Types of Endowment Funds

Endowed Funds Come in All Shapes and Sizes

While fund types vary and each is established according to an individual donor’s intent, one thing remains constant: they all make a difference – today and forever. And because endowment funds are pooled for maximum benefit and invested to achieve long-term growth, they enable donors to make the greatest impact in the community.

Questions about establishing a fund?

Laura Malone

Development Officer

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Agency Funds

Agency Endowment Funds are created by an agency or donor to give longevity and financial support to an organization. Once the fund reaches $10,000, a distribution is either given to the organization or reinvested into the endowment. Through this type of fund, nonprofits have a lasting source of income.

Community Responsive Funds

Community Responsive Funds are unrestricted funds that offer the greatest flexibility in responding to the community’s changing needs and allow the Community Foundation to address issues as they emerge.

Designated Funds

Designated Funds support one or more nonprofit organization(s) as chosen by the donor. Designated funds ensure continuous gifts to the fund holder’s favorite charitable organization(s), perpetuating their charitable goals.

Donor Advised Funds

Donor Advised Funds permit donors to participate in the funding process by suggesting grants to nonprofit organizations. This type of fund provides convenience and flexibility by allowing donors to support various charitable organizations over time through one initial donation. For some, this is an attractive alternative to a private foundation.

Field of Interest Funds

Field of Interest Funds allows donors to support broad areas of interest such as education, the arts, the environment, or youth services. Through competitive grants to organizations working in the fund’s defined area of interest, donors can make an impact in a lasting, meaningful way.

Scholarships

Scholarship Funds help students pursue their academic goals and can be established by companies, organizations, families, or individuals. Scholarships may have merit or need-based criteria and can be designated to assist students from a certain school, a designated community, or those entering a specific field of study. Click to learn more.

School Endowments

The Community Foundation is proud to have established the first school endowment fund in the country. School Endowments support students and educators by providing funding for non-traditional educational opportunities such as field trips, arts programs, and scholarships. Community members can donate to a school endowment or create a fund of their own. Click to access to school endowment forms and more information.

Learn More

Want to learn more about how to gift specific assets to create these funds at Community Foundation of Lorain County? Visit our Donor Learning Portal to learn how one gift can have a lifetime of impact. Click to learn more.

Donor Bill of Rights

Philanthropy is a tradition of giving and sharing that, we feel, is essential to the quality of life. To assure that the Community Foundation of Lorain County merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the Foundation, we have declared all donors have rights.

Please read further to understand how we work to protect you, our supporters, at all times.

Donor Bill of Rights