Leave a New York Legacy: Unrestricted Funds - The New York Community Trust

Unrestricted Fund

When you open an unrestricted fund at The Trust, your generosity goes on forever—fueling our grantmaking experts’ strategic responses to urgent needs in New York, Long Island, Westchester, and beyond.

How an unrestricted fund fuels your legacy

The future is unpredictable.

The New York Community Trust was built for that. We will ensure your charitable gift meets tomorrow’s challenges, as we’ve been doing for 100 years.

Flexibility is powerful.

Unrestricted funds allow our grantmaking experts to use your generosity to address the most urgent needs of the day—needs that might not always make headlines or that we might not be able to imagine or predict today.

Care for your community.

You can dedicate your fund to support New York City, Long Island, or Westchester. Your name will live on in your community.

The power of permanence.

The assets of a permanent fund are invested to grow principal while making grants each year. This means that over time, you can expect your fund to give exponentially more than your original gift.

FAQs

Create a legacy that stands the test of time. Learn more about our unrestricted funds.

What can I give with an unrestricted fund?

When can I give with an unrestricted fund?

What can I support?

How much money do I need to start an unrestricted fund?

What can I give with an unrestricted fund?

A variety of assets

You can set up a fund with a wide variety of assets. We’re experts in working with charitable remainder trusts, lead trusts, and private foundations. Unrestricted funds accept different distributions from multiple estates over time.

When can I give with an unrestricted fund?

Give today or leave a legacy

Permanent or endowed funds can be established today or through your estate to secure your legacy. You also can convert your existing donor-advised fund into a permanent fund.

What can I support?

Create change in your community

You’ll let us know if you want your fund to benefit New York City, Long Island, or Westchester. Our expert grantmaking will carefully allocate your generosity to help scores of nonprofits addressing a range of causes in those regions, from strengthening the nonprofit sector to helping people with disabilities to advocating for justice. Your gift will address our regions’ most urgent needs.

How much money do I need to start an unrestricted fund?

We’re flexible

You can create a placeholder fund with a simple promise–no money down. Eventually, your fund will require a minimum of $5,000.

I would say for me there is a real joy of giving. We're happy to be able to do it. We are really grateful we have the ability to do it.

Christine Louvet, donor-advised fund cofounder

The Trust can be a lifesaver for people with no children or close family relations. Because The Trust is perpetual, client's goals and aspirations will last forever.

Rita K. Gilbert, partner, Hyman & Gilbert; former chair of our Westchester advisory board; donor-advised fund founder; Legacy Society member

I think it's important that we all contribute to our communities. I saw a Trust ad and was intrigued. The Trust makes it so easy to become an involved donor.

Michael Sasse, nurse, donor-advised fund founder