2022 Community Report

People who care. Causes that matter.

NCCF has granted more than $50million to area non-profits and scholarship recipients, making a meaningful difference for the homeless and hungry, for our libraries, our schools, our churches, and our environment.

Most importantly, thanks to the generosity of donors like you, NCCF improves the lives of people in your town.

NCCF serves CT’s Northwest Corner, including the 20 towns of Barkhamsted, Bethlehem, Canaan(Falls Village), Colebrook, Cornwall, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, NewHartford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington, Warren, Washington, and Winchester/Winsted.

Funds Provide for the Resilience that Builds Strong Communities

The more than 370 NCCF funds address current and emerging needs in the areas of arts and culture, civic improvements, basic needs, animal care and conservation, and put education within reach for local students. View all NCCF funds: visit yournccf.org, and click Give to a Fund

Funds Established In 2022

Ann Gensch Fund This field-of-interest fund established through the estate of Ann Gensch, a former teacher in theTorrington Public School system, supports homeless children in the greater Torrington area.

Borla-Cook Memorial Fund This donor-advised fund supports charitable, scientific or educational initiatives in NorthwestConnecticut.

Cornwall Conservation Trust Stewardship Fund CCT funds are used for land acquisition and management, with the aim of preserving unspoiled open space for the benefit of the community.

Joyce Alberta Bagnaschi O'Heron Fund This designated fund supports the work ofChristian Relief Services Charities, ConnecticutPublic Broadcasting, Inc., Torrington HistoricalSociety, Saint John Paul the Great ParishCorporation, and Torrington Library. The fund also makes possible the Joyce Alberta Bagnaschi O'Heron Award for a graduating Torrington HighSchool (THS) senior who participates on the THS cheerleading team, demonstrates financial need, and is an enthusiastic supporter of their THS friend sand peers.

Elizabeth Long Anderson Scholarship Fund This scholarship fund provides undergraduate scholarship support to Torrington High School students who plan to matriculate at a CT state university or CT community college. Previous award recipients also are eligible to re-apply forthe award should they continue to attend a CT state university or community college.

Monsignor Tucker Fund This fund supports the academic and character enrichment of students attending St. John Paul the Great Academy in Torrington, with a preference for support of students who demonstrate financial need, kindness, respect for their elders, and a commitment to practicing their Roman Catholic faith.

Music Mountain Investment Fund This agency fund supports Music Mountain in its charitable mission of promoting, holding performances, and educating the public about chamber music.

Pink Rose Fund This fund provides women in Northwest CT with comprehensive, coordinated access to breast cancer treatments and women’s health services, programs and screenings.

Winter Trillium Fund This donor advised fund supports charitable, scientific or educational initiatives in NorthwestCT.

Prime Time House Fund This fund was created to further the charitable mission of Prime Time House to assist adults with mental illness, as members of society to find pathways to independence and productivity, including employment, education, housing, and friendship.

Stock the Shelves Fund Stock the Shelves, an initiative started by community business-people and residents who have become friends through their volunteer activities, addresses the ongoing food and essential living insecurity in the region.

Leo Joseph and Mary Borla Zande Family Fund This donor advised fund supports charitable, scientific or educational initiatives in Northwest CT.

Supporting Organizations

Supporting Organizations are similar to private foundations in that they operate with a separate board of directors with grant-making responsibilities, but because they operate under NCCF, they operate more efficiently and with the benefits of a public charity. Directors enjoy a high amount of involvement in their philanthropy while benefiting from NCCF’s grant and investment expertise and administrative support.

Foundation For Community Health supports organizations that work to maintain and improve the physical and mental health of residents* served by Sharon Hospital and organizations that provide community healthcare services within those areas: York communities of Amenia, Ancram, Ancramdale, Copake, Copake Falls, Dover Plains, Millbrook, Millerton, Pine Plains, Stanfordville, Wassaic and Wingdale.

John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation was created for the purpose of protecting and improving the welfare of animals of all kinds with a focus on cats and dogs, the promotion of veterinary programs, and the protection of wildlife, including endangered species, flora and fauna.

Scholarship Funds Build Better Future for Local Students

180 local students were awarded more than $290,000 in scholarships and academicawards providing them with the support they need to become the next generationof scientists, engineers, artists, teachers and medical professionals.

Investment Report

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 that is overseen by our Board of Trustees 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 the Uniform Prudent Investors Act.

We are pleased to continue offering customized accounting, so each of our funds enjoys individualized reporting, while benefiting from the economies-of-scale garnered from our pooled investment strategy.

In 2022, NCCF partnered with DHK Financial Advisors, a decades-experienced financial advisor managing more than $1 billion in assets. We are proudly committed to the following five core investment principles:

This integrated Investment Philosophy allows us to most effectively improve lives in Northwest CT with grants and scholarships, forever.

Corporate Investment Returns

The 10 year net average return ending December 2022 return is 7.24

5-year average 4.4

7-year average 6.3

10 year average 7.24

Board of Trustees

Adrian Selby, Chairperson

Donald K. Mayland, First Vice Chairperson

Victor M. Muschell, Second Vice Chairperson

Lori Riiska, Treasurer

James Blackketter, Secretary

Anita Baxter

Liz Brayboy

Emily Dalton

Patrique Fearon

Vincent Inconiglios

Rod Pleasants

Lori Riiska

Norman “Skip” Rogers

Ronald S. Rosenstein

Barbara Spiegel, Esq.

NCCF Staff

Guy Rovezzi, President & CEO

Lorraine Haddock, Assistant to the President

Kyle Wilkinson, Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations

Bradford Hoar, Vice President of Philanthropic Services

Julia Scharnberg, Vice President of Community Engagement

Heather Black, LPCA, IMH-E, Regional Early Childhood Alliance Community Engagement Officer

Nicole Carlson Easley, Vice Preseident of Communications & Digital Media

Christina Tranquillo, Communications Officer

Leslie Friscia, Chief Financial Officer

Daniel Hare, Data and Gift Officer

Sandra Monterose, John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation Program Officer