About
Starting an endowed fund enables you to provide community resources for the charitable interests you care about most, today and for future generations.
What to think about when creating a fund
- What do you want to support? Are you interested in a specific nonprofit in your community? Passionate about a specific area, like food insecurity, education, or the arts? Is your goal simply to keep your giving local while support any needs that surface year-to-year?
- Do you want to be involved in grantmaking?
- How do you want to add assets to your fund?
- Whether you have a detailed plan or are just beginning, the Foundation is here to make your giving as impactful as possible, ensuring your charitable goals are carried out in the community you care about.
Types of Funds
Community Endowment Funds
Foundation-directed, flexible resources
Giving Services Funds
Donor-directed, customizable giving
Community Endowment Funds
Unrestricted Funds
The flexibility of unrestricted funds allow the Foundation to use the expertise of staff and local board members to make the best possible community investments across all issue areas for generations to come. Unrestricted funds serve the Foundation’s full five-and-a-half-county footprint. When you establish an unrestricted fund, grantmaking decisions are directed by the Foundation using a data-driven lens to ensure grants from these funds are maximizing impact across the region.
Field of Interest Funds
These funds allow donors to benefit from the expertise of the Foundation’s staff and data-driven lens while allowing you to identify an area of personal interest. Field of interest funds can serve (1) a specific geography, but unlimited interest areas; (2) a specific interest area, but full regional geography, or (3) a specific geography and specific interest area. Within those parameters, the Foundation will direct grantmaking by identifying the best possible community investments for generations to come.
Giving Services Funds
Designated Funds
These funds are created to perpetually benefit a predetermined nonprofit(s) by providing ongoing support. The Foundation automatically processes grants annually in the name of the fund and handles administrative responsibilities, allowing the nonprofit to focus on their mission. Designated funds can be established by individual donors or by nonprofit agencies.
Donor Advised Funds
These funds serve as a flexible solution to charitable giving, allowing you to take an immediate tax deduction when you make your gift while enjoying the flexibility to recommend nonprofit grants over time. The Foundation handles all of the administrative work for you.
Scholarship Funds
These funds are established to inspire young people and invest in the community’s future. Donors establish selection criteria for the type of students they’d like to support. Whether it’s academic success, financial need, community involvement, or a specific area of study, the Foundation finds the perfect student and handles all administrative details.
Special Project Funds & Fiscal Sponsorships
The Foundation will work with donors in special situations to tailor charitable giving for short-term projects or as a for-profit’s fiscal sponsor. Contact us to learn more about these specialized options.
