Funds

The ACCF offers many options to meet your charitable intent. If you have any questions or would like to set up a confidential, no-obligation appointment to discuss options, please contact the ACCF at 260.724.3939 or email accf@adamscountyfoundation.org.

All funds within the ACCF fall into one of two main categories – endowed or pass-through. Each offers their own unique charitable opportunity. Under each main category there are several subtypes available to customize the type of charitable fund. The categories and subtypes are:

Main Categories

Endowed Funds: These funds build permanent resources to meet current and future needs within the community. Minimum dollar amount required to establish this fund is $3,000. This type of fund may be added to in order to increase future generating funds for distribution.

Pass-Through Funds: These funds may be considered ‘temporary’ funds as they assist donors who wish to help fund a special project or alleviate an immediate need within the community. Unlike permanent funds, this type of fund is intended to be distributed fully to serve the need outlined by the establishing donor. As these funds are temporary, there are particular limitations to this type of fund. These limitations will be discussed during a no-obligation appointment with the director.

Subtypes

Scholarship Funds: Many donors create scholarship funds to honor or memorialize an individual or to serve a specific purpose that is important to the donor (for example – education or financial need). These scholarships can enable students to pursue traditional higher education or vocational training. Many scholarship funds are endowed funds. As a result, income from the endowment provides the funds necessary each year for the scholarship.

Unrestricted Funds: Unrestricted funds (aka Community Enrichment Funds) help meet important community needs. The founding donors place no restrictions on how these funds are to be used, giving the ACCF the greatest flexibility in making grants to address the community’s most pressing needs. Unrestricted funds are endowed funds which mean income from the endowment provides the funds necessary each year for grants. (Please note: In 2014, matching opportunities exist for this type of fund.)

Donor-Advised Funds: Donor-advised funds enable the founding donors to actively participate in grant making by suggesting charitable organizations to receive gifts. The ACCF assists the founding donors by maintaining fund records, researching grant requests, and connecting them with potential grant recipients. Donor-advised funds are endowed funds which allow the yearly endowment income to provide the funds necessary for granting purposes.

Agency Funds: Agency funds are created by a charitable organization or agency that prefers to establish a fund within the ACCF rather than create, manage, and invest on their own. This is a practical and administratively efficient way for non-profit groups to ensure and sustain future funding. Agency funds are endowed funds and offer the option for each agency to receive or reinvest the yearly endowment income.