With more than $1.3 billion in assets, the California Community Foundation administers more than 1,400 individual charitable funds — each with a purpose that mirrors a donor or family’s particular philanthropic goals.

While the foundation operates as many types of funds as there are donors, most of the funds fall within the following six categories.

1. Donor advised funds allow you to contribute assets to your fund at any time and recommend grants to support qualified nonprofit organizations of your choice so long as they meet minimum due diligence standards. Donor advised funds are the most efficient, cost-effective alternative to establishing a private or family foundation because you can get more tax benefits and not be mired by administrative hassles associated with a private foundation. We ask that the opening balance of the fund be at least $25,000.
   
   Signed into law in August 2006, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) made substantial changes to federal tax law governing charitable organizations and their funds. Learn more about how donor advised funds were affected.
2. Endowment funds, or unrestricted funds, allow you to support our priority areas, including Arts and Human Development, Education, Health Care and Neighborhood Revitalization. Endowment funds address both the current and future needs of Los Angeles County. An endowment gift today is a gift that will keep on giving. As conditions change, so do our grants. It’s our job to know where your gifts will do the most good, now and in perpetuity.
3. Field of interest funds support organizations that address the issues you care about most. Choose a cause (or causes) close to your heart, and let the foundation take care of the details to make grants from your fund. You can support any or all of the foundation’s focus areas, such as Arts and Human Development, Education, Health Care and Neighborhood Revitalization.
4. Restricted funds are ideal if you want to support one or more specific organizations. Nonprofit groups may also establish this type of fund as a part of their fundraising strategy.
5. Scholarship funds can benefit students of any age, background or education level. You have many options when determining the selection criteria for your scholarship fund, including the neighborhoods or schools the scholarship recipients are from, the schools they will attend and their level of financial need. We ask that the opening balance of a scholarship fund be at least $50,000.
   
   Scholarship funds were also affected by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Learn more.
6. Supporting organizations are separate, nonprofit entities that operate under the foundation’s charitable umbrella. Through its own board — on which a donor may choose to serve — a supporting organization determines its own investment strategy and grant priorities. Supporting organizations are another great alternative to private foundations.
   
   Learn about the Pension Protection Act’s supporting organization regulations.

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