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Funds

Generous People are Making Great Things Happen in Their Communities!

Types of Funds within The Luzerne Foundation

Now in our 14th year, The Luzerne Foundation manages nearly 200 funds of which no two are exactly alike. We understand that donors have many charitable interests and intents. Donors typically decide how they want their funds distributed but have also consulted with our staff to learn about particular unmet community needs and have granted their dollars accordingly. The Luzerne Foundation is privileged to partner with our donors on such occasions and take pride in helping our community. After all, we’re not a cause … we’re a causeway!

Many funds are established during the donor’s lifetimes to provide them with an opportunity to actively participate in grantmaking. Other funds are established in honor or in memory of a loved one, through a bequest or other method of “deferred” giving.

Many of The Luzerne Foundation funds are Pass-through Funds. A Pass-through fund is a non-endowed fund that allows donors to assist a special or short-term project as well as make an anonymous gift.

For more information on opening or supporting a fund please e-mail info@luzfdn.org or call 570.714.1570.

Most funds fall into one of these categories:

Unrestricted Funds

Unrestricted Funds support open grant programs. Applications are sent each year to non-profits throughout our region. An awards committee evaluates the submitted grant applications on the basis of relevance, numbers of people served and benefit to the overall welfare of the community.

Donor Advised Funds

Donor-Advised Funds are established by people who wish to have a continuing role in the grant process and decide year-to-year where they want their contributions to go.

Field of Interest Funds

Field of Interest Funds benefit a particular area of interest such as health care, education, arts, diversity, autism or the environment. Grant applications are distributed to relevant organizations.

Scholarship Funds

Scholarship fund distribution is often delegated to an independent scholarship committee from a school, a group, or a family.

Designated Funds

Designated Funds make grants automatically to particular, pre-selected non-profit organizations each year at the donor's request.

Organizational Endowments

Organizational Endowment Funds create an endowment with a permanent income stream and provide investment management resource for a specific nonprofit organization or agency.

Millennium Circle

The Millennium Circle is a special group of donors whose gifts of $2,000 play a pivotal role in helping The Luzerne Foundation identify unmet community needs.