Why should I establish a fund at the Community Foundation?
Establishing a fund at the Community Foundation provides an easy, effective, and enjoyable way to achieve your philanthropic goals.

• We are local: The Community Foundation is a local organization with extensive experience dealing with local issues and needs. Assets stay right here in the Northern Colorado community.
• We make a permanent difference: The Community Foundation was built to last, and donors can feel secure that our staff, volunteers, investments, and mission are structured to strengthen our community in perpetuity. Gifts to the Community Foundation will continue impacting our region long into the future.
• We can insure anonymity: Making an anonymous grant from a Donor Advised fund is easy. As the fund advisors, you can decide on a grant-by-grant basis whether you'd like a nonprofit recipient to know the source of the gift it receives. (Grantmaking anonymity isn't this simple if you establish a private foundation instead of a Donor Advised fund. Click here to learn more.)
• We make complicated gifts easy: Giving should warm your heart, not burden you with tax complications and ongoing administrative details. We help donors make gifts in a cost and time effective way by accepting a variety of assets and allow you to support multiple organizations through one fund. 

How do I establish a fund?
Simply decide which type of fund best meets your interests and needs, determine your charitable priorities, select a name for the fund, and make an establishing gift. The Community Foundation can typically prepare and complete the written Fund Agreement in less than one hour. Draft fund agreements can be downloaded from the Publications and Documents page of this site.

What type of fund should I establish?
The Community Foundation has several types of funds available to help you accomplish your charitable goals. Our staff is available to discuss these options and help you select one or more that may suit your philanthropic needs.

How much do I need to establish a fund?
All funds, with the exception of scholarship funds, must be established with a minimum $10,000 gift. There is no maximum limit, and no set-up fee. Scholarship funds must be endowed, and a minimum balance of $20,000 is required.

Does the Community Foundation charge an annual fee to maintain the fund?
Each fund at the Foundation shares in the total administrative costs of the Foundation. The Foundation charges a very low annual administrative fee ranging from 1% to 2%, depending on the type of fund established. Our staff can answer any questions you may have regarding our fee structure, which can be downloaded from the Publications and Documents page of this site.

Can I advise how my funds will be invested?
Yes! The Community Foundation offers different investment pools, and donors may recommend the one that best meets their needs and interests. 

• The Balanced Pool: Provides long-term growth of capital and generation of income by investing in a diversified mix of domestic and foreign equities and fixed income securities. This pool is appropriate for donors who seek moderate growth paired with stability.
• The Growth Pool: Provides long-term growth of capital with the production of income being secondary. This pool is appropriate for donors seeking capital appreciation who have a higher tolerance for volatility. Our staff would be pleased to review the investment options with you. Detailed investment information can be downloaded from the Publications and Documents page of this site.

What kinds of assets may I use to open a fund?
Funds may be established with cash, securities traded on major exchanges, closely held stock, mutual fund shares, real estate, bequests, interests in limited partnerships, and more! Our staff is experienced at evaluating unusual assets and can accommodate them for charitable purposes.

I need to set up a fund quickly. How long does it take? 
Once you have decided on the type of fund you would like to establish, our staff can set it up with a simple governing document that requires less than an hour to prepare and complete. Draft fund agreements can be downloaded from the Publications and Documents of this site.

May I select the name of the fund?
Absolutely. You may use your own names, names of individuals to be honored or memorialized, or the name of your business. Some donors select a more general name to retain anonymity.