Start a Fund
If you want to make a difference, consider opening a fund with a community foundation such as Chesapeake Charities. While our experts manage the financial, legal and administrative details, you can focus on making the greatest impact.
Community foundations have been in existence for 100 years and today are the fastest growing sector of American
philanthropy.
Community foundations are vital centers of knowledge for donors, nonprofits, businesses, government and citizens. As
experts in philanthropy, we connect people to the issues and organizations making a difference in the region. And we connect donors with one another so they can have a greater collective impact. We also help nonprofits manage their operating reserves and endowments, and strengthen their organizations to better serve constituents.
Community Foundations offer:
- Personalized service
- Community leadership
- Local expertise
For more information, please contact:
Linda Kohler
Executive Director
Types of Funds
Chesapeake Charities offers a variety of flexible funds designed to meet different charitable interests:
- UNRESTRICTED FUNDS offer the broadest giving option, allowing grants to be made wherever our professional staff determines our community’s needs are the greatest.
- FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS create grants to meet needs in a particular field or geographic area of interest to you.
- DESIGNATED FUNDS let you support specific organizations while we make sure grants to these groups remain relevant over time and responsive to changing circumstances.
- DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS enable you to recommend specific organizations to receive grants.
- SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS help students pursue academic goals. You may define guidelines for candidacy, the advisory committee, the school and the award itself.
- ORGANIZATIONAL ENDOWMENT FUNDS are established by nonprofit organizations to provide income to them. committee, the school and the award itself.
Start a Fund
Decide When To Give. You can create your fund now, establish it in your will or create it through a trust arrangement to benefit your family as well as charity.
You may give to support a cause, in honor of an anniversary or to celebrate a special event.
Tax deductions are earned at the time of your gift, while grants awarded from your fund will continue into the future.
Decide What to Give. Almost any kind of asset can be used to start your fund, such as cash, publicly traded securities, closely held stock, interests in limited partnerships, real estate, life insurance, tangible personal property and private foundation assets. We will be happy to discuss other options with you.
Choose the Name for your Fund. Funds are often named for the donor or the donor’s family or as a memorial to someone special. Every grant from the fund will carry this name. You may also choose a name that reflects your fund’s charitable purposes.