An agency fund is established by a nonprofit organization for its own benefit. The nonprofit organization receives annual distributions from the fund exclusively dedicated to the purposes determined by the nonprofit organization itself. The minimum contribution to establish an agency fund is $100,000. Additional contributions to the fund can be made in any amount, at any time, by the nonprofit organization. An agency fund is an ideal choice for nonprofit organizations that would like to benefit from the Foundation’s investment management expertise and fund administration.

How it Works
Agency Frequently Asked Questions

A designated fund allows you to specify one or more nonprofit organizations that will be supported by your fund. If one of the designated nonprofit organizations changes its mission or ceases to exist, we will help you identify a comparable organization, ensuring that your philanthropic legacy carries on the intended work. The minimum contribution to establish a designated fund is $25,000.  Additional contributions to the fund can be made in any amount at any time. A designated fund is an ideal choice for clients who wish to support a particular charity(s) but want third-party oversight to ensure that principal is not invaded or that their gift is used as specified.

A donor-advised fund allows you to easily manage charitable giving, as part of your overall financial and tax planning, without the obligation of running a private foundation. You can add to your fund at any time and make grant recommendations to any charity that meets Internal Revenue Service guidelines. We handle the administrative and investment management details. The minimum contribution to establish a donor-advised fund is $25,000. Additional contributions to the fund can be made in any amount at any time. A donor-advised fund is an ideal choice for clients seeking an efficient and cost-effective alternative to a private foundation. It is also well-suited for clients who want to remain actively involved in granting to their favorite charities or those who aim to foster family philanthropy by designating successor advisors to their fund.

A field of interest fund allows you to address an area of particular importance to you, including but not limited to animal welfare, arts and culture, community development, public safety, education, youth, environment, health, or human services. We honor your wishes forever by annually awarding grants from your fund to organizations and programs within your area of interest. The minimum amount to establish a field of interest fund is $25,000. Additional contributions can be made to the fund in any amount at any time. A field of interest fund is an ideal choice for clients who wish to support a specific area of interest rather than specifying one or more nonprofit organizations as beneficiaries to their fund.

A grow-a-fund allows you to establish a fund with an initial $5,000 gift and a commitment to build the fund to $25,000 for a designated, donor-advised, field of interest, and unrestricted fund or $100,000 for an agency fund, within five years at which time it will mature to the fund type you identify within your fund agreement. No distributions may be made from the fund until maturity. A grow-a-fund is an ideal choice for clients who plan to incrementally start a charitable fund at the Foundation.

An unrestricted fund allows you to address the ever-changing opportunities in your community by assigning Lakeshore Community Foundation complete discretion in awarding grants from your fund. The minimum contribution to establish an unrestricted fund is $25,000. Additional contributions to the fund can be made in any amount at any time. An unrestricted fund is an ideal choice for clients who recognize that community opportunities are ever-changing and want their fund to have a broad and lasting impact on their community.