Create a Fund
It’s easy and convenient to set up a fund with the St. Louis Community Foundation. We're here to help you find the right charitable giving vehicle for your goals. Choose a fund type below to get started.
I'd like to open a
Donor Advised Fund
Here’s what you need to start a donor advised fund. We are delighted to work with our donors, so contact us at any time with questions on how to best create your fund. We will gladly work with you to customize the agreement to best meet your philanthropic needs.
If you would like your Professional Advisor to open or manage your fund, please provide the name of your advisor in the form below, and we will contact them.
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Choose A Name For Your Fund
You can select your own fund name. You can include your family’s name, such as the “Smith Family Charitable Fund,” or for a company fund, the “Essex Corporation Foundation.” If you desire anonymity, you may choose a name such as the “Acorn Fund” or something that is meaningful to you.
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Choose Your Fund Advisor
The Fund Advisor has full advisory privileges for a fund, including grant recommendations, investment recommendations, naming of successor advisors and other fund administration advisory privileges. The Fund Advisor is often the donor, but can be another individual, or more than one individual.
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Consider Your Fund’s Future – Choose Your Beneficiary or Successor Trustees
Fund Advisors may create a succession plan for the fund by appointing successor fund advisors. You are not required to appoint a successor fund advisor. If a time arises when there are no original or successor fund advisors who are able and willing to act as fund advisors, your Charitable Legacy Plan that you indicate will become applicable.
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Determine the Assets You Will Donate to Your Fund
You can donate cash, publicly traded securities, privately held or restricted securities or other assets via check or wire. To learn about the types of assets you can donate, go to our Donors page or if you’re ready to learn more, see the instructions for transferring assets.
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Choose How Your Fund Will Be Invested
You can invest your charitable fund assets in a variety of our professionally managed investment pool options, designed to fit your time horizon and giving goals. If you will be choosing a customized investment approach with your Investment Advisor, please indicate.
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Submit the Form
Complete and submit the form at the bottom of this page. We will be in touch with you promptly to help ensure you get the best benefits from your fund and giving experience.
Designated Fund
Here’s what you need to start a designated fund. These funds are especially useful for estate planning. We love working with our donors, so contact us at any time with questions on how to best create your fund.
If you would like your Professional Advisor to open or manage your fund, please provide the name of your advisor in the form below, and we will contact them.
- 1
Choose A Name For Your Fund
You can select your own fund name. You can include your family’s name, such as the “Smith Family Charitable Fund.” If you desire anonymity, you may choose a name such as the “Acorn Fund” or something that is meaningful to you.
- 2
Determine the Assets You Will Donate to Your Fund
You can donate cash, publicly traded securities, privately held or restricted securities or other assets via check or wire. To learn more about the types of assets you can donate, click here to learn more.
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Choose How Your Fund Will Be Invested
You can invest your charitable fund assets in a variety of our professionally managed investment pool options, designed to fit your time horizon and giving goals. If you will be choosing a customized investment approach with your Investment Advisor, please indicate. To learn more about the types of investment pools you can invest in, click here.
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Choose the Charitable Organizations You Plan to Support
Choose the qualified nonprofit(s) you want to support through your fund. The St. Louis Community Foundation will act on your behalf to make grants to these organizations from your fund for the term of the agreement, or by amendment of the Fund Advisor or Successor Trustees.
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Submit the Form
Complete and submit the form at the bottom of this page. We will be in touch with you promptly to help ensure you get the best benefits from your fund and giving experience.
Scholarship Fund
Scholarships provide deserving students with the resources to achieve educational and professional goals and succeed to their full potential. Scholarship funds also enable you to support unique areas of need.
The St. Louis Community Foundation works with you to establish the unique parameters of your scholarship fund. This can include determining eligibility requirements or creating a customized selection process. Scholarship programs can be a perpetual resource through an endowment or a temporary resource for a specified time period.
We oversee the assets of your scholarship fund, report on growth, assist in selecting students who will receive funding, and produce an annual report for you to review.
From smaller one-time scholarship awards that are made in memory of a teacher or coach to larger programs that provide renewable need-based scholarships, our staff will work with you to design a program that supports your goals.
Click here to learn more about considerations for creating a scholarship program.
Field of Interest Fund
Here’s what you need to start a field of interest fund. Field of interest funds are useful for short or long term special projects, group giving, early steps toward creating your own 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and estate planning. We love working with our donors, so contact us at any time with questions on how to best create your fund.
If you would like your Professional Advisor to open or manage your fund, please provide the name of your advisor in the form below, and we will contact them.
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Choose A Name For Your Fund.
You can select your own fund name. Field of interest funds are often named for the project or group they are intended to support or represent. If you desire anonymity, you may choose a name such as the “Acorn Fund” or something that is meaningful to you.
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Determine the Assets You Will Donate to Your Fund
You can donate cash, publicly traded securities, privately held or restricted securities or other assets via check or wire. To learn more about the types of assets you can donate, click here.
- 3
Choose How Your Fund Will Be Invested
You can invest your charitable fund assets in a variety of our professionally managed investment pool options, designed to fit your time horizon and giving goals. If you will be choosing a customized investment approach with your Investment Advisor, please indicate. To learn more about the investment pools you can choose, click here.
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Choose the Field of Interest You Plan to Support
Choose the area(s) of impact that you would like to support. The St. Louis Community Foundation will act on your behalf to make grants to these organizations from your fund for the term of the agreement, or by amendment of the Fund Advisor or Successor Trustees.
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Submit the Form
Complete and submit the form at the bottom of this page. We will be in touch with you promptly to help ensure you get the best benefits from your fund and giving experience.
Employee Care Fund
Employee care funds provide short term assistance to employees who have been impacted by natural disasters or personal emergencies, and are funded by companies and their associates.
We work with you to design your company’s customized assistance program to align with your corporate culture and meet the specific needs of your employee base. Learn more.
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Talk with a giving specialist today.
Our experts are here to help you find a philanthropic solution that’s right for you and guide you through the process of getting started.
