How to
Open a Fund
What’s Your Giving Goal?
OUR TEAM CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE IT.
We can work with you and your attorney, accountant or financial advisor to help you define your charitable vision, then create a fund to make your charitable goals a reality.
Three Ways to Get Started
Give our gift planners a call at 651.224.5463 or email philanthropy@spmcf.org. We can talk through any questions you have.
Have your financial advisor reach out to us at 651.224.5463 or philanthropy@spmcf.org.
If you would like to open a donor advised fund, you can start a fund today.
Explore Donor Advised Funds
A Flexible and Efficient Way to Organize Your Giving
A donor advised fund, also called a DAF, is a simple tool to streamline your charitable giving.
A DAF provides you with the flexibility to donate many types of assets into a fund. You can then recommend grants from the fund to several different causes and organizations you care about.
You focus on giving — we handle all the accounting, legal and investment services.
Other Fund Types
Designated funds provide long-term support to one or more charities that you name so that those organizations receive continued and reliable funding. You choose the nonprofits to support and we issue annual grants to those nonprofits — forever.
Each year, a percentage of the fund’s value will be automatically distributed to one or more nonprofits that you have preselected. The fund can receive contributions at any time. The nonprofits cannot be changed.
Minimum to Start: $25,000
Current Annual Distribution: 5%
Identify a charitable purpose (e.g., the arts, education) and/or a geographic area. Each year, nonprofit organizations doing that kind of work can apply for the annual distribution from your fund. Foundation staff review the applications and award grants to the nonprofits doing the best work in that area.
Minimum to Start: $25,000
Current Annual Distribution: 5%
Make a permanent investment in the quality of life across the state. Every year, your legacy will make grants to worthy nonprofits addressing emerging and changing community needs.
Unrestricted funds provide the funding for our competitive grantmaking. See the nonprofits we fund.
Minimum to Start: $25,000
Ready to Start a Fund?
If you are ready to start a donor advised fund, we make it easy. If you would like to discuss which fund type is right for your giving goals, get in touch with our experienced gift planners at 651.224.5463 or philanthropy@spmcf.org.
If you’re interested in opening a fund with more than $250,000 and would like your professional advisor to manage its investments, you may be interested in our Individually Managed Fund option. Give us a call at 651.224.5463 to learn more.
Meet Ken & Nina
Ken and Nina R. grew up during the Great Depression without much money. Later, Ken became a successful businessman while Nina worked in the public sector. Their experiences, combined with their longtime enjoyment of the arts, shaped their philanthropy, and they established three funds at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
Through their donor advised fund, they support the community today, and their children will continue the family’s philanthropy. Through their designated funds, to be funded through their estate plan, they will continue to support several small nonprofits with annual gifts — forever.
Ready to Start a Fund?
Get in touch with our experienced gift planners at 651.224.5463 or philanthropy@spmcf.org to discuss your charitable giving plan.