Fund Types & Structures
Sections
Whatever your charitable interests, we offer simple, flexible, and rewarding ways to give — whether you are giving $1,000 or $110,000.
Fund Type vs. Fund Structure
How does a Fund Type differ from a Fund Structure?
Fund Type
A fund type is defined by its purpose, the means used to disburse grants, and level of donor involvement. See various fund type options below.
Fund Structure
A fund structure determines a fund’s asset investment and associated administrative fees. Fund structures are selected to match the envisioned life of the fund and the frequency of distributions. See various fund structure options below.
Fund Types & Structures
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions.
Selecting the most appropriate fund type can augment your giving, increase your granting options, and simplify your record keeping. Not sure about specifics? Don’t worry, we have fund types that give you room to maneuver.
Affinity Funds
We can work with groups of non-related donors who share a common vision to create affinity funds, providing an efficient vehicle to pool contributions and process grants. One form of collective philanthropy, affinity groups work collaboratively to recommend grants that reflect their agreed-upon goals. Thursday Roundtable is one affinity fund that we manage.
Agency Funds
Agency funds are an ideal way to simplify and enhance your nonprofit organization’s asset management by leveraging our professional management, investment committee experience and portfolio size. Nonprofits can participate in our endowment investment portfolio that they could not replicate on a stand-alone basis. Agency funds can provide your organization with a permanent source of operating income and professionally managed “rainy day” funds.
Award Funds
An award fund is a way to inspire and recognize excellence by awarding merit-based grants to individuals or organizations, based upon fund holders’ goals. We can assist in developing award criteria as well as the selection process to maximize impact and ensure compliance with IRS rules.
Competitive Grant Funds
Increase the impact of your gift and put it to work, solving our community’s most pressing challenges. Our Grants Committee carefully vets Competitive Grant applications and makes awards based on community need, impact, and organizational capacity. Gifts to support this fund can be designated for specific areas including animals, arts & culture, human services, education, conservation & environment, civic engagement and recreation.
Designated Funds
With designated funds, you identify one or more qualified nonprofits or projects as beneficiaries when you create the fund. Your gift can address either immediate or long-term needs, and we will handle all the asset management and disbursements.
Donor Advised Funds
Donor advised funds offer maximum flexibility for granting with immediate tax benefits. By opening a donor advised fund, you lock in the tax deduction for the current year and can then take time to set your charitable goals for the long term. Fund holders retain the ability to recommend grants to qualified charities in the U.S. or abroad, whenever they wish. We take care of tracking grantees, processing payments, and reporting. All of the joy of giving with none of the administration – what could be better? You maintain ongoing advisory involvement and can also name children, or anyone else, as additional or successor advisors to your fund.
Scholarship Funds
Scholarship funds help individuals pursue educational or professional goals and opportunities. Donors can contribute to existing funds or start new ones, recommend scholarship guidelines and participate in the selection process with the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee.
Investment Management
Contributions of all sizes to funds held at the Community Foundation help to empower thoughtful philanthropic investment in our community and beyond.
Since 1989, donors have trusted us to intelligently manage and responsibly allocate charitable resources. Together, much has been accomplished, and all of our lives have been enriched.
Prudent stewardship of funds is our priority. Our fund management objectives are twofold. To:
- Preserve and grow principal
- Manage risk
Our philosophy is to provide long-term sources of funding that benefit both fund holders and nonprofits. To pursue this strategy, we rely on the professional judgment of our investment advisors along with the local oversight of our knowledgeable and experienced Investment Committee.
Getting Started with your Fundholder Portal
The Community Foundation offers a free and secure online tracking system that lets fundholders view fund activity and recommend grants online 24⁄7 as a service to our fundholders.
If you are not signed up to use Donor View, contact the Community Foundation (307) 739‑1026 to obtain your confidential user ID and password.