Establishing a Fund

We are committed to helping donors achieve their charitable interests and goals and offer a number of fund types listed below with descriptions.

While a gift of cash may establish a new fund, donors may also establish a fund through the: transfer of stocks, bonds, life insurance or IRA’s; non-cash gifts (grain, real estate, etc.), or planned gifts. 

Donors may contribute to existing funds in the following categories or establish one of the following type of funds:

• Donor Advised Funds: 
  Like a Charitable Checking Account
  A Donor-Advised Fund is a personal approach to giving. It allows an individual, family, or business to retain a say in the charitable distributions from their gift, and is an excellent means for organizing and tracking all of one’s charitable giving.
• Designated Funds:
  No Fuss Annual Giving for Designated Charities
  Establishing a Designated Fund allows you to support the good work of a specifc nonprofit organization. Because it is given through your community foundation, your gift provides the organization you select not only funding, but planned giving and investment management services and the power of endowment.
• Field of Interest Funds
  Specific to a Cause, yet Flexible in Recipients
  Field of Interest Funds allow a donor to specify a “field”, such as education, the arts, human services, or the environment to receive the earnings from the fund. The field of interest may also be geographic, for the benefit of a specific community in the area.
• Unrestricted Funds
  Improving our Communities through Competitive Grants
  Unrestricted Funds are not specifically designated for use by a particular agency, cause or area of interest. Our Board of Directors oversees the use of these funds. The Foundation is constantly assessing programs and initiatives for community improvement. Unrestricted funds allow the board to recommend grants to best address current community needs.
• Scholarship Funds
  Scholarship Funds may be tailored to a particular geographic, academic or other criterion to award grants to benefit students at any education level, or for a specific institution.
• Charitable Gift Trusts
  Benefits both Charity and Donor
  Charitable trusts are a legal arrangement placing real or personal property in trust for the benefit of a charity. A charitable trust can produce substantial tax benefits for an individual and his or her estate. 
• Agency Funds
  Investing and Managing Funds for Non-Profits
  Agency Funds protect capital for the future of the benefiting organization and provide rewards of broader investment management. Individuals and corporations are invited to establish or add to these endowments.
• Provisional Funds for Specific Projects
  Provisional Funds are temporary funds established at the community foundation to raise funds for a specific need or project in the area.