MCF - Donor Glossary

Minnesota Council on Foundations Donor Resources

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Donor Glossary

Affiliate Funds
Affiliate Funds operate like freestanding community foundations for smaller communities. By affiliating with a local community foundation, these communities can enjoy the benefits of a community foundation without having to file incorporation papers, apply to the IRS for 501(c)(3) status, arrange for annual audits, or raise funding for staff.

Diaspora Giving
The act of sending money home among foreign born living in the United States from many regions of the world and at all income levels.

Donor-Advised Fund
A fund held by a community foundation or other public charity, where the donor, or a committee appointed by the donor, may recommend eligible charitable recipients for grants from the fund. The public charity's governing body must be free to accept or reject the recommendations.

Faith-Based Giving
Charitable giving by donors among all religions and clusters of value-based donors, long presenting the largest portion of giving in the U.S.

Flash Giving
Giving triggered by international conflict, famine and natural disasters presented instantaneously by the media, with the potential to engage and empower many donors.

Gatherings
Self-formed learning and giving communities that maintain connections, share knowledge and sponsor events. These groups often form around shared values or lifestyle issues, such as young inheritors, social progressives, gay and lesbian or religious of all denominations.

Giving Circle
A pooled fund that makes grants and is managed by the funds donors. Giving Circles pool time, talent and resources between people who share a common interest in a social cause or issues, and allow for a wide range in charitable styles, philosophies and politics, structure, size and focus through a very hands-on approach.

Identity-Based Fund
A fund within foundations or affinity groups, which are constituent-directed and conversant in the communities in which they give.

Internet Giving Portals
A rapidly growing electronic infrastructure representing both commercial and nonprofit players. Network for Good and GlobalGiving.com connect donors to specific projects in organizations that match their interests. Yahoo! has a list of more than 20 such sites. Guidestar and Give.org from the Better Business Bureau offer tips on screening possible charities.

Non-Endowed Fund
Commonly known as a pass-through fund, an irrevocable gift to a foundation designated for a special project, program or organization. Not permanent funds, these funds are to be re-granted to qualified charitable organizations or projects to meet immediate needs rather than requests for an endowment.

Social Venture Partners
An organized donor circle for entrepreneurs, such as Resource Generation and More than Money. Some 23 SVP organizations and more than 1,100 partnerships exist across North America. SVPs invest tens of thousands of volunteer hours and more than $11 million in 147 organizations as of August 2003.

Tribal and Native Giving
Vehicles for giving include tribal councils, tribal enterprises like casinos, tribal government, inter-tribal consortia and foundations. Informal Native giving comprises individual giving to favorite charities or at religious services or spiritual events (giveaways or potlatches). Formal giving involves the use of legal vehicles, such as a private foundation or community foundation fund.