Donors can realize nearly any charitable intent by choosing from the variety of fund types offered by Yolo Community Foundation. These fund types can be created as (1) "endowment funds" in which only the income is distributed and the principal remains intact, or as (2) "pass-thru funds" in which both principal and income are channeled to charitable causes.
Unrestricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds permit the Foundation the greatest flexibility in
responding to present and future charitable needs within the
Foundation's service area.
Donors establishing Unrestricted Funds rely on the
expertise of the Foundation board and staff to identify
and evaluate the most effective uses for the fund.
Field of Interest Funds
These types of funds enable donors to choose a particular field of
interest, such as youth, education,
senior citizen needs, the arts, etc. The Foundation evaluates needs
within the specified field and responds to those needs in the name of
the fund.
Donor Advised Funds
Donor Advised Funds allow donors to make suggestions for distributions
to meet current needs.
Although Internal Revenue Service regulations require
these suggestions to be nonbinding, each suggestion
receives serious consideration by the Foundation's
Board of Directors.
Designated Funds
These funds are designed to benefit specific charitable organizations
such as a church or a beloved charity. If a specific beneficiary of
your fund ceases to exist, the Foundation will identify organizations
of similar purpose so that your charitable intentions continue to be
fulfilled.
Scholarship Funds
Many donors create Scholarship Funds as memorials to loved ones and
friends. Donors have the option to define the criteria of their funds
(e.g., to serve students entering a particular field of study or
graduating from a specific high school, etc.). Scholarship Funds can be
structured to reflect
most charitable objectives or can be left "open-ended" to give the
Foundation latitude in the selection of deserving students. To view the
policies and procedures for scholarship funds, click here.
Agency Endowment Funds
Yolo Community Foundation manages the endowments of other
organizations. As a "third-party buffer," the Foundation guarantees
that the principal remains untouched of any gift placed in an agency's
endowment to serve the needs of that agency. Through affiliation
with our organization, the agency is relieved of the accounting and
reporting requirements which accompany the management of an endowment.
Finally, since the assets of the Foundation are pooled for investment
purposes, each endowment is able to benefit from a more diverse
investment portfolio.
Administrative Funds
Funds assisting the Foundation in its work enable our
organization to maintain modest levels of fees for services to the
community. Your Administrative
Endowment Fund will receive ongoing recognition in
the Foundation's materials and will ensure our
ability to maximize grant payouts to the community.
Combination of Charitable Purposes
If you wish to support several charitable causes, it is
possible to design a fund which will distribute a combination of
charitable grants each year. For example, a percentage of your fund's
annual income can be distributed to a specific charity and the balance
can be reserved for scholarships. Or, set percentages can be awarded to
specific charities with the balance earmarked for a particular field of
interest, such as senior citizen needs or the environment. We welcome
your participation and creativity in the design of your charitable fund.