It is a collection of large and small funds, all dedicated to the improvement of our community in many different ways. Our primary role is to encourage and administer endowed capital to benefit charitable programs and projects throughout the county. People give through CFGC to the community. Endowment defines irrevocable charitable gifts permanently invested for growth and income. The net income is distributed periodically to donor-specified charitable purposes.
Principal is preserved, growing through appreciation each year.
Donors value the growth of endowment, involvement in grantmaking, assigning repeated annual gifts to more than one charity, the professional management, and permanence, all offered through the Foundation. A separate, named endowment can be initiated and built over time. The Grants Committee recommends to the Board grants made each quarter from the Foundations primary unrestricted fund-The Fund for Chattanooga. All types of charitable organizations apply during the quarterly grant cycles. Grants are made, in accordance with the Foundation's guidelines, to projects addressing the greatest needs in our community.