Field of Interest Funds
Many donors want to focus their giving in one or more broad fields of service in the charitable world. They know that there is constant change among local service providers, with new agencies emerging, collaborative projects and coalitions of related agencies being formed, shifting patterns of federal and state government support, and of course, some agencies going out of business.
A solution for some donors may be a Field of Interest Fund, which leaves the decisions about the use of a fund's annual payout to the discretion of the Board of Directors within the general guidelines established by the donor. These funds may be created by the Board or by individual donors, either during their lifetime or by Will or Trust. By law, a Field of Interest Fund must have at least 5 potential grantee agencies in the Foundation's service area, so it is best to describe the giving range of a Field of Interest Fund as broadly as possible.
The Community Foundation has established funds for Women, the Environment, the Arts, Youth, and Out Reach, which are open to donations from any source. A special subfund of the General Endowment, the Fund for the 21st Century, can also receive gifts from multiple sources. It makes grants in the areas of Health, Education, Social and Community Services. Individual donors have also created Field of Interest Funds that benefit the elderly, disadvantaged children and families, and the needy. Whenever a grant is made from a Field of Interest Fund, the grantee agency is informed of the source of the funds that were awarded.
One recent example of a Field of Interest Fund is the Maureen Bradford Fund. This fund former social worker in Carmel Valley to continue her life's work of helping needy and abused women. youth in Monterey County and to perpetuate their philanthropy in this constantly changing field. Although Marjorie Orrick is now deceased, the Foundation continues to carry out the purposes of the fund.
For more information, contact President/CEO Dan Baldwin or call 831.375.9712 x 115.
Confirmed in Compliance with National