As your partner in philanthropy, The Denver Foundation makes it easy to realize your giving goals through a charitable fund. A simple fund agreement and an initial tax-deductible gift are all you need to create your personal giving vehicle. Our Engaged Philanthropy team can talk with you about the benefits of the various types of funds and answer any questions you may have.
Make a lasting impact with your giving.
Start a Fund
Interested in starting a fund? Please complete the contact form to get in touch with our Engaged Philanthropy team, or call 303.300.1790.
Types of Funds
Donor-Advised Funds
Donor-advised funds are flexible giving tools that allow individuals, families, and businesses to support the causes they care about. You can establish a donor-advised fund quickly and easily with a short fund agreement and a single gift. From there, you can recommend grants to support charitable projects and organizations in Metro Denver, in communities across the country, and around the world.
Learn more about Donor-Advised Funds.
Scholarship Funds
With a scholarship fund, you can make education accessible to students so they can pursue their aspirations in their careers and their communities. Choose a school, population, or other focus area to build the selection criteria for your scholarship. The Denver Foundation will walk you through the process to ensure the program meets your philanthropic intent. With your help, students will receive the essential support they need to realize their educational goals.
Learn more about Scholarship Funds.
Business Donor-Advised Funds
As a company, you can also set up a charitable investment fund to support the health and well-being of communities. Your company receives tax benefits any time you add to the fund, and The Denver Foundation invests your assets so they grow over time. When you are ready to make charitable contributions, The Denver Foundation ensures your gifts meet IRS regulations and distributes funds to invest in your cause.
Learn more about Business Funds.
Designated Funds
You can establish a designated fund to support your favorite charitable organizations in perpetuity or over a set number of years. Should an organization you’ve designated cease to exist, the Foundation will redirect the funds to an organization that meets your charitable intent so that your generosity will continue to benefit the community as you envisioned.
Field of Interest Funds
A field of interest fund allows you to make an impact in specific fields over time. You identify a specific or broad interest area, such as education, the arts, or animal welfare, and The Denver Foundation ensures effective grantmaking within that field. This type of fund allows your grantmaking to evolve along with needs within the field.
Named Endowed Funds
A named endowed fund within the Community Endowment enables you to meet the changing needs of the community now and for generations to come. With this type of fund, you join with other generous individuals and families to invest in supporting our community’s goals.
Nonprofit Endowment Funds
As a nonprofit, you can establish an endowment fund at The Denver Foundation to grow your assets and support your organization’s long-term financial sustainability. The Foundation manages your fund as part of a high-performing investment pool, from which you receive an annual distribution to support current needs or reinvest to support future goals.
By serving as a true thought partner, The Denver Foundation helped us create a strategy to maximize our philanthropic impact. The staff’s expertise and insights have been invaluable as our goals evolve in an ever-changing world.
Seth and Megan Bent
Sparkplug Philanthropy Fund, a donor-advised fund