The
Community Foundation has many different options to help donors accomplish
their goals. Donors can create their own fund or may choose to give
to an existing fund such as the Women's Fund, the Environmental
Fund, the Togeter We Can Scholarship Fund or Fund for Chattanooga. You can see a complete list of funds here.
The minimum gift to begin a fund is $5,000. The Community Foundation manages over 180 funds that fall into one of the following categories:
Unrestricted Funds allow donors to give during their lives or create bequests to existing unrestricted funds at the Foundation. The Fund for Chattanooga is the largest fund of the Foundation. The income from the fund is distributed by the Board of Directors, according to the Foundation's grantmaking guidelines. The Fund for Chattanooga seeks to address the most pressing needs in the community. Gifts and bequests to the Fund for Chattanooga ensure donors that their donation will be used now and in perpetuity to address the community's greatest needs.
Donor-Advised Funds make charitable contributions at the donor's suggestion. Donor advised funds are especially useful for donors who want to take a charitable deduction one year and spread contributions over future years. Many donors choose to set up a donor-advised fund rather than commit valuable grant dollars to the administration of a private foundation.
Designated Funds establish an endowment for a donor's particular charitable interest, with the assurance that the designation will be adhered to as long as the need exists. These funds are endowed to support a specific charitable agency or agencies with annual grants from the income of the fund's endowment.
Field of Interest Funds respond to charitable needs in a donor's specific area of interest. For example, a donor may create a fund for the benefit of a specific issue such as education, the environment, healthcare or literacy. These funds are managed to address pressing community needs in the area of greatest priority to the donor.
Agency Funds are available to nonprofit organizations as a means of protecting the agency's endowment for the future. Agencies value the opportunity to be included in the Foundation's investment portfolio.
Project Funds assist a project or organization, and benefit specific areas of concern. Area playgrounds, such as the Warner Park Kidz Place, have set up funds with the Community Foundation as a depository for the project.
Scholarship Funds can be established to further the education of students from a particular area, level of income or specific high school. Scholarship funds may also be established for students entering a specific field of study or students enrolled in a specific institution. The Foundation's staff and the Scholarship Committee of the Board often provide donors with expertise to help make a difference in the lives of area youth.
Memorial Funds ensure that a special person is remembered in perpetuity through a fund that reflects his or her charitable priorities.
