FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A community foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization that provides support — primarily for the needs of the geographic community or region where it is based — from funds that it maintains and administers on behalf of multiple donors.

Typically we like to see Community Impact (unrestricted) and Designated Funds start at $1,000. Field of Interest and Donor Advised Funds start at $5,000.  However minimums are flexible and we can work with you to build your fund over time.

We have 4 different named-fund types that address the unique charitable goals and interests of each donor.

• Community Impact (unrestricted)
• Designated
• Field of Interest
• Donor-Advised 

You can find more information about each on our Fund Type page. 

We also hold Agency Endowment Funds for local non-profits as well as pass-through funds for large community projects.

We can accept almost any type of gift, ranging from cash to publicly-traded securities to real property. We also have the capability to accept planned gifts such as bequests from wills and trusts to income gifts from charitable annuities and the like.

There are no start up costs to establish a fund.  Currently the Foundation underwrites it’s fund fees, so there is no cost to maintain the fund. At this time, 100% of funds contributed are endowed or available for grants.

We can work with a donor during his or her life to establish a succession plan for their fund.  After a donor’s death, the fund may be advised by named successor advisers or converted to a different fund type, such as Designated or Field-of-Interest.  In the event there is no succession plan on record, the fund will be distributed to the Community Fund.

New Bremen Foundation funds are held at US Bank in Troy. You get the benefit of a larger bank with local personal service. We work one on one with David Fisher and Michael Scott, our trust officer and investment manager.