XML 9 R8.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.1
Label Element Value
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Dec. 31, 2019
Entity Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName FORUM FUNDS
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000315774
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Entity Inv Company Type dei_EntityInvCompanyType N-1A
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Apr. 20, 2020
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate May 01, 2020
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate May 01, 2020
Lisanti Small Cap Growth Fund  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Lisanti Small Cap Growth Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Lisanti Small Cap Growth Fund (the "Fund") seeks maximum capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination April 30, 2021
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover.
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 252% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 252.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example.
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same, except that it reflects the Expense Cap through the time periods described above. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, whether you do or do not redeem your shares at the end of each period described below, your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in the equity securities of smaller, lesser-known companies whose stocks are traded in the U.S. markets. Smaller companies are generally defined by the Adviser as those with market capitalizations equal to or less than those companies in the Russell 2000® Growth Index at the time of initial purchase. The Fund normally invests in companies that Lisanti Capital Growth, LLC ("Lisanti" or the "Adviser") believes are in an early stage or transitional point in their development and have above average prospects for growth. Investments may include initial public offerings ("IPOs") of such companies.

 

The Fund's investment process focuses on 1) security selection through a quantitative screening process of the universe of smaller companies to identify those companies with fundamental strengths and/or positive catalysts, such as new management, which may provide for a potential acceleration in the growth rate of the company; and 2) portfolio construction reflecting major social, economic and technological trends that provide a framework for identifying the industries and companies in which the Fund will invest. Securities in the portfolio may be sold when they exhibit deteriorating fundamentals, changing circumstances affect the original reasons for the investment, their valuation target is achieved or, in the Adviser's opinion, more attractive alternatives exist.

 

Under certain market conditions, IPOs and companies newly public could comprise a significant portion of the Fund's investments. Additionally, the Fund may engage in active short-term trading to take advantage of price movements affecting individual issues, groups of issues, or markets.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund's net asset value ("NAV") and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, and the Fund could underperform other investments. There is no guarantee that the Fund will meet its investment objective. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

It is important that you closely review and understand the risks of investing in the Fund prior to making an investment in the Fund.

 

Equity Risk. Equity holdings, which include common stocks, convertible securities, preferred stocks, warrants and sponsored and unsponsored ADRs may decline in value because of changes in the price of a particular holding or a broad stock market decline. Common stock ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the company in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuer of a security or broader economic or market events including changes in interest rates.

 

Market Events Risk. Geopolitical events, including pandemics (such as COVID-19), may destabilize various countries' economies and markets, which may experience increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Policy changes by the Federal Reserve and/or other government actors could similarly cause increased volatility in financial markets. Trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those in the U.S.) may also result in market turbulence. Market volatility and reductions in market liquidity may negatively affect issuers worldwide, including issuers in which the Fund invests. Under such circumstances, the Fund may have difficulty liquidating portfolio holdings, particularly at favorable prices. To the extent that the Fund experiences higher levels of redemptions, the Fund may be required to transact in contemporaneous markets, even if they are volatile and/ or illiquid, which may negatively impact the Fund's net asset value.

 

Small Capitalization Company Risk. Small capitalization companies may have more limited product lines, markets, and management teams, which could make their financial status less secure and predictable. Securities issued by small capitalization companies may be less liquid and their prices may fluctuate more than those of larger, more established companies. These factors could adversely affect the Fund's ability to sell such securities at a desirable time and price.

 

Growth Company Risk. The Fund's investments in growth securities may be more sensitive to company earnings and more volatile than the market in general primarily because their stock prices are based heavily on future expectations. If the Adviser's assessment of the prospects for a company's growth is wrong, or if the Adviser's judgment of how other investors will value the company's growth is wrong, then the price of the company's stock may fall or not approach the value that the Adviser has placed on it.

 

Initial Public Offering Risk. The Fund may purchase securities in an IPO. Securities purchased in an IPO may be illiquid, and therefore more difficult to sell promptly at the most favorable price, and may be subject to substantial price volatility due to factors such as unseasoned trading, lack of investor knowledge of the company, and limited operating history.

 

Technology Sector Risk. Investments in technology companies are vulnerable to factors affecting the technology sector, such as dependency on consumer and business acceptance as new technology evolves, large and rapid price movements resulting from competition, rapid obsolescence of products and services and short product cycles. Many technology companies are small and at an earlier stage of development and, therefore, may be subject to risks such as those arising out of limited product lines, markets and financial and managerial resources.

 

Industrial Sector Risk. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the industrial sector, the Fund's performance could be negatively impacted by events affecting this sector. The industrial sector includes, for example, aerospace and defense, non-residential construction, engineering, machinery, transportation, and commercial and professional services companies. This sector can be significantly affected by, among other things, business cycle fluctuations, worldwide economy growth, government and corporate spending, supply and demand for specific products and manufacturing, and government regulation.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. A high level of portfolio turnover may have a negative impact on performance by increasing transaction costs and generating greater tax liabilities for shareholders. The Adviser can engage in frequent trading on occasion, if it believes it is in the Fund's best interests and in the implementation of its strategy. This frequent trading can affect performance through increased brokerage and other transaction costs, such as increased custody costs.

 

Quantitative Investing Risk. The factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of security's value. Among other things, the quantitative analysis may be adversely affected by reliance on erroneous or outdated data or flawed models or computer systems.

 

Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and its performance will reflect the Adviser's ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the Fund's investment objective.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, and the Fund could underperform other investments.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of the Fund from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Updated performance information is available at www.lisantismallcap.com or by calling (800) 441-7031 (toll free).

 

Performance information (before and after taxes) represents only past performance and does not necessarily indicate future results.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table that follow provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of the Fund from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (800) 441-7031
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.lisantismallcap.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture Performance information (before and after taxes) represents only past performance and does not necessarily indicate future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Returns as of December 31
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the period shown, the highest return for a quarter was 19.11% for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, and the lowest return was -23.42% for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns (For the periods ended December 31, 2019)
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of the small cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell Small Cap Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Lisanti Small Cap Growth Fund | Lisanti Small Cap Growth Fund Shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol ASCGX
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of the offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the offering price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Distributions (as a percentage of the offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther none
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed within 30 days of purchase, if applicable) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (1.00%)
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.95%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 1.03%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.98%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement(1) rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.63%) [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.35%
One Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 137
Three Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 560
Five Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,009
Ten Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 2,256
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 34.80%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (6.04%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 12.93%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 54.07%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 1.19%
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (0.18%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 7.32%
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 27.78%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (1.90%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 25.62%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel highest return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 19.11%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel lowest return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (23.42%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 25.62%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 11.03%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 14.17%
Lisanti Small Cap Growth Fund | After Taxes on Distributions | Lisanti Small Cap Growth Fund Shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 24.97%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 8.30%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 12.33%
Lisanti Small Cap Growth Fund | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | Lisanti Small Cap Growth Fund Shares  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.62%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 7.56%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 11.04%
Lisanti Small Cap Growth Fund | Russell 2000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Prospectus [Line Items] rr_ProspectusLineItems  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 28.48%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.34%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 13.01%
[1] Lisanti Capital Growth, LLC (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive its fee and/or reimburse Fund expenses to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (excluding all taxes, interest, portfolio transaction expenses, proxy expenses, and extraordinary expenses) to 1.35% through April 30, 2021 (“Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap may only be raised or eliminated with the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Adviser may be reimbursed by the Fund for fees waived and expenses reimbursed by the Adviser pursuant to the Expense Cap if such payment is made within three years of the fee waiver or expense reimbursement and does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement of the Fund (after giving effect to the recouped amount) to exceed the lesser of (i) the then-current expense cap, and (ii) the expense cap in place at the time the fees/expenses were waived/reimbursed.