Open a New Fund
Our goal is to be your trusted partner in giving, making your experience as a donor both easy and fulfilling. We offer personalized philanthropy to each of our clients and house a variety of charitable funds in order to help turn good intentions into great accomplishments. Through our work with donors, we are the leader in growing philanthropy region-wide and enhancing its enduring impact on the quality of life.
Getting Started: 5 Easy Questions
Opening a fund is easier than you might think, considering that the impact of your generosity may last for generations to come. To get started, there are a few things to think about to make your fund a true reflection of your individuality. You will also want to consult your professional advisor. The answers to the following questions will help us to create a personalized fund that accurately reflects your charitable intentions.
- What are you passionate about?
- Want immediate impact or enduring impact?
- Which type of fund meets your goals?
- What will you give, and when?
- What will you name your fund?
Whether you give now or in the future, we can help you to fill out a fund agreement and arrange to transfer assets to support your vision. There is no start-up fee and no waiting period. The Foundation’s work on behalf of donors is partially supported by minimal annual fees based on fund type and balance. Those fees also support our work in advancing the quality of life in this community, while you simultaneously support the causes you care about – doubling the impact of giving through the Foundation.
By creating a charitable fund through the Lodi Community Foundation, you are well on your way toward making a difference in the life of this community – now and always. For 11 years, we have been helping donors like you express their passion for giving. We know that giving is as individual as the giver, and it is a reflection of you – your values, your interests and your hopes for the future. Our strategic alliance with Community Foundation of San Joaquin provides us the resources of their legal, professional and staff resources to support you.
Types of Funds
We offer a variety of funds for individuals, families, businesses and community organizations. We can help you choose the fund that best accomplishes your goals for giving. You can set up your fund with cash, appreciated property, real estate or other assets.
Donor Advised Fund
Ideal for those who want to give to multiple organizations and programs throughout the year. Consider a Donor Advised Fund if you:
- Want to manage all of your giving through one account
- Wish to give to multiple organizations and programs
- Want the flexibility to support the individual nonprofit organizations that matter most to you
Field of Interest Fund
Offers you the opportunity to support evolving needs and a variety of nonprofits focused on your broad area of interest. Consider a Field of Interest Fund if you:
- Have a specific area of interest that you want to support
- Want to learn more about other nonprofits in our community offering programs in your chosen field of interest
- Believe in the depth of knowledge and evaluation capabilities of our staff to determine the needs and effectiveness of nonprofit programs
Options for Planned Giving
There are a variety of ways that you can be charitable after you are gone. Consider including charitable giving through your will or estate plan if you:
- Need to preserve cash, but want to make sure the causes you care about are supported over the long term through an estate gift to your charitable fund at the Foundation
- No longer need your retirement plan or life insurance and want to designate your fund as the beneficiary
- Need income for retirement but want to shield assets from estate taxes through a Charitable Gift Annuity or Charitable Remainder Trust
Endowments for Nonprofits
Nonprofits who want to give their donors a way to support the mission of the organization forever may consider opening an endowment. Consider opening a nonprofit endowment if:
- Your organization has a stable operating budget and cash reserves
- You want to generate income for operations – forever
- You would like to offer a full menu of planned giving options, but lack the internal resources required to manage the complexity
Designated Fund
Allows donors to create a fund that automatically makes grants to their favorite charities without any extra effort.
Consider a Designated Fund if you:
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- Want to create a legacy of support for your favorite causes
- Prefer to avoid administrative hassles of charitable giving – from sending checks to keeping track of receipts
- Seek to support individual organizations regularly and in perpetuity
- Want to endow your annual giving