Establish a Fund
The Adirondack Community Trust is a family of distinct charitable funds, each with its own name and purpose established by donors to support and enhance the quality of life in the Adirondack region and beyond. Funds at ACT (Fund Brochure as of June 30, 2010) are pooled together for investment management and the income is used to award grants to organizations and good causes exactly as the donors intends. We can help you achieve your charitable goals while helping the Adirondack region in perpetuity. (For the most current PDF list of all ACT's funds click here)
What type of giving is best for you? ACT offers many choices to meet your philanthropic needs and can help you choose the option that fits you best. Below is a list of the types of funds that can be established through ACT.
Donor Advised Fund
Tax-wise Way to Simplify Annual Giving
A Donor Advised Fund is an ideal way to fulfill your immediate charitable interests and broader charitable goals, especially if your interests vary or may change over time.
An alternative to a private foundation
Establishing a private foundation can be an excellent tool for perpetuating family traditions of giving and community involvement, but it can also be an administrative burden. By partnering with ACT and establishing a Donor Advised fund, simpler giving options are available.
To learn more about creating a fund to assist you with your philanthropy click here
Compare ACT to a private foundation.
Designated Fund
Provide Permanent Ongoing Support for Your Favorite Causes
A Designated Fund allows you to specify particular charitable organizations to receive the income from your endowed fund in perpetuity.
To learn more about designating recipient(s) for your support click here
Scholarship Fund
Help Educate Adirondack Students
Scholarship Funds allow you to work with ACT to create the guidelines for students eligible to receive assistance from your fund based on high school or college attended, merit, need, or field of study. Another option would be to add to the Crary Fund at ACT that helps deserving students with financial need further their education.
To learn more about helping students with their education, click here
Unrestricted Fund
Think Broadly
Unrestricted Funds allow ACT to identify needs and opportunities in the community and through competitive grants, target your dollars where they are most effective.
To learn how unrestricted gifts can meet needs in the Adirondacks click here
Community Fund
Support Causes in a Specific Community
Community Funds provide an ongoing, dependable philanthropic resource for the specific geographic areas. Each Community Fund has a committee of active community members that raises local dollars to grow the funds and reviews and recommends grants through a competitive process.
To learn about supporting causes in your community click here
Geographic Field of Interest Fund
Address Important Issues
Field of Interest Funds allow you to decide the general purpose of the fund, such as education, arts, health, or the environment. ACT works with you to identify projects effectively accomplishing those goals.
To learn how to support issue(s) you care about, click here
Organization Fund
Help Nonprofits Manage their Endowments
Organization Funds are established when a nonprofit transfers all or part of its endowment to a fund at ACT. An annual distribution creates a stream of income to the organization for its use. The goal is to create a partnership that provides investment economy and management expertise, saving time for staff and board to focus on the mission of the organization. For more information go to the Nonprofit and Community Services.
To learn about assisting nonprofits with long term sustainability click here
