About Our Funds
United Church Funds (UCF) offers a unique ministry that puts the power of the financial markets to work for local churches and organizations of the United Church of Christ. Established in 1909 to administer the Pilgrim Memorial Fund for the benefit of retired pastors, UCF has developed into a comprehensive investment service, managing over $800 million of United Church of Christ assets. Alongside some of the historic endowments of the UCC, the assets entrusted to UCF include the savings, gifts and endowments of local churches, associations, conferences and denominational ministries. An appealing alternative to commercial brokerage firms, UCF offers a family of 11 traditional investment funds, plus two alternatives options — a selection that provides the flexibility and diversity UCC churches and ministries require both for spending and long-term investment growth. Investors may choose the simplicity of one of our funds of funds, or create their own allocations from the blend of asset classes that best suits their risk tolerance, timeline and return goals.
Managed Funds
Cash & Equivalent Fund
Fund Fact Sheet
Invested primarily in high quality, US Dollar-denominated money market instruments with remaining maturities of 13 months or less, this fund provides investors with the least amount of market risk and consequently the lowest total rate of return over time of UCF’s 13 funds. The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ, Inc. manages the Cash & Equivalent Fund on behalf of UCF —
The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ, Inc.
The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ, Inc.’s (PBUCC) Fixed Income team manages the Core Fixed Income portfolio, a diversified portfolio comprised of US government and corporate bonds. The team comprises long-term investors who seek to capitalize on opportunities that arise when valuations move toward extremes. It believes that over longer periods the majority of returns in the bond market will be derived from yield and not capital appreciation. Since the 2008 financial crisis, tactical adjustments have been driven more often by macro factors such as changes in the economic, political, and regulatory environment. Based at the combined PBUCC/UCF headquarters in NYC, the Fixed Income team manages over $1 billion, and has invested on behalf of the UCF since 1987.
Carrying a relatively low degree of market risk and total return over time, the Fixed Income Fund is invested primarily in intermediate and long-term US Dollar-denominated government and investment grade corporate fixed income obligations.
Four organizations manage portions of the Fixed Income Fund on behalf of UCF —
Community Capital Management
Founded in 1998,
Community Capital Management (CCM) is an SEC-registered investment advisor that specializes in managing impact investing and fossil fuel free portfolios. Its intermediate fixed income strategy, launched in 1999, focuses on making qualified investments under the Community Reinvestment Act. Over the last 16 years, it has delivered steady risk-adjusted returns while providing added diversification and positive impact on the community.
Lazard Asset Management
Lazard Asset Management manages the emerging market debt (EMD) blend strategy with both a global thematic approach and a bottom-up credit research focus that stresses total return, a benchmark agnostic approach, and active asset allocation to EMD asset classes. The emerging market debt blend strategy includes both dollar denominated as well as local currency sectors. The portfolio is broadly diversified across currencies, countries and sectors. Founded in 1970, Lazard is located in New York City and manages $183 billion across many strategies.
The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ, Inc.
The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ, Inc’s (PBUCC) Fixed Income team manages the Core Fixed Income portfolio, a diversified portfolio comprised of US government and corporate bonds. The team comprises long-term investors who seek to capitalize on opportunities that arise when valuations move toward extremes. It believes that over longer periods the majority of returns in the bond market will be derived from yield and not capital appreciation. Since the 2008 financial crisis, tactical adjustments have been driven more often by macro factors such as changes in the economic, political, and regulatory environment. Based at the combined PBUCC/UCF headquarters in NYC, the Fixed Income team manages over $1 billion, and has invested on behalf of the UCF since 1987.
Voya Investment Management
The Bank Loan portfolio is managed by
Voya Investment Management, with over 40 years of experience and approximately $224 billion in assets under management. Voya seeks to achieve superior long-term risk-adjusted returns while minimizing credit risk. The firm invests primarily in non-investment grade senior loans that offer attractive yields and are typically secured by borrower assets. Voya focuses on fundamental credit analysis, relative value assessment and high levels of diversification, and utilizes a short duration, floating-rate strategy to mitigate interest rate risk.
A broadly diversified portfolio invested primarily in large capitalization common stock of US-headquartered corporations, this fund may also hold up to 10% of its portfolio in international stocks.
Three organizations manage portions of the Domestic Core Equity Fund on behalf of UCF —
Fiduciary Management, Inc.
Fiduciary Management, Inc. (FMI) manages a US large cap portfolio for UCF, employing equity investing strategies, with a focused value approach firmly rooted in fundamental research. Founded in 1980, FMI manages over $15 billion in assets for domestic and international institutions, individual investors and Registered Investment Advisors. FMI also manages a US small cap portfolio for the UCF, utilizing the same disciplined, fundamentally-based approach.
Quantitative Management Associates
The broadly diversified portfolio managed by
Quantitative Management Associates (QMA) on behalf of UCF is invested primarily in large capitalization common stocks of US-headquartered corporations, and may hold up to 10% of its portfolio in international stocks. QMA manages over $83 billion in assets for pension plans, endowments and foundations, and since 1975 has pioneered the use of advanced analytics to enhance the investment decision-making process.
State Street Global Advisors
State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) manages a passive, screened S&P 500 Index for the UCF. The portfolio is managed to replicate the S&P 500 Index but excludes those companies which do not pass the UCF’s Socially Responsible Investing screens. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Boston, State Street manages over $2 trillion on behalf of corporations, endowments and foundations, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and other institutions and individuals.
Carrying the highest degree of risk of any of UCF’s domestic funds, the Small Cap Equity Fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of US small capitalization stocks — typically with an average market capitalization under $1.5 billion.
Three organizations manage portions of the Small Cap Equity Fund on behalf of UCF —
Dimensional Fund Advisors
The US small cap value portfolio managed by
Dimensional seeks to purchase a broad and diverse group of the common stock of US small cap companies perceived to be value stocks at the time of purchase — companies with market capitalizations within the smallest 10% of the market universe, or smaller than the 1,000th largest US company. After identifying the aggregate market capitalization break, Dimensional applies a value screen to the universe — securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value. Launched in 1981, Dimensional currently manages over $235 billion in various strategies based on the seminal research by noted professors Eugene Fama and Kenneth French.
Fiduciary Management, Inc.
Fiduciary Management, Inc. (FMI) manages a US large cap portfolio for UCF, employing equity investing strategies, with a focused value approach firmly rooted in fundamental research. Founded in 1980, FMI manages over $15 billion in assets for domestic and international institutions, individual investors and Registered Investment Advisors. FMI also manages a US small cap portfolio for the UCF, utilizing the same disciplined, fundamentally-based approach.
Westfield Capital Management
Westfield manages a US small cap growth portfolio, utilizing a team approach to stock analysis based on in-depth, fundamental investing. With a focus on domestic growth equities, Westfield seeks high earnings growth companies trading at reasonable price-earnings ratios and valuations. Founded in 1989, Westfield is located in Boston and manages over $14 billion.
Invested largely in common stock of companies headquartered in developed countries, the International Equity Fund offers the opportunity to gain from even broader diversification with 15-35% invested in emerging markets.
Three organizations manage portfolios of the International Equity Fund on behalf of UCF —
Baillie Gifford
Baillie Gifford manages an International Growth portfolio, utilizing a team approach to portfolio construction based on deep research-oriented, bottom-up, fundamental investing. Baillie seeks to identify companies capable of sustaining above-average growth rates while trading at a reasonable valuation. Founded in 1908, Baillie is located in Edinburgh, Scotland and manages over $175 billion.
LSV Asset Management
LSV manages a non-US large cap value portfolio that excludes US, focusing instead on the international developed markets including Japan, Europe and the UK. LSV uses a quantitative investment approach to choose out-of-favor (undervalued) stocks, believing these securities will produce superior future returns if their future growth exceeds the market’s low expectations. Located in Chicago, LSV was founded in 1994 and manages approximately $59 billion.
The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies. The RBC Emerging Markets Equity strategy seeks to provide long-term capital growth by investing in companies that are domiciled in or conduct a substantial portion of their business within emerging markets. The strategy emphasizes quality and long-term growth at a reasonable price, combining a fundamental, bottom-up approach to stock selection with a top-down macroeconomic overlay driven by long-term secular themes.
The Alternatives Fund invests in a combination of hedge funds, real estate funds, real asset funds and other investments, seeking to increase diversification across additional asset classes and achieve returns that are not correlated with the indices of UCF’s current investment options.
Four organizations manage portfolios of the Alternatives Fund on behalf of UCF —
Abbey Capital
Abbey Capital manages a diversified portfolio of Global Macro managers for UCF in a fund of hedge funds structure. Alternative investments, such as hedge funds, when included with equity and fixed income portfolios have historically enhanced diversification, reduced volatility, and preserved wealth over the long term. Global Macro strategies, also known as managed futures, are investments in currency, commodities and derivatives structured by complex trading rules and models. Abbey overlays a strict risk management discipline to determine allocations to its selection of managers. Founded in 2000, Abbey Capital is based in Dublin, Ireland, and manages $3.6 billion.
Evanston Capital Management
Evanston Capital Management (ECM) manages a fund of hedge funds. Their Weatherlow Fund employs a global, multi-strategy approach focused around long-short equity funds. Evanston employs a fundamental and highly selective process in choosing underlying funds where a sustainable edge appears present. Additionally, the team uses their experience to tilt the portfolio toward strategies that may outperform depending on the anticipated environments. Evanston manages $4.4 billion, is headquartered in Evanston, Ill. and was founded in 2002.
Heitman
The diversified North American Real Estate portfolio managed by
Heitman focuses on high quality investments in major metropolitan areas. Heitman’s portfolio is diversified by geography with investments across the US in office space, apartments, retail, industrial use, and self-storage sites. Heitman seeks to generate returns from both the income of its assets as well as price appreciation of the properties. Founded in 1966, Heitman is based in Chicago and manages over $26 billion across a variety of global real estate funds.
Magnitude Capital
Magnitude Capital manages a fund of hedge funds in a global, multi-strategy portfolio. Magnitude orients its portfolio mainly to relative-value funds that provide active returns and offer diversification to the primary returns streams of equity and fixed income markets. Magnitude employs a highly analytical approach to evaluating managers and constructing this portfolio. Headquartered in New York, Magnitude was founded in 2002 and manages $3 billion.
A broadly diversified enhanced index portfolio invested in common stock of global corporations, the Beyond Fossil Fuels Fund avoids investments in exploration and production companies in the oil and gas industries, and thermal coal companies.
Quantitative Management Associates (QMA) manages the Beyond Fossil Fuels Fund on behalf of UCF —
Quantitative Management Associates
The broadly diversified portfolio, managed by
Quantitative Management Associates (QMA) on behalf of UCF, is invested in common stocks of global corporations. QMA manages over $83 billion in assets for pension plans, endowments and foundations, and since 1975 has pioneered the use of advanced analytics to enhance the investment decision-making process.
Funds of Funds
Total Equity Fund
Fund Fact Sheet
Comprising units of the Domestic Core Equity, Small Cap Equity and International Equity Funds, the Total Equity Fund invests primarily in a broadly diversified portfolio of domestic and international common stocks of both small and large capitalization, and carries a higher degree of risk than UCF’s balanced funds.
Conservative Balanced Fund
Fund Fact Sheet
Comprising units of the Fixed Income Fund and Total Equity Fund, with a higher allocation of fixed income to equities, the Conservative Balanced Fund offers the lowest return potential of UCF’s three balanced funds over time, but also the lowest market risk. Target allocation: 65% Fixed Income, 35% Total Equity
Moderate Balanced Fund
Fund Fact Sheet
Comprising units of the Fixed Income and Total Equity Funds, the Moderate Balanced Fund pursues a middle-of-the-road approach that emphasizes stock for higher capital appreciation potential, while maintaining a significant fixed income component to temper market volatility. Target allocation: 40% Fixed Income, 60% Total Equity
Aggressive Balanced Fund
Fund Fact Sheet
Comprising units of the Fixed Income and Total Equity Funds, with the highest allocation to equities and correspondingly higher degree of market risk, the Aggressive Balanced Fund offers the highest return potential of the UCF’s three balanced funds. Target allocation: 25% Fixed Income, 75% Total Equity
Alternatives Balanced Fund
Fund Fact Sheet
For investors who prefer the Moderate Balanced Fund’s asset allocation, the Alternatives Balanced Fund provides the additional diversification of a modest allocation to the Alternatives Fund. Target allocation: 40-60% Total Equity, 20-40% Fixed Income, 10-30% Alternatives
Beyond Fossil Fuels Balanced Fund
Fund Fact Sheet
Pursuing a middle-of-the-road approach that emphasizes stocks for higher capital appreciation potential, the Beyond Fossil Fuels Balanced Fund maintains a significant fixed income component to temper market volatility, substituting the Beyond Fossil Fuels Fund for the equity allocation of UCF’s Moderate Balanced Fund. Target allocation: 50-70% Global Equity, 30-50% Fixed Income, 0-10% Cash
For information about United Church Funds’ expense ratios, click here.
