investment policies and manager recommendations.
Our Investment Committee:
goals.
Our Philosophy
Since 1969, NCCF has been privileged to serve as the financial steward of philanthropic funds entrusted to us by our generous and devoted community of Northwest Connecticut donors and fundholders.
Our goal has always been to nurture and enhance the value of these philanthropic assets over the long term – as markets allow from year to year – by seeking the highest possible inflation-adjusted returns directed by an asset allocation policy overseen by our Board and operating at all times within a prudent level of risk as determined by the ongoing vigilance of our Investment Committee, which reports to the Board.
NCCF employs a total-return approach – the industry standard – in which asset yield and appreciation are weighed equally in investment decisions.
In the interest of transparency and compliance, our financial and investment reports are executed in accordance with investment concepts and best practices governed by both the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act, and Uniform Prudent Investors Act.
We are also pleased to continue offering customized accounting so each of our funds enjoys individualized reporting, while also benefitting from the economies-of-scale garnered from our pooled investment strategy.
NCCF partners with DHK Financial Advisors, a decades-experienced financial advisor managing over $1 billion in assets, we are proudly committed to the following five core investment principles:
Long-Term Horizon
Broad Diversification
Low Investment Fees
Timely Reporting & Accountability
Reduced Complexity
This integrated Investment Philosophy allows us to most effectively fulfill our mission of improving lives in Northwest CT with grants and scholarships, in perpetuity.
View the Latest Investment Performance
Investment Governance
NCCF is led by an active Board of Directors that is responsible for setting the mission and strategic direction of the organization, including overseeing finances, operations, and policies.
As part of this responsibility, the Board appoints an Investment Committee that provides close oversight of all charitable asset investments entrusted to NCCF while remaining accountable to the Board for all investment policies and manager recommendations.
NCCF Investment Committee Members
Chairperson: James A. Thibault, MBA, AWMA, CFP, Managing Partner at Barron Financial Group, LLP; former Global Business Development Manager at the Siemon Company.
Joseph Austin, MBA, Director of Investor Relations for Pacific Road Capital Pty Ltd, a Sydney, Australia-based investment firm focused on the metals and mining sector
Robert Geiger, former general partner at Stolberg Partners, a $170 million middle-market private-equity fund, and former Vice President for Nashua Corporation
Peter Menikoff, JD, MBA, former Chief Financial Officer of Vlasic Foods International, former President and CEO of CONEMSCO, Inc., and former Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of TENNECO, Inc.
Barbara Millar, former Vice President of Northern Trust International Bank and former Vice President at Citigroup, with positions held in liability management, multi-national and commercial real estate lending
Guy Moszkowski, former Managing Director – U.S. Equity Research, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Citigroup/Salomon Smith Barney; former Managing Director, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; former Principal – Equity Research, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.; former Engagement Manager – Financial Institutions Group, McKinsey & Co.; Board Member, Banco Santander, S.A.
Kevin Noblet, retired business and international journalist; Managing Editor, Wealth Management, at Dow Jones & Co., WSJ.com; former Business Editor at the Associated Press, former Deputy International Editor at the Associated Press.
Stacie Weiner, Vice President-Financial Consultant with RBC Wealth Management, former Vice President at Chemical Bank (now JP Morgan Chase), and former Vice President at the United States Trust Company of New York (both located in New York, NY);
John Zucker, PhD, former Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of NY and former Director of fixed income quantitative research, trading and sales at Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Nomura International, Merrill Lynch and Salomon Brothers.