Seed Funds

Build to endowment over time.

Seed Funds allow you to start a fund and gradually build upon it to create a mature fully-endowed fund. Your Seed Fund will grow into an endowment that will let you support the charities or causes you choose and will forever have an impact on the quality of life in your community. Click here for a printable Seed Fund flyer (PDF).

How it works:

• The Seed Fund Program can be used to establish any type of endowment fund: Donor Advised Funds, Scholarships Funds, Designated Funds, Agency Funds, Field of Interest Funds and Unrestricted Funds.
• Donors make an initial contribution of at least $1,000 to establish the Seed Fund and then use the next three years to build the fund to the required minimum endowment level. Minimum endowment levels vary according to fund type.
• A funding plan must be submitted at the time the Seed Fund is established that includes a detailed, reasonable approach to raising the required fund minimum by a specific date that is no more than three years from the date the fund is established.
• Once the seed fund reaches the minimum endowment level, the fund matures into an active charitable endowment fund.
• Distributions can be made to the causes and charities of the donor’s choice once the fund has reached the minimum endowment level. Our current annual spending policy is 4.5% of the average of the ending market values for the previous 12 quarters.
• Gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Consult your tax advisor.