The Community Foundation is entrusted with the long-term stewardship of its funds, and with carrying out the wishes of donors in the best interest of the community.  The Foundation seeks, through its investment policy, to maintain or increase the real value of endowment principal, and consequently, its grant distributions, over the long term through a Total Return Investment Philosophy.
 
All funds established at the Foundation are managed according to the Investment Policy Statement approved by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors maintains a volunteer Investment Advisory Committee that oversees investment policies and selects investment managers.  It also monitors asset allocations, risk parameters, diversification, and performance.

The Foundation maintains a well-diversified portfolio which is invested for Total Return.  This approach calculates all returns on fund investments – earned interest, dividends, and realized and unrealized capital appreciation – as a single sum that is not subdivided.  Using this calculation, the foundation’s Board of Directors can establish an amount available for spending each year based on a defined rate (percentage) of the asset base.  This spending amount may be more or less than actual dividend and interest income earned in a given year.