The flexibility of the Foundation offers a variety of ways to give to the community, depending upon the charitable objectives of donors. The most frequently used types of funds are as follows:

Unrestricted Funds

A donor’s gift of unrestricted funds provides the Foundation with the maximum flexibility in meeting the most urgent needs of compelling opportunities in the region.  Unrestricted gifts are at the core of the Foundation’s grant-making ability and are therefore a priority of the Foundation.

Field of Interest Funds

This option allows donors to limit recipients of grants from their fund to organizations or projects within a particular charitable field – for example, education, health or the arts.  The Foundation determines the annual beneficiaries of these funds in accordance with the donor’s wishes.

Donor Advised Funds

Donors retain the privilege of participating in the selection of beneficiaries of their fund.  While IRS regulations require that the final selection must rest with the Foundation’s Board of Directors, the advice given by donors will be fully considered in making grants from these funds.

Donor Designated Funds

Donors can ensure long-term annual support to the charitable organization of their choosing at the time of the funds creation.  Should the designated organization cease to exist or the purpose become obsolete, the Foundation has the ability to redirect the income to maintain the donor’s original intent.

Endowment Funds

These funds are created for the benefit of charitable organizations or agencies that prefer to establish an endowment fund within the Foundation rather than create and manage such a fund themselves.  Nonprofits can benefit their own organization by creating this type of fund to ensure their future viability.

Memorial and Honorary Gifts

You can make a gift in memory of someone or for a personal or professional achievement. Donations to these funds will be acknowledged to the individual or family and will be noted in the Annual Report, if desired.

Scholarship Funds

These funds are used to memorialize or honor a special person, while assisting students in their educational endeavors and in achieving their goals.  The funds can be designated for any level of education, from preschool to postgraduate work.  Donors may designate a particular field of study, select eligibility requirements, name an advisory committee and participate in the selection process.

School Endowments

The School Endowment Fund can be established to enhance the quality of public education for students by providing funds, which will be utilized to enrich and extend educational opportunities.  Each fund will have it’s own governing board to review and select the direction and the individual programs to be funded.

Supporting Organizations

Those who wish to have many of the benefits of a private foundation, yet enjoy the favorable public charity status for income tax purposes, should consider becoming a Supporting Organization of the Foundation Such an organization receives all of its support from a single individual or members of one family and engages in grant making advised by its own governing board.