Types of Funds

We offer a wide variety of fund types to choose from

Donors can select any of our fund types to establish a fund in their name, the name of their family or business, or in honour of any person or organization. Depending on a donor’s philanthropic interests, funds can support the most pressing needs in the community, an area of focus, or specific causes or organizations.

While most Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF) funds are endowed, it is also possible to create non-endowed funds in order to donate to a particular cause or charity immediately.

Types

The Innovation Fund enables the Foundation to proactively initiate projects and collaborations to tackle critical issues.

Unrestricted Funds are earmarked to help improve the overall wellbeing of our community and to respond to grant applications, emergency requests and emerging opportunities.

Field-of-Interest Funds are for donors who give the Foundation discretion over the allocation of grants, according to a general theme or specific interest area.

Donor-Advised Funds are an ideal alternative to establishing a private foundation. These funds enable donors to advise on grants from their fund while the Foundation handles all the administrative, operating, and governance matters.

Designated Funds allow donors to specify particular charitable organizations as the ongoing beneficiaries of their gifts.

Organizational Funds allow registered charitable organizations to benefit from the Foundation’s professional endowment management expertise.

Impact Investing Funds help provide loans to registered charities, allowing the Foundation to seek out investments that provide a financial return and a social or environmental benefit.

Regional Funds can be established by nearby municipalities that wish to support local charities and causes without incurring the costs and resources required to establish individual community foundations.

Fund Vehicles

The Community Foundation has a range of vehicles for your fund beyond the traditional permanent endowment, allowing you to fulfill your charitable objectives in a way that best meets your needs.

  • Endowment. Permanent endowments are intended to generate revenue for the support of charities in perpetuity and allow donors to create a permanently named legacy or tribute.
  • Term. A term fund is similar to an endowment but a fund’s capital can be fully disbursed after an agreed-upon period.
  • Spend-Down. For a spend-down fund, the capital is invested with the intent to grant the entire amount in agreed-upon intervals until it is fully depleted. This type of vehicle may benefit donors who are interested in granting during their lifetimes.
  • Flow-Through. A flow-through fund is not invested for annual earnings, but instead allows for immediate grants upon a donor’s advice.

Donors may establish a named fund or give anonymously.

Any of these funds can be established in a donor’s name, the name of their family, business or organization, or anyone they wish to honour.

All grants distributed from Foundation funds — today and in the future — are then awarded to charitable organizations in the donors’ names.  It’s a great way for them to always be involved with, and remembered for, their community investment.

Funds may also be established and disbursed anonymously.