The Community Foundation makes it easy to establish a charitable fund that carries your name, commemorates a special event, supports a special project or honors a favorite organization, friend or family member. You can choose when and how to make gifts from your fund or you can rely on the Foundation to determine how to best make an impact in the community.
The assets you use to establish your fund can range from bequests and outright gifts of cash and securities to a trust that provides a steady stream of income during your lifetime. So explore your options and select the approach that works best for you.
To get started, our Foundation team partners with you – and your professional advisors if you choose – to complete a simple, six-step process.
Establish a Fund in Six Simple Steps
- Define a charitable purpose or intent for your fund.
- Determine whether you will determine which grants are made (donor-advised funds) or whether you will leave those decisions to the Foundation (community grantmaking funds).
- Select a name for your fund.
- Designate current and successor fund advisors, as necessary.
- Complete a simple governing document to make your intentions crystal clear.
- Contribute an initial, tax-deductible gift of cash, securities, real estate, IRA distributions or life insurance to establish the fund. You can add to it at any time and in any dollar amount.
