Mission Investments

About TCFMIC

TCFMIC is led by an experienced team and grounded in more than 30 years of mission investing at The Community Foundation.

Experienced Leadership and Management

The Community Foundation Mission Investments Company (TCFMIC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Community Foundation led by a board and and supported by a staff with decades of experience in finance, business, and philanthropy and passion for the Greater New Haven community.

The Community Foundation building at 70 Audubon St. was an early social impact investment in New Haven. Credit:

A History of Impact

The Community Foundation has a long history of raising and deploying capital resources through impact investments to meet the needs of the community.

1980s

The concept of using private investing for social good began in the 1980s, when the Council on Foundations’ report on Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) identified non-traditional ways to achieve programmatic purposes.

The development of the new Community Foundation Building in 1989 as an anchor for the Audubon Arts District was one if its first investments of this kind.

1990s Strategic Development

Board reviews and contemplates information from the Council on Foundations’ SRI study. Policy formalized in 1999, and a segregated mutual fund was established to and managed with a SRI strategy.

Community advocacy and investments succeeded in bringing a grocery store to New Haven's urban core. Credit:

2000-2016 Impact Investing

The Foundation tested new ways to invest with impact. It created more equitable opportunities for people who would not have funding access and developed new ways to satisfy donor intent.

Investment Highlights:

2005 - Mutual Housing and Neighborhood Housing

2007 - Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund

2010 - The Greater Dwight Investment Corp., which worked with community organizations to develop a shopping plaza and bring a grocery store to a food desert

2012 - New Haven Teacher’s Home Ownership Program, in partnership with New Haven Investment Fund

2014-2016 - Multiple investments including: Neighborhood Music School, FreshBev, and Fitscript.

2017 - Present TCFMIC

2017 - The Foundation created TCFMIC as a wholly owned subsidiary to carry out its mission investing under a new strategic direction to diverse entrepreneurs, community groups and organizations that promote inclusive growth.

2020 - TCFMIC launches Partnership Loan Program for Minority and Women Owned Businesses in Greater New Haven

2020 - TCFMIC launches New Haven Equitable Entrepreneurship Ecosystem NHE3.

2023- e3connector.com launched to connect small businesses with the NH

Investment Highlights

High School Apprentices in the NXTHVN studio. Credit: John Dennis

Arts Incubation

Co-founded by nationally-renowned artist Titus Kaphar, NXTHVNis a new national arts model that empowers emerging artists and curators of color through education and access.

Neighborhood Revitalization

Connecticut Community Outreach and Revitalization Program, ConnCORP LLC. is redeveloping a blighted shopping plaza into a residential and cultural center in New Haven's Dixwell neighborhood.

Other TCF-MIC Investments
Project Transaction Type Partners Project Type
First Niagara Home Ownership Fund Forgivable loan for home ownership NAACP; Neighborhood Housing Service; local financial institutions Support for local homeownership
Fitscript Convertible loan Connecticut Innovations; local investors Job creation with diabetes management company
Freshbev (RIPE Juice) Convertible loan A local foundation funding partner Job creation with natural juice company
District Innovation and Venture Center Term loan Elm City Innovation Collaborative; CTNext; Comcast/NBC Universal; CT Dept. of Economic and Community Development Job training and skill building to create a labor market that fuels economic growth
GDDC - Dwight Plaza Term loan Local Initiatives Support Corporation; Start Community Bank Food distribution by community development corporation
Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund (now Capital for Change) Low-interest loan Revolving loan pool for local organizations
Green Wave/Sea Greens Convertible loan Connecticut Innovations; Patagonia; TrueNorth; Partners Job creation with green, sustainable food production
Mutual Housing Low-interest loan FleetBank Community Reinvestment Funds Capital for housing
Neighborhood Housing Low-interest loan FleetBank Community Reinvestment Funds Capital for housing
Neighborhood Music School Loan guaranty Capital for Change Credit enhancement

How Can We Help?

A.F. Drew Alden
President & CEO
TCF-Mission Investments Company
phone: 203-777-7061

Arthur W. Thomas III
Director of Entrepreneurial Initiatives and Inclusive Economic Opportunity
203-974-1651

Joseph W. Williams Jr.
Director of NHE3 Operations
203-974-1656