How We Invest Your Gift

Trusted stewardship, enduring philanthropic capital

For more than a half-century, generous New Hampshire individuals, families and businesses have entrusted their philanthropic assets to the Charitable Foundation. Because the Foundation is a steward of these assets on behalf of the community for today and forever, we will seek to achieve both community goals and financial return in our investment strategies.

The Foundation has a track record of strong investment performance across changing economic times. We seek the best possible return while working to align our investments with our purpose and values and avoid undue risk — maximizing dollars available to fund critical work in New Hampshire communities today, while prudently maintaining and growing those resources to maintain an enduring source of philanthropic capital.

Our Board of Directors and Investment Committee oversee our investment pools and are assisted by Cambridge Associates, the Foundation’s investment consultants.

Investment Options

How do you want your charitable gift managed? We offer five investment options to meet your philanthropic goals. We can help you give in perpetuity or retain maximum liquidity for immediate giving, invest your gift in efforts that are strengthening local communities or even have your current advisor continue to manage the funds.

Select an investment strategy that best suits your philanthropic goals. Investment management fees range from 0-0.98 percent. See our fee schedule by type of philanthropic fund. See a comparison of our investment options.

Long-term pool Our core investment pool is designed to maximize long-term returns.

That means your philanthropic fund will provide grants or scholarships year after year, generation after generation. This highly diversified global asset mix is overseen by the Foundation’s Investment Committee and Cambridge Associates, a prominent national endowment consultant. Through a multiphase approach, we will be incorporating environmental, social and governance and racial equity considerations when working with and hiring investment managers for this pool.

Quarterly investment returns, after being reviewed by our Investment Committee, are posted online.

Q3 Investment Results (2024)
Sustainable impact pool The sustainable pool is for people who prefer their investments screened for environmental, social, governance and racial equity criteria and seek strong financial returns over the long term.

This pool is overseen by the Foundation’s Investment Committee and Cambridge Associates, a prominent national endowment consultant. A portion of this pool will consist of investments that aim to have a positive impact in New Hampshire and surrounding states.

Quarterly investment returns, after being reviewed by our Investment Committee, are posted online. (As of October 1, 2022, this pool combines the former Sustainable and Impact investing pools).

Q3 Investment Results (2024)
New Hampshire impact pool For donors who want their charitable assets to benefit the New Hampshire community.
These impact investments, which provide low-cost capital to community projects and organizations, will produce below-market returns but promise significant social and environmental impact. These investments will stay right here in New Hampshire, supporting local nonprofits and social enterprises, affordable housing, jobs that pay a living wage and loan capital for vulnerable communities. This pool is guided by staff and overseen by the Foundation’s Investment Committee. Donors must commit a minimum of $10,000 for 10 years to participate in the New Hampshire impact pool.

Recent investments have been made in:
- Working Fields, a staffing agency that supports people in recovery to help fill workforce gaps. Working Fields provides job-placement support to people navigating a substance use disorder and/or transitioning from incarceration, using a peer coaching model. The organization also provides support and training to employers.
- The Genesis Community Loan Fund, which uses resources to create housing and other economic and social opportunities for people and places not served by other lenders. A certified Community Development Financial Institution, the Genesis Fund is focused on helping people who face barriers to thriving, including single parents and their children, low-income working families, older people, those who are homeless, and people with disabilities.
Short-term pool For donors who want funds available for short-term grantmaking.

For those who want liquidity for maximum short-term grantmaking flexibility, the short-term pool keeps your fund in cash or cash equivalents, such as money markets and certificates of deposit. The Foundation will strive to identify investment opportunities that have a racial equity or social impact focus.
Advisor-managed option For donors who wish to have charitable assets managed by an advisor of their choosing.

Donors establishing funds of $250,000 or more may recommend their preferred investment advisor to manage the assets.

Learn more (PDF)

Trusted stewardship, enduring philanthropic capital

Investment Options

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