FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • What Is A Community Foundation

    A community foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization that provides support — primarily for the needs of the geographic community or region where it is based — from funds that it maintains and administers on behalf of multiple donors.

  • What Is The Minimum Balance For An Endowed Fund?

    Typically we like to see Community Impact (unrestricted) and Designated Funds start at $1,000. Field of Interest and Donor Advised Funds start at $5,000.  However minimums are flexible and we can work with you to build your fund over time.

  • What Fund Options Are Available?

    We have 4 different named-fund types that address the unique charitable goals and interests of each donor.


    • Community Impact (unrestricted)
    • Designated
    • Field of Interest
    • Donor-Advised 

    You can find more information about each on our Fund Type page. 


    We also hold Agency Endowment Funds for local non-profits as well as pass-through funds for large community projects.

  • What Kind Of Assets Can I Gift?

    We can accept almost any type of gift, ranging from cash to publicly-traded securities to real property. We also have the capability to accept planned gifts such as bequests from wills and trusts to income gifts from charitable annuities and the like.

  • What Are The Costs Involved?

    There are no start up costs to establish a fund.  Currently the Foundation underwrites it’s fund fees, so there is no cost to maintain the fund. At this time, 100% of funds contributed are endowed or available for grants.

  • What Happens To My Funds When I Die?

    We can work with a donor during his or her life to establish a succession plan for their fund.  After a donor’s death, the fund may be advised by named successor advisers or converted to a different fund type, such as Designated or Field-of-Interest.  In the event there is no succession plan on record, the fund will be distributed to the Community Fund.

  • Who Manages the Funds?

    New Bremen Foundation funds are held at US Bank in Troy. You get the benefit of a larger bank with local personal service. We work one on one with David Fisher and Michael Scott, our trust officer and investment manager.

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