Monies directed to our endowment fund remain intact with only the interest earned being expended. There are a number of options to explore for individuals or businesses wishing to establish a named fund:

Unrestricted Named Fund ($5,000 minimum)

The donor may select an appropriate name by which the fund is known. A fund of this type provides the Foundation with a great deal of flexibility in deciding where the income can be used most effectively.

Donor Designated Named Fund ($10,000 minimum)

Donors may name the fund as desired and designate the program or area of interest to which the income from the fund will be applied each year. For example, The Mel Cooper Fund for Youth Leadership provides support for youth leadership initiatives. The Betty Hansen Memorial Fund provides small grants to either recognize individuals who have made a significant volunteer contribution or for projects that further volunteerism in some way.
A donor may wish to establish a named fund to completely underwrite the operating costs of a program and a sufficient capital investment would then be determined based on a real rate of return. The entire fund does not have to be established with one gift but may be started with an initial gift of 20% with the balance to be paid over the next four years, for example.

Donations less than $5,000 can still be made to the general endowment fund, the Our Children-Our Future Fund, or directed to one of the existing funds, eg. The Mel Cooper Fund for Youth Leadership. Again, the principal remains intact and only the income expended.