Ways to Give to the Foundation

Fund Types from which to Choose

Designated Funds allow donors to support a specific organization or organizations. The donor may name the charitable recipients. The Foundation administers gifts to the charities annually. In addition, the Foundation makes sure the charity remains eligible to receive gifts over time. Should circumstances change and an organization no longer exists, the Foundation ensures the annual grants are redirected to an appropriate recipient, keeping in mind the donor’s original intent. A designated fund may be established with a donation of $10,000. This may be given in increments over a period of five years.

Donor Advised Funds allow the donor, the donor’s spouse, and/or donor’s specified family members to suggest grant recipients from their fund without the administrative responsibilities of a private foundation. A recent article in the Washington Post regarding donor advised funds stated, “We call them charitable checking accounts," says Stacy Palmer, editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy in Washington, D.C. "A lot of people like how easy they are. You can give without having to set up a private foundation, and give to many causes rather than writing a check to one particular cause." A donor advised fund may be established at PACF with a donation of $10,000. This may be given in increments over a period of five years. The donor will be given the choice of whether the fund will be endowed or not.

Field of Interest Funds allow a donor to specify a “field”, such as education, the arts, human services, the environment, or a particular community to receive the earnings from the fund.

Unrestricted Funds are not specifically designated for use by a particular agency, cause or area of interest. Our Board of Directors oversees the use of these funds, setting priorities for their use and determining how grants will be distributed to support the charitable needs of our community. The Foundation is constantly assessing programs and initiatives for community improvement that donors may be unaware of, and unrestricted funds give the Foundation the opportunity to lend its support to those.

Scholarship Funds may be tailored to a particular geographic, academic or other criterion to award grants to benefit students at any education level, or for a specific institution.

A Supporting Organization is an excellent alternative to a private foundation. You select some of the board members and support the causes you care about most, while enjoying the favorable tax treatment, immediate startup, and ease of administration associated with working through your community foundation.

Giving Circles, much like investment clubs, consist of a group of individuals who pool their resources and gather to discuss and choose the charitable causes they want to support with the charitable dollars they have collected.

Agency Funds protect capital for the future of the benefiting organization and provide rewards of broader investment management. Individuals and corporations are invited to establish or add to these endowments.

Please contact a board member or the executive director for more information regarding how your donation can best meet your desires for our communities.  You may also link to a questionnaire to help you determine your charitable priorities.

You may add to any of the funds at the Community Foundation by making a secure online donation:

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