Start a Charitable Fund

Giving is personal.

We have the professional staff, local knowledge, and long-term relationships to help make your giving effective, tax efficient, and deeply satisfying. 

There are many ways to use a charitable fund in your portfolio of giving.

  • Decide when to give: You can create your fund now, grow it gradually, or establish one in your will.

  • Decide what to give: Almost any kind of asset can be used to start your fund, including cash, publicly traded securities, closely held stock, and private foundation assets.

  • Choose the type of fund: You choose from a variety of fund options that are flexible to meet your specific charitable interests.

  • Choose the name of your fund: Every gift from the fund can carry this name or you can remain anonymous.

Contact us to talk about your interests and sit with us to plan your impact. 

“This award was one of the best investments my husband and I made! Wanting Dad’s name to live on forever, this award has been presented to ten young men and women over the years! Thanks to the New Canaan Rotary Club, the New Canaan Community Foundation, and donations from family and friends, this award has grown from $500 in 2010 to $2,500 in 2019!”
— Rosemary Dorrico Madia, 2019

In 2023, the Dorrico Rotary Award was given to a graduating New Canaan High School student in the amount of $4,500

A sample of the philanthropic services we offer:

Whatever your philanthropic goals, the Community Foundation has the flexibility and the tools to help you reach them.  Give anywhere in the US, but lean on our local expertise when you want it.

  • The most flexible option. Determine when and what assets to gift to your fund, receive the tax benefits in that year, and then spend time determining how and where you make an impact with those dollars. Your fund is invested to grow over time, and the Foundation does all the administrative work. Engage your family or future generations.

  • Do you care deeply about a particular issue, such as the arts, education, or health care, and want the Community Foundation to recommend the best organizations and projects in the field for your support? Grants from field of interest funds follow the donor's wishes.

  • You choose specific organizations to benefit from grants from your designated fund. We can help you make a meaningful commitment to causes you care about with this simple, powerful type of gift.

  • New Canaan is passionate about education, and charitable people just like you have created generous scholarship and award funds. You determine the selection guidelines and criteria and the Community Foundation runs your annual process.

  • Establish a fund named in honor or memory of someone special, or create a charitable legacy in your family’s name. Trust the Community Foundation to use the fund over time to respond to current and future needs in our community.

  • Nonprofit organizations can establish an agency endowment fund at the Community Foundation to take advantage of our greater investing capacity and our stewardship.

Contact us to start a charitable fund or learn more:

Lauren Patterson

President & CEO

lpatterson@newcanaancf.org

203-966-0231