Creating a Fund – The Guelph Community Foundation

Create a charitable fund and build your legacy through giving

The Guelph Community Foundation connects people with the causes they care about. By creating a fund, you can support the community today and continue making a difference for generations to come.

Whether you are an individual, family, business, organization, or charity, we provide flexible giving options that allow you to choose how, when, and where your charitable giving will have the greatest impact. Our team brings in-depth local knowledge and the expertise to help match your philanthropic goals with pressing community needs.

A fund can be established during your lifetime, through a future gift in your estate plans, or through a combination of both. When you give through the Guelph Community Foundation, you create an enduring legacy that strengthens our community and supports the charitable causes that matter most to you.

For permanently endowed funds, your gift is invested alongside other endowed funds. Each year, grants are distributed from investment earnings while the original donation remains invested, continuing to generate support for local charities in perpetuity.

A group of diverse elders chatting and laughing in an outdoor setting.

Starting a Fund

The Guelph Community Foundation makes it easy to start a fund and build your legacy through philanthropic giving.

Your journey will look something like this:

Identify who is giving — you, your family, your business, a registered charity, or a community organization — and determine your philanthropic goals.
Decide when and how you would like to give. We accept a variety of gifts, including cash, securities, life insurance, RRSPs/RRIFs, bequests, and other assets.
Match your goals with the fund option that best reflects the impact you want to create.
Name your fund.
Sign your fund agreement.
Give your initial contribution or establish a future gift through your estate plans.
Grow your impact by involving family members, colleagues, or future generations in your charitable legacy.

For a detailed guide to charitable giving and establishing a fund, please click here: Philanthropy Booklet.

Fund Options

Philanthropy is not “one size fits all.” The Guelph Community Foundation provides a flexible giving model where individuals, families, organizations, and corporations can choose how, when, what, and where they give. Through thoughtful planning and expert stewardship, we help donors create meaningful, lasting change in our community.

We offer several fund options designed to help you achieve your charitable goals while supporting the causes and organizations you care about.

Unrestricted Funds

Support the Foundation’s Community Grants Program and help address the greatest needs across Guelph and Wellington County. Grants are awarded to a wide range of charitable programs, services, and initiatives that strengthen community well-being.

Field of Interest Funds

Direct your giving toward a broad area of need such as health, social services, arts and culture, education, environmental stewardship, or community development. We identify and support charities that best align with your chosen area of impact.

Designated Funds

Provide ongoing support to one or more specific charities. Your fund creates a reliable source of annual funding that helps organizations sustain and grow their work over time.

Donor Advised Funds

A flexible and personalized approach to philanthropy. Each year, you recommend the charities or charitable causes you would like to support, while we handle administration, due diligence, grant processing, and stewardship.

Charitable Endowment Funds

Create impact in perpetuity. Your gift is invested and preserved, while annual grants are distributed from investment earnings. This approach provides lasting support for the community while creating a permanent charitable legacy.

Scholarship and Bursary Funds

Support students and learners who face barriers to education or training. You can establish criteria that reflect the values, achievements, or aspirations you wish to encourage. Learn more about our current scholarships and bursaries here: guelphcf.ca/scholarships-and-bursaries/

You may also wish to transfer an existing Private or Family Foundation to the Guelph Community Foundation. It is cost effective and can ease your workload. You can take advantage of our professional investment management, donor administration and grant making expertise.

Donor Disbursement Form for Donor Advised Funds

This form offers a way for DAF Fundholders to send GCF their fund disbursement advice for their donor advised funds easily and confidently. If you have any question or need support, please contact us at [email protected]

Fundholder's Full Name(Required)

Name of Fund(Required)

The name of the Donor Advised Fund that you are providing disbursement instructions for.

Phone Number(Required)

What’s the best number to reach you at?

Is this a New Phone Number?(Required)

No Change

This is a New Phone Number

To keep our records as up to date as possible, if the number provided is a new phone number you’d like to be reached we need to know so we can update your file.

A Known Email Address(Required)

A known email is an email address that you have previously used to communicate with the Guelph Community Foundation. If you have changed email addresses, you can still submit this form, and we will contact you to confirm that it is you who sent the form.

Is this a New Email Address?(Required)

No Change

This is a New Email Address

To keep our records as up to date as possible, if the email address provided is a new email address which you’d like to be reached we need to know so we can update your file.

Current Mailing Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City ZIP / Postal Code

This question is optional.

Is this a New Address?

No Change

This is a New Email Address

To keep our records as up to date as possible, if the address provided is a new address then we need to know so we can update your file.

Your Fund's Current Spendable Balance(Required)

To the best of your recollection, please provide the spendable balance of your fund which is indicated on your yearly Fund Statement. If you have any inquiries or did not receive a Fund Statement, please contact [email protected]. Your balance is how much your specific fund is eligible to grant that year as a percentage of the fund’s balance on the 31st of December in the previous year.

Charitable Organization Name(Required)

What organization would you like to send funding to?

Specific Program

Is there a specific program that this organization offers that you want to support? This is optional.

Charitable Business Number

Knowing the Charitable Business Number of the recipient charity helps the Guelph Community Foundation disburse your grant to the correct charity quickly and confidently. This is optional.

Amount to be Disbursed(Required)

What exact dollar amount, OR what percentage of the total spendable balance would you like sent to this organization?