Choosing a Fund Type

Structured and Powerful

Whether you need help finding projects that make a difference, information on specific organizations or technical assistance, the Foundation can help you achieve the charitable goals that are most meaningful to you.

There are four basic types of charitable funds available through the Community Foundation. Each offers a different degree of influence over how the income from the funds is spent.

Donor Advised Funds allow you, the donor, to participate actively in the giving process by recommending which charitable organizations should receive grants, and making recommendations as to the size and timing of the grants. Donor advised funds are particularly useful for donors who need to contribute in a particular year for tax purposes, but who want to spread the charitable giving over several years. Donor advised funds may be started with as little as $5,000.

Unrestricted Endowments provide the greatest flexibility for the foundation to respond to emerging and changing needs of the community. The donor leaves all decisions regarding grant-making to the Foundation. This unrestricted endowment is used to encourage new initiatives, meet emergency needs and build bridges within the community. It provides the foundation the means to address issues we may not foresee today. Gifts of any size may be made to the unrestricted endowment.

Field of Interest Funds give the donor the chance to target their gift to their particular area of concern. We believe a number of field of interest funds will be established in areas including education, health, arts and culture and historic preservation. As with the unrestricted endowment, the Foundation decides where grants will be most helpful at a given time, but the grants may only be used to support activities within the field of interest. You may create a field of interest endowment or add to one already in existence.

Designated Funds allow you, the donor, to select the specific charity or group of charities to be funded each year. You are providing a permanent source of support for those charities. And should your charity cease to exist, the Foundation will ensure that the funds are used elsewhere in the manner you intended.

...beyond the creation of specific charitable funds, the Foundation can help interested
donors create a variety of charitable trusts and annuities developed specifically to meet
their individual needs.