The Board of Trustees also solicits gifts to be placed in a special endowment fund called The Trustees Administrative Endowment Fund which supports operations. At no time are gifts earmarked for endowment funds used for operating purposes. Additionally, each endowment fund is assessed a small management fee to help offset the costs of administering the Community Foundation. All assets must be able to be sold eventually so that the proceeds are invested with the other gifts in the endowment fund, providing an annual funding stream to the charitable cause for which the fund is intended. A donor may make a gift or bequest of any size to the Community Foundation for the community's benefit and the gift will be used according to the donor's instructions.
Some donors designate specific organizations to receive their money.
Others limit their gifts to specific areas of concern. Many donors provide undirected gifts to be used by the Community Foundation in responding to community needs as they arise. Four investment managers safeguard and invest the Community Foundation's funds. An investment committee comprised of members of the Community Foundation's Board of Trustees sets the overall investment policy and monitors the performance of these institutions. The Community Foundation's accounts are audited annually by an independent auditor and are available for public review.