Field of Interest Funds
If you have a passion for a particular area of interest — such as education, the environment, or performing arts — we can help you support organizations doing effective work to advance those causes.
One donor’s Field of Interest Fund focuses on supporting nonprofits serving Sacramento’s Del Paso Heights neighborhood.
Your Interests, In Focus
Support an area of interest that matters most to you, defined as broadly or as narrowly as you like. Then, work with our team to evaluate organizations that effectively address needs in that area and makes grants that align with your charitable intent. Here’s how it works.
Give
Open your Field of Interest Fund by making a charitable contribution of
cash, appreciated securities, or other assets and identifying the issue area you care most about.
Whether you’re passionate about supporting children and families, strengthening the local arts, or improving well-being for unhoused neighbors, your contribution creates a focused, flexible resource for addressing community needs in the area you choose.
Grow
Your fund is professionally invested and grows tax-free, allowing your impact to increase over time.
We invest your fund according to your wishes, provide regular fund statements, and handle the administration on your behalf. You can add to your Field of Interest Fund at any time, including through planned or estate gifts.
As an added benefit, your fund’s support fees are reinvested locally — strengthening nonprofit capacity and multiplying your impact across the Sacramento region.
Grant
Put your philanthropy into action by supporting effective organizations working in your chosen field.
Our team identifies and vets impactful nonprofits and may use a competitive grantmaking process when appropriate. You’re welcome to serve on a selection committee to help recommend grants, while we manage the administrative details and ensure grants are distributed responsibly and in compliance with IRS regulations.
Your Field of Interest Fund comes with services, expertise, and support to achieve your philanthropic goals:
✅ Personalized Service: We help maximize your grantmaking impact, keep you updated on your fund, and assist with donations, including planned gifts.
✅ Efficiency: Support efforts aligned with your area of interest without the administrative burden of a private foundation or in-house philanthropy staff.
✅ Legacy: Name successor advisors for your fund, if you wish, and define how your fund will be used after your lifetime, allowing it to be a lasting legacy.
✅ Investment Expertise: Your Field of Interest Fund is invested by local professionals according to your wishes for growth and sustainability.
✅ Double Your Impact: Re-invest support fees back into the Sacramento region.
✅ Build Community: Connect with like-minded philanthropists at exclusive events.
Partner with a local team dedicated to carrying out your philanthropic aspirations. With over 40 years of experience as the capital region’s trusted philanthropic resource, we’re here to help you shape your impact.
“The Sacramento Region Community Foundation continues to be the place to turn when looking to direct funds with significant impact.”
Dennis Mangers, Community Leader, who chose a Field of Interest Fund to help young performing artists grow their talents
Create Your Fund
Submit the form below to begin the process of opening your Field of Interest Fund. Our team will follow-up with next steps.
Ready to learn more? We’re happy to work with you and your advisors to tailor a Field of Interest Fund that suits your giving goals. Schedule a meeting to get started and contact us at any time with questions.
There are many benefits to opening a Field of Interest Fund at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. Among them:
Personal service: We work with you to increase the impact of your grantmaking in your area of interest, will keep you informed about your fund and the Foundation, and assist you in adding to your fund now or through your estate.
Direct participation: As a donor, you can participate on your grant opportunity’s selection committee, if you opt to offer a competitive grantmaking process.
Investment expertise: Your contributions to your Field of Interest Fund are stewarded by our expert investment committee and professional managers to ensure the longevity and growth of your fund.
Ensured legacy: You may name successor advisors for your fund and you can also define how your fund will be used after your lifetime – allowing your charitable fund to be a lasting legacy.
The minimum contribution to set up a Field of Interest Fund is $10,000. Your Field of Interest Fund can be endowed with a minimum of $50,000, ensuring it generates meaningful awards to support the causes you care about most — forever. It can be endowed with a $50,000 minimum, ensuring meaningful annual grantmaking. We accept a variety of assets and have in-house expertise to process complex gifts, in collaboration with you and your financial advisors, ensuring you achieve the greatest tax advantages. Your fund can also receive planned gifts. See Ways to Give.
You can invest your charitable fund in our professionally managed investment pools, designed to fit your time horizon and giving goals. See Investment Portfolios.
Our competitive support fees offset the cost of fund administration and are also reinvested in the Sacramento region through our grantmaking and programs — attending to critical regional issues, improving local lives, and multiplying the impact of your giving. Our support fees vary based on fund type and, in some cases, on the size of the fund. See our fee schedule.
With our commitment to delivering world-class philanthropy, we offer a variety of support services to donors. We handle all “back office” support for your fund(s). You will have access to our online donor portal, where our team will update your fund with information on contributions, grants, investment earnings, and more. In addition, our team is happy to conduct research about nonprofit causes on your behalf and does due diligence to ensure any nonprofit you want to support is an IRS-certified 501(c)(3) organization in good standing. Our Philanthropy Team is available during office hours to respond to your questions and needs.
Yes. Anyone can make a charitable contribution to your Field of Interest Fund through the transfer of a variety of assets, including cash, appreciated securities, real estate and more.
Yes. Organizations you designated for support must be certified 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Our staff does the due diligence to ensure all nonprofit recipients are in good standing and actively certified as a 501(c)(3).
Your Philanthropy Team
We’re here to help you give with confidence.
