Create a Legacy: Tools & Resources for Donors

Which type of fund is best for you?

Advised Fund: Tends to be the most popular fund option now because donors can annually make grant recommendations for grants to those organizations they want to support. Since interests may change from time-to-time this fund option gives donors the opportunity to be able to change their recommendations with their interests. These funds tend to be a favorable alternative to a private foundation. Donors can often name their children as successor advisors to the fund in order to continue the tradition of family philanthropy.

Field of Interest Fund: Focuses on particular charitable areas. If a donor wants their grants to be awarded to a particular area such as primary or secondary education; lay leadership training; community building; or health care for those in need they can simply specify the area of interest and the Foundation board and staff will ensure that their wishes are carried out. This type of fund is for a donor that may know the area they want to support, but not a specific agency.

Donor Designated Fund: The donor specifies one or more agencies for which they recommend that permanent support be awarded in the form of an annual grant. This is the type of fund for a donor that wants to continue giving support to those agencies that they have been supporting during their lifetime.

Unrestricted Fund: For the donor who wants to establish an endowed fund, but gives the Foundation board full discretion in awarding annual grants based on the Foundation's priorities which may change over time.