At the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, we understand the value of trusted relationships. That’s why we offer customized philanthropic solutions that help professional advisors like you deepen client trust, deliver meaningful impact, and simplify charitable giving. Our tools and expertise make it easy for you to align your clients’ values with their giving.

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Why Work with CFGC?

  • Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

    A flexible, cost-effective alternative to private foundations. Your clients can recommend grants, maintain anonymity if desired, and access real-time fund and grant tracking—all with potential greater tax benefits.
  • Legacy Planning

    Help your clients create a lasting philanthropic legacy. We work closely to understand the values that shaped their lives and ensure those values live on through strategic giving.
  • Individually Managed Funds (IMFs)

    For clients opening a fund over $250,000, our IMF Program allows them to retain their preferred financial advisor while benefiting from CFGC’s philanthropic expertise.

Open a Donor-Advised Fund

To open a donor advised fund at the community foundation we will need the following documents completed and returned to the Foundation: DAF Application and DAF Agreement. If your client is opening a fund over $250,000 and you are interested in managing the assets through our Individually Managed Fund program please complete the following forms. If you have questions, please contact Rebecca Underwood runderwood@cfgc.org.

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Legacy Planning prepares your client to create a philanthropic legacy that will meet the needs of our community far into the future—needs that may not even exist at this moment.

Legacy Planning

Understanding the experiences that shaped your clients' values is critically important to us, and we’ll work closely with them to ensure those values live on in the gifts you make. Creating a letter of instruction will serve to permanently guide the Foundation in honoring their intentions and achieving the impact they wish to have in perpetuity.

Available Investment Pools

We offer a range of investment pools to match your clients’ financial goals:

Long-term Investment Pool

This Pool would be appropriate for donors who have a long-term objective and are comfortable with periodic volatility.

Short-term Investment Pool

This Pool would be appropriate for donors for whom capital preservation and current income are the primary objectives.

Indexed Growth Pools

This Pool would be appropriate for donors who have a long-term objective, are comfortable with periodic volatility, but would prefer access to low cost index funds.

SRI Pools

SRI refers to “Socially Responsible Investing”. This pool would be appropriate for donors who have a long-term objective, are comfortable with periodic volatility, and seek to align their investments with certain values.

Individually Managed Funds (“IMF”) Program

Under CFGC’s IMF Program, donors have the option to retain the services of a preferred advisor for their fund. Assets would not be commingled with other donors.

Make a lasting impact in Chattanooga

Join the many financial advisors, estate planners, and attorneys who trust the
experts at the CFGC to help support their clients’ charitable goals. Together, we can
create a legacy of generosity and impact.

Caroline von Kessler

vp of philanthropy
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Vp of philanthropy