Powerful giving starts with smart questions.
What issues do you care about in our community?
What would our community look like if these issues could be resolved?
What charities advance the work needed for change?
The Community Foundation can help provide you with information about the flexible and effective ways your gift can make a difference in our community. Whether you want to be highly involved in recommending funding choices or prefer to rely on community experts to determine funding needs, the Community Foundation offers a variety of fund types to suit your personal philanthropic goals.
In contrast to most nonprofits, the Community Foundation is not limited in its charitable focus. From early childhood education to aging, from basic needs to economic development, from arts to the environment, donors can make charitable gifts that flex as our community changes over time or target causes that they care most about.
Unrestricted Funds
These funds allow the Community Foundation the flexibility to address Monroe County’s ever-changing needs through strategic grant making, year after year. When possible, funds are used to facilitate innovative responses to community opportunities and challenges. Rather than designating how the money will be spent, you allow the Community Foundation to determine the most effective ways to seize our community’s most compelling opportunities or respond to the most pressing needs.
Donor Advised Funds
Donor advised funds allow you to play an active role in the grant-making process by making recommendations on charitable projects or organizations to support. It is easy to give to multiple nonprofits through donor advised funds, although the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors is legally responsible for approving all grants. For more information on Donor Advised Funds, see our page about Supporting Donor Advisors.
Agency and Designated Funds
Agency and designated funds allow you to direct your gift to a specific agency or purpose. Almost any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may be designated to receive support for its mission. You identify the recipient(s) you wish to benefit through your gift and our staff manages the annual distribution of funds from the endowment. More than 50 local nonprofits benefit from funds at the Community Foundation.
Field-of-Interest Funds
A field-of-interest fund gives you the opportunity to target your contribution to the fields most important to you. Whether you are interested in education, youth, healthcare, the arts, or some other area of impact, these funds are broad in scope, yet targeted to meet the persistent needs of the field. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff will use their expertise to identify, evaluate, and award grants to the most qualified and deserving organizations and programs in your area(s) of interest.
Scholarship Funds
A scholarship fund lets you help deserving students further their education. The Community Foundation has the ability to help you determine a level of education from preschool to postgraduate work, a field of study, and eligibility requirements. A gift to establish a scholarship must exceed $40,000.
To learn more, contact Meagan Niese, CFO and Development Director at [email protected] or 812-333-9016.