The General Fund, a flexible endowed fund to support broad charitable purposes, was established by Frederick Foster Brewster (1872-1959) in 1948. Brewster was a well-known philanthropist who made his fortune at the W & ET Fitch Co., a manufacturer of malleable iron goods.

During his life, Brewster was a director of the Second National Bank of New Haven, the New Haven Gas Company, the United Illuminating Company, and the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. He served as a trustee of the New Haven Savings Bank. He also made a bequest to the City of New Haven that his property be used as a public park, now Edgerton Park. From 1928 to 1942, Brewster served as a Foundation Distribution Committee member, giving him intimate knowledge of the benefits to creating an endowment for the community.

In ’48, he anonymously endowed a General Fund at each of the trustee banks (and subsequently the Board was inspired to establish a General Fund in the Corporation). It has been said that Brewster wanted “to encourage more gifts to The Community Foundation as memorials,” and to give every citizen the opportunity to contribute to the community’s permanent endowment.

Over the years, many donors have contributed gifts of all sizes, small and large. For more information about the General Fund and how a gift from you could help meet the needs of our community, contact Angela Powers at apowers@cfgnh.org or call 203-777-7068.