Models of Philanthropy for Donors

Helping donors organize their contributions effectively, and giving Black nonprofits better access to new sources of funding is what 21CF is all about. We support donors with program design, grantmaking, administrative record keeping and money management. Some donors choose to support the endowment, while others may prefer to set up a donor fund or a giving circle.

When donors make a gift to 21CF, they have many options for directing their funds:

The 21CF General Fund is an unrestricted fund that supports community organizing, advocacy and leadership development focused on addressing root causes of social injustice.

A Donor Advised Fund is a convenient way for donors to make grant recommendations to the organizations they wish to support. Although by law, 21CF is not bound by these recommendations, we take them seriously. 21CF staff ensures that all beneficiaries are legitimate charities. Many people establish donor advised funds in lieu of a foundation.

In a Field of Interest Fund donors focused their support on specific issues of concern to them, such as black men and boys, environment, or housing policy. These funds allow donors to make contribution to a range of organizations addressing a specific program niche or serving a particular population group, such as The African American Women's Fund, thereby allowing for flexibility to meet the ever-changing needs within the field of interest.

A Designated Fund is for donors who want to support a particular organization, agency or cause. If the original charitable organization(s) ceases to exist or is unable to perform its charitable purposes, 21CF can still honor the donor's wishes by selecting alternative organizations providing similar services without the expense of legal action. Alumni, civic, and professional associations are inclined to establish such funds.

In a Community-Asset Fund donors support place-based grantmaking for the most promising, creative approaches to strengthening a particular community or neighborhood. With a governing structure that gives all donors a right to vote, members of these funds are full partners in the grantmaking journey. Currently 21CF hosts two of these funds: The Fund for Greater Harlem and The Metro Chicago Fund and the Metro chicago Fund.

For more information about starting a fund please contact Paul Mondesire at (212) 662-3700 or email pmondesire@21cf.org.