Types of Funds

The Community Foundation is your partner in philanthropy.  We currently provide stewardship for more than 600 charitable funds, each with a purpose as unique as its donor.  Our staff is available to assist you in framing your charitable vision to promote positive change in the areas you care about.

The Community Foundation offers several types of funds, some of which can be established with gifts or bequests as small as $10,000.  Let us help you select the fund that works best for your particular giving situation.  Please contact us.

Unrestricted Funds

Think broadly
When you establish or contribute to an Unrestricted Fund, you help to support The Community Foundation's community grant programs conducted twice a year.  In other words, your gift can address a broad range of local needs – including future needs that often cannot be anticipated at the time your gift is made.  The flexibility of unrestricted funds enables TCF’s program experts to respond to the community’s most pressing needs as they emerge.

Field of Interest Funds

Address Issues
Establishing a Field of Interest Fund allows you to target your gift to address a specific area of community need.  You can identify your personal area of interest and our board will award grants to nonprofit organizations that are making a difference in the area you select – whether it be the arts, access to health care or the environment.

Donor Advised Funds

Stay Involved
Creating a Donor Advised Fund is a simple, powerful and highly personal approach to giving.  This option allows you to remain actively involved in suggesting uses for your gift.  You can recommend grants to charities you wish to support, at your own convenience.  You may also choose to work with our staff to identify nonprofits that are particularly effective in addressing the issues that are important to you.

Designated/Agency Endowment Funds

Provide Ongoing Support
Establishing a Designated Fund allows you to support one or more specific charitable organizations.  Nonprofit organizations may also establish a designated or agency endowment at The Community Foundation.  It is a simple and efficient way to build an endowment, and help create sustainability, for your organization.  Our staff can also help nonprofits develop planned giving programs and assist with investment management and administrative details.

Scholarship Funds

Invest in Deserving Students
When you establish or contribute to a Scholarship Funds, you help students achieve their dreams through education.  You may work with our staff to create the guidelines for students who can receive financial assistance through the fund.  For example, eligibility may be based on field of study, community involvement, merit or financial need.  If you wish, there are opportunities to meet or correspond with your scholarship recipient, after the selection process is complete.

Supporting Organizations

Become a foundation partner
With assets of $5 million dollars, you can establish a supporting organization -- an excellent alternative to a private foundation, with only a fraction of the administrative costs and responsibilities.  This option provides additional opportunities to participate in governance, investment management or a focused grantmaking program.