Future Fund
What is the Charlottesville Future Fund?
Launched in 2009, the Future Fund is a giving circle that offers an affordable way to leverage a charitable contribution with that of other young professionals to support Charlottesville nonprofits. The Future Fund is an accessible way to engage in philanthropy, learn about the community and meet new people.
All members have the opportunity to vote for Future Fund grant recipients. Some members may choose to be involved minimally, while others may join committees to plan events, recruit members and participate in the grantmaking review process.
In the inaugural year, 96 members pooled $30,000 and chose a grantmaking theme of education. After a review process by the Grants Committee and presentations by the nonprofit finalists, the full membership voted to provide Charlottesville High School with a grant to support the Charlottesville High School WALK Program.
In its second year, Future Fund membership grew to 188 members, who chose children and youth as a grantmaking theme and awarded a total of $75,000 in grants to the City Schoolyard Garden at Buford Middle School and Sexual Assault Resource Agency.
Year Three of the Future Fund has 180 members. We look forward to what lies ahead.
Year Three of the Future Fund has 180 members. We look forward to what lies ahead.
To find out what’s going on with the Future Fund right now, check out its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/futurefund.
Why join the Charlottesville Future Fund?
Participating in the Future Fund will allow you to engage in philanthropy with your peers. You will share what you know, and you will learn about the issues facing Charlottesville and the nonprofits that work to improve our community. Participating in the Future Fund is an easy way to meet new people and interact with other young professionals.
Who is eligible to join?
Anyone age 20 to 49 in the Charlottesville area. Those age 50 and older may choose to support the Future Fund by sponsoring someone to participate, providing matching grants to the Future Fund awards, or making a donation to support the operational expenses of the fund (recruitment events, for example).
When can I join the Charlottesville Future Fund?
The Future Fund recruitment season occurs during the summer months of each year.
What are the membership dues?
The annual membership fees are as follows:
Age 20-29 $200 membership fee + 25.00 operating fee/person
Age 30-39 $300 membership fee + 25.00 operating fee/person
Age 40-49 $400 membership fee + 25.00 operating fee/person
·Membership dues can be made in two incremental payments by check or credit card. Initial payment and operating fee must be submitted with a signed membership form to be considered a member.
·Those who are able to do so are encouraged to give at a higher level annually to further expand the fund
·Contributions are fully tax deductible
Once I join, what are my obligations?
Members can participate as much or as little as they want. At the minimal level, each member will be asked to vote for the charities of their choice using an online voting process. Someone looking to be more involved can participate in committees, plan events, recruit members and participate in the grantmaking review process. The fund is member driven, but CACF staff will always be there for support.
Where do the membership dues go?
Of the membership dues collected each year, 99% will be granted out to nonprofit organizations in the Charlottesville area annually by the Future Fund membership. Consistent with other CACF funds, there will be a 1% administrative fee on the pooled dues to partially offset the cost for CACF to operate the fund.
How will the group make decisions on which nonprofits to fund?
●One large grant or several small grants will be awarded.
●The Grants Committee is to review proposals and to present finalists to the full membership for consideration of funding. The Grants Committee will provide a limited number of finalists to the full membership but will not guarantee funding to any one finalist. No proposal will receive funding without a democratic vote from the membership.
●Nonprofit finalists will make presentations to the membership.
What if my nonprofit of choice doesn’t end up getting funded?
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This is a possibility. With every member having one vote, the nonprofits receiving the majority of the votes will receive the funding. However, we believe that the democratic process through which voting takes place helps ensure individuals are satisfied with the collective will of the group. There are many deserving nonprofits in our area, and as we hope this will become an annual initiative, these nonprofits will have many opportunities to benefit from this new source of funding.
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We also hope that you will learn through this process about issues of which you may not have previously been aware or supported.
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And finally, in addition to collectively giving, we encourage everyone to support the nonprofits they care about directly, or support the CACF Community Endowment, which makes dozens of grants to local nonprofits each year.
How can I help grow the Future Fund?
Become a member and Recruit your Friends!!
Want to learn more about joining the Charlottesville Future Fund?
Please contact Holly Robbins, Donor Relations and Programs Assistant at hrobbins@cacfonline.org. For frequently updated information on the Future Fund, check out its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/futurefund.