Experience the Community Foundation difference
Our dedicated staff is committed to helping you in your philanthropic journey. As one of Connecticut’s most well-established community foundations, FCCF provides best-in-class services to help you on your philanthropic journey. We strive to offer our services at a reasonable cost and free up your time and resources so you can focus on making the greatest impact possible.
When you work with our team, you’ll be able to:
Tap into local knowledge
Our staff’s deep knowledge of high-performing Fairfield County nonprofits and your region’s most pressing needs can help you channel your dollars most effectively.
Create a personal charitable plan
Our philanthropic advisors can work with you one-on-one to customize your giving experience to meet your personal, financial and impact goals.
Tap into our advisory and back office services
Our team can provide insight on individual & family giving strategies, nonprofit research and evaluation, collective giving opportunities, grant and scholarship management, and more.
Be part of a network of like-minded people
Connect with others who are committed to making our community a better place. If desired, you can also learn about and participate in collective giving opportunities and make a greater impact by pooling your gifts.
Stay current on community needs and progress
We’ll keep you informed on the latest local research, community initiatives, and opportunities for impactful giving.
Access your account at any time
You can view fund details and make grant recommendations at your convenience through our easy-to-use web portal.
No matter which type of fund is right for you, you establish it, name it and choose its charitable intention. We handle all of the vetting, grant processing, reporting and paperwork.
Individual or Corporate Donor-Advised Fund
A Donor-Advised fund is an easy and cost-effective way to support your favorite nonprofits anywhere in the country, or around the world at any time you choose. Gifts to your fund qualify for an immediate tax deduction, regardless of when you decide to recommend grants. Community Foundation staff will confirm that your recommended charities meet IRS requirements and then issue grant checks to the organizations. You can log on to your Donor Central account at any time and check your fund activity and statement. Learn more.
Companies can also start a Corporate Donor-Advised Fund – allowing businesses to drive positive impact in the community where employees and customers live, work and play. Learn more.
Other Fund Options
A designated fund is an ideal choice when you want to support one or more favorite nonprofits in perpetuity. Once you designate a charity, we automatically issue the grant check each year. When you endow your designated fund, your giving will provide a lasting legacy to sustain the nonprofits you select. Should any of your designated nonprofits cease to exist or undergo a change in mission, the Community Foundation will ensure that the funds are redirected to a similar organization that meets your charitable intent.
A field of interest fund pools your donation with gifts from other like-minded contributors to collectively support your favorite cause or issue. You can give to any existing Field of Interest fund or establish a new fund. We award grants in perpetuity to local nonprofits that serve your chosen field of interest.
A discretionary fund is an ideal choice when you want to give to where the need is greatest at any point in time. Grants from these funds help communities and residents throughout Fairfield County to overcome obstacles, seize opportunities and thrive. You can establish and name an endowed discretionary fund during your lifetime, or create one through an estate plan.
An organization endowment fund helps a designated nonprofit to build a stable financial future. The fund can be established by an organization, or by a donor for the benefit of an organization, to create long-term financial sustainability.
A scholarship fund lets you help students realize their educational dreams, or support the schools and universities of your choice. You determine the criteria for selection of scholarship recipients, and we administer the entire process of making awards.
Donate to an Existing Fund
Instead of — or in addition to — establishing their own fund, some donors like to pool their charitable donations with other like-minded people to make a more significant impact. They do this by contributing to one (or more) of the 590 charitable funds we manage. We can guide you in selecting an existing fund at the Community Foundation that matches your philanthropic passions and goals.
Let’s Partner to Make Your Giving Even More Effective
Whether you wish to establish and name your own fund, contribute to an existing fund, or both, we will work with you to make your charitable giving meaningful, effective and enjoyable. By getting to know you on a personal level, our staff can help you to identify ways of giving that best fit your philanthropic goals. Call us today to begin exploring the possibilities.
To learn more about establishing a fund – and how the Community Foundation can help amplify your impact – contact Joe Collin, VP of Philanthropy, at JCollin@FCCFoundation.org or Sara DeRose, Director, Development & Philanthropic Services, at SDeRose@FCCFoundation.org
call (203) 750-3200.
