Kern Community Foundation Fundholder

As a fundholder with Kern Community Foundation (KCF), you are part of a family of donors. Donors who are as diverse as their interests, but share a common bond—the desire to strengthen their community through philanthropic contributions. We work with individuals and families, corporations, and organizations, creating philanthropic plans that benefit the community and fulfill their charitable intent. Put simply: we are here to help you make the most of your charitable giving activities, and ensure that the vital work of the nonprofit organizations you support continues forever.

Similar to community foundations across the country Kern Community Foundation enables philanthropic people to support the causes they care about, immediately or through their will. After establishing a charitable fund at the Foundation, our donors recommend grants — in their name, if they choose — to nonprofit organizations they want to support. Through their generosity, our donors make a difference in Kern County, and they will continue to impact our community for years to come.

Fundholders, please note in 2018 we launched a new Donor Portal. Instructions on how to use this new resource can be found in the New Donor Portal! link in the menu at right.

Becoming a Fundholder

1. Find Your Passion – What issues do you care about most?
   • We know philanthropy is personal and every donor has unique reasons for giving. We provide personal service to help connect your passion with a cause. This ranges from highly specific – for example, an alma mater – to general in scope, such a “general charitable purposes”.
2. Align Your Passion to a Specific Fund Type
   • Kern Community Foundation offers a number of fund options. Our knowledgeable staff is happy to advise you on the advantages of each fund type.
3. Complete a Simple Fund Agreement
   • We provide a simple fund agreement and covers all legal and accounting requirements.
4. Name Your Fund
   • Fund names may take virtually any form – your name, a family name, your corporate name, a cause-related name, or something else entirely. You may remain anonymous.
5. Activate the Fund by Making an Initial Gift
   • Giving comes in all shapes and sizes and KCF can accept a number of assets to establish a fund.
   • Gifts may include: cash, securities, real estate, personal property, bequests, retirement plan assets, and life insurance.
   • Established Funds:
     • You may add to the fund at any time
     • Specify how grant disbursements should be acknowledged
     • Make grants to any 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States, including governmental, educational, and religious institutions.