Start a New Fund

Starting a fund at Madison Community Foundation is easy and effective!

MCF offers a variety of options to meet your short- and long-term charitable giving goals. Most funds can be created with a minimum gift of $15,000, unless otherwise noted.

Dr. A.D. Anderson, pictured at his great granddaughter's graduation from the Children's Dyslexia Center-Madison's learning program, started a donor-advised fund with his wife, Phyllis, to support this and other charitable causes in perpetuity. Erin Moore Photography

Key Benefits of Starting a Fund:

  • Your giving starts today; your fund lasts forever

  • Receive maximum tax benefits

  • Eliminate administrative overhead associated with a private or family foundation

  • Work with professional, knowledge staff to help you do your giving, your way

  • Secure online access to make your gifts and monitor your fund activity

  • Be assured sound investment practices

  • Donors determine level of recognition

Types of Funds

Donor Advised Fund

A donor advised fund enables you to recommend grants at any time to support the nonprofits you care about locally and around the world. This type of fund is an attractive, flexible, and tax-smart alternative to a private or family foundation. Choose from endowed, quasi-endowed or non-endowed (spendable) funds.

Learn more about Donor Advised Funds

Community Impact Fund

A community impact fund supports Madison Community Foundation's competitive grantmaking to nonprofits achieving positive results and impact in the greater Madison area.

Learn more about Community Impact Funds

Designated Fund

A designated fund provides a consistent stream of income for a specific nonprofit or program you care about in perpetuity.

Learn more about Designated Funds

Other Funds You Can Start

Acorn Fund

An acorn fund offers you the option to build a permanent endowment over time by pledging a minimum annual contribution of $1,500. 

Field of Interest Fund

A field of interest fund allows you to direct your giving to an area of interest that is meaningful to you. Funds can be started with a minimum contribution of $100,000.

Scholarship Fund

A scholarship fund allows you to give to specific educational institutions, faith-based organizations and nonprofits. Funds can be started with a minimum contribution of $25,000. Learn more.

You can start and contribute to your fund with wide variety of assets, including non-cash gifts. MCF can facilitate gifts now, gifts throughout your lifetime, as well as gifts through your will or estate plan. Learn more about Ways to Give.

We looked at several options for our endowments and Madison Community Foundation was the one that provided the best support. The availability of their staff and resources to enhance our strategic goals far surpassed the other groups, and we knew our investment was going to be managed in a professional and ethical manner.”
- Donor Bill Lunney