The Brookings Foundation offers a variety of fund options for donors:
Unrestricted Fund - The unrestricted fund is one of the most flexible ways to give, since it may be used for any purpose approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors. This fund allows the Brookings Foundation to identify community needs and award grants designed to address those needs. An Unrestricted Fund provides the Brookings Foundation with the greatest degree of flexibility to meet the most important and changing community needs.
Designated Fund – A donor may create a fund at the Brookings Foundation to support a specific organization through distributions from the earnings of the fund. Should the designated organization cease to exist, the Brookings Foundation would adjust the distributions to an agency that most closely carries out services similar to the donors original purpose. In this way, the donor supports the organizations he or she chooses, but ensures that the gift will remain relevant over time.
Donor Advised Funds - Through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), the donor has an active hand in the ongoing distributions from the DAF to organizations and causes the donor wishes to support. A donor advised fund allows for the input and recommendations from the donor for grants to specific qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. The approval of each distribution remains a responsibility of the Brookings Foundation in order to make certain the guidelines and rules set forth for a donor advised fund by the IRS are followed. A donor advised fund is a flexible, and increasingly popular way to carry out your charitable intent.
Scholarship Funds - Civic organizations, clubs or groups and individuals have provided scholarship funds which may be endowed for permanence. A donor may establish a scholarship fund to honor a loved one or simply as a way to assist young people with their education.
Agency Funds - Agency Funds are established by non-profit organizations to provide income to the organization. The Brookings Foundation would handle all the investment and administrative responsibilities allowing the organization to focus on its service and mission.