How it Works

• You identify an area of personal interest as broad or narrow as you wish.
• You make a gift to your community foundation during your lifetime or through a bequest in your will. You can give cash, appreciated stocks, or other assets.
• We set up a special fund in your name, in the name of your family or business, or in honor of any person or organization you choose.
• You receive tax benefits in the year your gift is made.
• Our Board of Directors determines opportunities in your area of interest that would be most impacted by grants from your fund.
• We issue grants in the name of the fund you establish. If you prefer, grants can be made anonymously.
• We handle all the administrative details.

By establishing a field of interest fund, you direct your gift towards addressing opportunities within community areas important to you. You can add any amount to the fund you establish at any time and so can others who share your interests. Distributions from your fund will be made through a competitive grant application process. Your gift, and all future earnings from your gift, is a permanent source of community capital, helping to do good work forever.

Example of a field of interest fund based outside of the Lakeshore area:
When they lost their adult daughter, Susan, to cancer, the Perez family received hundreds of contributions from people throughout the community. Susan had been a high school teacher, and many of the contributions came from fellow teachers and from parents of the students whose lives she had touched. “Susan cared so deeply about her work,” says Mrs. Perez, “and we wanted to use the money to continue in that spirit of helping children through their education.” The Perez family spoke with their local community foundation and decided to establish the Susan L. Perez Education Fund, a field of interest fund that memorializes their daughter by supporting local educators and students. “We chose to begin this kind of fund because education is so dynamic,” says Mr. Perez. “We realize that we aren’t always aware of what our school system needs and how it works, and we wanted to be sure that, even years from now, grants made in Susan’s name make sense for our community.