COMMUNITY FUNDS

Community Funds are discretionary endowed funds, or unrestricted funds, that make INWCF’s Community Strategies Grant Program possible.  Distributions from these Funds are pooled with the Foundation’s other discretionary grantmaking dollars to make grants through the Community Strategies Grant Program.  Community Funds meet critical needs in our region and fund our region’s greatest opportunities.

Donors may establish a fund with a minimum $5,000 contribution.

AREA OF INTEREST FUNDS

Area of Interest Funds are a type of endowed Community Fund that enables donors to direct their giving to meet ever-changing community needs in a specific interest area.  Donors can promote natural conservation or foster economic development, or another area of interest of their choice, and be assured that INWCF will carry out the donor’s wishes. Current Area of Interest Funds at INWCF support interests such as arts and culture, historic preservation, women and children, seniors and disadvantaged individuals.  Current funds also exist to support specific geographic areas, such as Pullman and North Idaho.  Anyone can make gifts to an existing Area of Interest Fund.

A gift of $10,000 or more can establish a new Area of Interest Endowed Fund.

DONOR-ADVISED ENDOWMENTS

Donor-Advised Endowments are also classified as discretionary endowed funds.  Distributions from Donor-Advised Funds also meet critical needs and greatest opportunities in our region and our nation, however, these grants are made based on recommendations from Donor Advisors who establish the funds. 

Donors may establish a fund with a minimum $10,000 contribution.

SEED FUNDS

Both Community Funds and Donor-Advised Endowments can be started as Seed Funds by giving as little as $1,000 per year with a minimum pledge of $5,000 over a five-year period for a Community Fund or $10,000 over a ten-year period for a Donor-Advised Endowment.  Once these funds reach the required minimum, grant distributions can be made, as described above.

DESIGNATED FUNDS

Many of us care deeply about specific charitable organizations and programs.  Donors can provide permanent support to one or more of their favorite organizations by establishing a Designated Fund.  With this type of Fund, the organization(s) or charitable program(s) that the donor names will receive distributions in perpetuity while benefiting from INWCF’s investment stewardship and expertise in managing endowment funds.  Gifts may be made by anyone to current Designated Funds.

A minimum gift of $10,000 is required to establish a Designated Fund.

AGENCY FUND

An Agency Fund is a type of Designated Fund created by the nonprofit for its own benefit.  More than 50 organizations throughout our region have established their endowments with INWCF so their own staff is freed up to focus on their mission.  Agency Funds make charitable distributions to the organization to support their general charitable purposes; or a specific purpose as defined by its board of directors.

DONOR-ADVISED PASS-THROUGH FUNDS

Donor-Advised Pass-Through Funds, often referred to as simply Donor-Advised Funds, are not permanently endowed. This allows donors to contribute assets to their Fund at any time and then recommend grants to support the issues and needs they care about most. Donors may choose to appoint advisors to their Fund in addition to themselves, such as children or grandchildren. Donor-Advised Funds are a flexible, personalized way to support charitable activities in the Inland Northwest, elsewhere in the U.S., or anywhere in the world.  With a Donor-Advised Fund, donors have INWCF’s professional grantmaking staff available to assist with the following:

• identifying current issues or needs in the region
• identifying specific organizations that are meeting the donor’s charitable goals
• providing assurance through our evaluation process that the donor’s philanthropic dollars are being put to the best possible use.

Additional gifts may be made when it is most convenient or advantageous for the donor.

Donor-Advised Funds can be established with a gift of $10,000 or more.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS

Scholarship Funds are designed for donors who want to assist students from the Inland Northwest or others attending colleges, universities or vocational schools in the Inland Northwest. These endowed funds can be established in the donors’ name or in any name the donor chooses.

A Scholarship Fund may be established with a minimum gift of $25,000.

CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTS

Giving through a Charitable Remainder Trust allows you to receive income for the rest of your life. This popular life income plan is carried out by transferring cash, appreciated stock, real estate or other assets into a trust and identifying a trustee who manages the trust assets and payments to you. Upon the beneficiary’s death, or after a defined period of years, the remaining assets in the trust transfer to INWCF to benefit charity.

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

A Supporting Organization is an excellent and cost effective alternative to a private foundation. You recommend some of the board members who work with our professional program staff to support the charitable programs and causes you care about most. INWCF handles all of the administrative details. Supporting Organizations are typically established with initial assets exceeding $5 million, whereas, private foundations often begin with assets of $10 million or more.

ADMINISTRATIVE NON-ENDOWED FUNDS

Administrative Non-Endowed Funds exist to support the ongoing operations of INWCF. The sources of these funds are Partnership Fund gifts, grants and contributions made directly to INWCF, fees from active funds and short-term investment earnings. These Funds support grantmaking administration, philanthropic services and fund and financial management of INWCF.

ADMINISTRATIVE ENDOWMENT FUND

An Administrative Endowed Fund is funded by gifts to INWCF from community members who want their gifts to be permanently invested to support of INWCF’s mission