HELPING NON PROFITS
Overview
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation strives to be most knowledgeable philanthropic resource in the Greater Lowell and Merrimack Valley area. Our goal is to provide resources that connect donors with nonprofit organizations that are effectively addressing the charitable causes they care about. There are many ways to meet the needs of the over 500 organizations that comprise the Greater Lowell and Merrimack Valley nonprofit community. The GLCF offers several endowment-building solutions for nonprofits already serving our area as we are committed to helping local nonprofit organizations build their endowments so that quality programs and services can continue forever.
In addition, the GLCF's donors rely on us as a knowledgeable philanthropic resource that helps them achieve the greatest impact from their charitable giving. The more knowledgeable we are in the mission, direction and community impact of area nonprofits the more effective we are in supporting our nonprofit organizations that have the greatest potential to use charitable investment to improve their organization's performance, effectiveness and overall sustainability.
Community Foundations exist to bring charitable people and resources together to address the social, educational, economic, environmental and cultural needs of our communities. If your nonprofit organization is working to address issues like these in our community, we encourage you to contact us. There is always someone at the GLCF available to listen to your concerns, share ideas, brainstorm, review our programs and services and explain our various grant making programs.
Competitive Grants
The GLCF offers opportunities for nonprofit organizations to apply for annual grants.
Donor Advised Grants
A donor-advised fund is a flexible and convenient type of fund that allows a donor to make a charitable gift to a named fund at the GLCF, receive a tax benefit in the year that the gift is made and then work with the our professional staff to recommend grants from the fund to nonprofit organizations like yours.
If your nonprofit organization is recommended to receive a grant from a GLCF donor advised fund and you have not previously received a GLCF grant, you will be notified by Donor Advised Fund Grant Eligibility Form. While there is no standardized process to apply for a grant from the GLCF's donor advised funds, if your organization receives notification we ask for your cooperation in submitting all of the required information.
Nonprofit Organization Endowment
The GLCF understands that nonprofit organizations have a need for stable, predictable sources of income. A nonprofit organization endowment at the GLCF can help. Here is how it works:
- Your nonprofit organization completes a fund agreement and makes a minimum contribution of $10,000 to begin your nonprofit organization endowment.
- The GLCF sets up a fund named for your nonprofit organization and issues regular statements detailing your nonprofit organization endowment fund's activity.
- Assets in your organization's endowment fund are pooled with other endowment funds held by the GLCF, and invested with an objective of achieving preservation and long-term growth of principal while avoiding excessive risk.
- An annual distribution is made from the GLCF to your nonprofit organization to support current needs or to be returned and reinvested.
- You and your donors can make additional gifts to the fund at any time, including planned and deferred gifts.
To learn more about establishing a Nonprofit Endowment Fund, please CONTACT US.
