When you target your gift to address the needs of a specific community or charitable cause, you create a fund that remains flexible enough to meet community needs in your area of interest, even as organizations and/or needs addressing the issue change over time.
For more information, please contact us.
Sample Fund Agreements
“I think community foundations are a win-win for communities and for the people. Just as we’re learning why it’s better for all of us if we ‘eat local’ and ‘buy local,’ we’re figuring out why it’s better to ‘give local’ and – from a recipient’s perspective – to ‘receive local.’“
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of a field of interest fund?
Field of interest funds are flexible funds for grantmaking in a specific interest area.
How does a field of interest fund work?
When you make a gift to establish a field of interest fund, we will work with you to establish guidelines that will direct the grantmaking over time. A field of interest fund can be broadly or narrowly focused, depending on your interest.
Who is the ideal donor for field of interest funds?
Field of interest funds are great for many types of donors, including those who want their fund to be flexible enough to meet changing needs in a specific area and do not feel the need to be actively involved in grantmaking. They are also ideal for individuals and families who want to leave a legacy gift supporting charitable causes they care about or for memorializing those who had a particular cause they were passionate about.
Who is responsible for the grantmaking?
Our Board of Directors is responsible for all our grantmaking, usually through a grants committee. Depending on the field of interest, the board may ask outside experts to sit on a grantmaking committee.
Must the grantmaking process be competitive?
Not necessarily. Grants from a field of interest fund are often awarded following a competitive process; however, the grants committee may decide to make proactive grants in the field of interest, or to solicit proposals from specific agencies whose work in the field is interesting to them.
What if there is no longer a need for grants in a specified area?
Obviously, this situation would be a wonderful thing. However, if a field of interest fund was established to combat a certain issue that, over time, ceases to be a concern, our Board of Directors will find another similar charitable cause to keep grantmaking as close as possible to the donor’s original intention.