Field of Interest Funds

About Field of Interest Funds

Field of Interest Funds allow you to create long-term support for the causes that matter to you most. It allows you to focus your gift on an important area of community life, such as enriching education, strengthening families, improving neighborhoods, cultivating arts, or protecting the environment.

You identify your personal interest when making your gift, and grants to community organizations and programs are making a difference in the area you select.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of a Field of Interest Fund?

Field of interest funds are flexible funds for grantmaking in a specific interest area.

How does a Field of Interest Fund work?

When you make a gift to establish a Field of Interest Fund, we will work with you to establish guidelines that will direct the grantmaking over time. This type of fund can be broadly or narrowly focused, depending on your interest.

Who is the ideal donor for the Field of Interest Funds?

These funds are great for many types of donors, including those who want their funds to be flexible enough to meet changing needs in a specific area and do not feel the need to be actively involved in grantmaking.

Additionally, individuals and families who want to leave a legacy gift supporting charitable causes they care about and for memorializing those who had a particular cause they were passionate about.

Who is responsible for the grantmaking?

Our County Advisory Board is responsible for grant recommendations, usually through a grants committee.

Must the grantmaking process be competitive?

Not necessarily. Grants from a field of interest fund are often awarded following a competitive process, however, the grants committee may decide to make proactive grants in the field of interest, or to solicit proposals from specific agencies whose work in the field is interesting to them.

What if there is no longer a need for grants in a specified area?

This situation would be a wonderful thing; however, if a field of interest fund was established to combat a certain issue that, over time ceases to be a concern, our County Advisory Board will find another similar charitable cause to keep grantmaking as close as possible to the donor’s original intention.