Start Your Own Fund

Open your own named charitable fund, custom tailored to your goals. Funds are simple to create, easy to manage, and we provide you with investment services and quarterly reporting.

You can closely manage your account and use the Foundation’s expertise to allocate funds where they are most needed. You can make distributions when you want, or you can target support of organizations on a regular basis. Distributions can be made to specific charitable organizations or to areas of interest, such as the arts, education, human services, animal welfare, or the environment.

SJICF offers several unique types of funds.

Donor Advised Funds

For those who wish the maximum flexibility and control of their donations while receiving optimum tax advantages, the Foundation’s Donor Advised Fund is the perfect vehicle.

Designed for donors who want to take an active role in their giving, the Donor Advised Fund is often established in an individual’s or family’s name and managed by the Foundation at the direction of a designated advisor/donor, often the fund founder(s) themselves. With a DAF, donors can request financial support for organizations, community projects or areas of interest. They can specify the amounts and timing to reflect the personal interests of the donor. Grants from DAFs can be made to any 501(c)(3) nonprofit, whether the organization is located on San Juan Island or not.

DAFs are the fastest growing portion of the Foundation’s portfolio and comprise the primary source of funds for the majority of our annual granting programs. The Foundation can provide its expertise to help target your giving in a way that maximizes the impact and sustainability of every gift.

Co-advisors and successor advisors offer an easy pathway for the inclusion of family members to share and learn the importance of responsible charitable giving.

Additionally, DAFs can provide a smooth transition between lifetime and testamentary giving that can be managed by your successors or by the Foundation Board and can extend over any period of time that you wish.

Open your Donor Advised Fund today »

Designated Funds

Designated Funds are established to support a specific nonprofit organization or specific nonprofit project. Call the Foundation office at (360) 378-1001 for more information or to get started with your own Designated Fund.

Area of Interest Funds

Area of Interest Funds are created to support general areas of need, such as housing, education, or the arts. Call the Foundation office at (360) 378-1001 for more information or to get started with your own Area of Interest Fund.

Scholarship Funds

Scholarship Funds are established to provide tuition and expenses for all levels of education. Some funds are managed by our staff, with applications reviewed by a select committee of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Other funds manage the selection process using an outside scholarship committee.

Due to the comprehensive review for IRS regulatory compliance and in-depth applicant vetting, establishing a scholarship fund requires a substantial initial balance.

Call the Foundation office at (360) 378-1001 for more information or to get started with your own Scholarship Fund.