Types of Funds

How can I help my client accomplish their giving goals?

Your client is interested in being philanthropic now, later or a combination of both. To help your client determine the best type of fund to establish, listen to what they want to accomplish with their giving. Maybe you could suggest an appropriate fund type based on your knowledge and relationship with the individual or family, or maybe they have said one of the following:

I want to give broadly in support of my community.
I want to create or formalize a family tradition of giving.
I want to create a charitable legacy for a loved one or myself.
I care about a specific issue or challenge in my community.
I want to help a particular not-for-profit organization.
My not-for-profit organization wants to establish an endowment fund.

Learn About Each Type of Giving Option

Agency Funds

Agency Funds give not-for-profit agencies the opportunity to establish funds at the Community Foundation that will provide a permanent source of income. The funds will be invested with professional investment managers, and both the board and donors are assured that the funds will always be available for charitable purposes, even if the charitable organization ceases operations.

Community Funds

Community Funds provide the maximum flexibility to future generations to determine the most critical issues facing our community. These funds can perpetually carry the name given by the donor and support the broad community grantmaking programs under the direction of the Community Foundation’s board of directors.

Designated Funds

Designated Funds allow you to identify specific not-for-profit organizations to receive grants on an annual basis. These funds are permanent and allow you to continue to support a favorite charity in perpetuity.

Donor-Advised Funds

Donor-Advised Funds offer a donor continued participation including recommendations of distributions to eligible charities. These funds can be created for as little as $2,500 — with cash, appreciated securities or other assets — and may or may not be permanently endowed. For more on the benefits of donor-advised fund, read the Top 10 Reasons to Open a Donor-Advised Fund.

Field of Interest Funds

Field of Interest Funds support a focus area of the donor’s choosing, such as the arts, education, youth services, or almost any other area of need in our community for which a donor might have an affinity.

Legacy Society

Legacy Society Membership gives a donor the option of deferring a gift to support future generations.

Scholarship Funds

Scholarship Funds can honor loved ones while providing educational opportunities for future community leaders.

Unrestricted Gifts

Unrestricted Gifts to the Community Fund enable the Community Foundation to respond to the ever-changing needs of the Central New York community.

Deferred Gifts
Deferred Gifts allow different types of planned giving, such as bequests, gifts of life insurance, charitable remainder trusts, and pooled life income funds, which offer substantial tax benefits and in some cases income for life. Read More...

Still not sure?
Many people have charitable interests and goals that are best accomplished through the establishment of more than one type of fund. The Community Foundation’s development professionals are available to talk about your charitable interests and objectives, and then provide you with the tools to implement your individualized plan.

Your meeting with the Community Foundation staff can also include a conversation about your particular financial position and recommendations on giving vehicles or asset types that might have the best tax advantages for you. Of course, any information that we might provide to you would certainly not take the place of the advice of your qualified tax planner or financial advisor. They will be best able to consult you on the best way to maximize your tax benefit.

Ready to open a fund or ready for customized assistance? Please contact Jenn Owens to start the conversation about charitable giving, answer your questions, and help you create a custom giving plan. He can be reached by phone at 315-883-5540 or by email.

Our 85th Anniversary

The Central New York Community Foundation is celebrating its 85th Anniversary with various celebrations and grantmaking opportunities over the course of 2012.

The CNY85 Giving Project

The CNY85 Giving Project will award grants to projects that are addressing Central New York's greatest needs. Winners will be decided by public vote. Learn More

The CNY85 Collaborative Impact Prize
The CNY85 Collaborative Impact Prize will award a special one-time grant of $85,000 to a project will that support the implementation of an innovative, collaborative, cross-sector solution to a critical community issue. Learn More

Qualifying Assets

Learn more about Giving Assets and Timeframes.

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