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Field-of-Interest & Designated Funds

Support specific issues and organizations

You pick the issues, and we find and fund effective organizations addressing them. Or you name the organizations, and we fund them in perpetuity.

Why open a field-of-interest fund? 

Support your passions

You can create positive change in areas you are passionate about from medical research to education, or the arts. Choose which area you'd like your fund to benefit: NYC, Long Island, or Westchester.

It’s easy to make an impact

Our expert grantmaking staff will vet proposals, visit potential grantees, and combine your gift with others to make a bigger impact in the areas you care about.

Create an enduring legacy

A field-of-interest fund ensures your gift stays relevant for generations to come. When the urgency of an issues changes—for example, a disease gets cured—our staff ensures your gift continues to meet the needs of the day.

Support multiple causes

Your fund is fully customizable! You can identify several issues you care about and even allocate a percentage of your fund to each.

Choose an area or create your own

For 100 years, The Trust has helped generous New Yorkers come together to make an impact on the causes they care about.

Arts
Children & Teens
Environment
Health & Behavioral Health
Justice
LGBTQ+
Housing & Economic Opportunity
People with Disabilities
Older Adults
Democracy
Choose your own cause(s)
Arts

Strengthen the Arts 

The arts enrich every aspect of urban living. Together, we can create affordable spaces for artists, improve arts education, develop the talent of historically underrepresented artists, and diversify audiences across the region.

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Children & Teens

Champion opportunity

Join us to build a brighter future for the next generation. Together we can support projects that advocate for better schools, improve literacy, increase access to high-quality childcare, and prepare young people to become engaged citizens.

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Environment

Create a greener future

Our planet needs our protection. Together we can slow and adapt to climate change, improve our parks, reduce toxic exposure, and protect wildlife habitats.

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Health & Behavioral Health

Make New York Healthier

Patient-centered, equitable, and accessible health care benefits everyone. With the generosity of people like you, we can support innovation in medical research, strengthen health systems, and help New Yorkers get the care they need.

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Justice

Stand up for justice and equity

With the generosity of people like you, we can work towards a more just and equitable society. Join us to protect civil liberties, increase access to legal support, and advance the rights of women, Black and Indigenous people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and others.

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LGBTQ+

Support LGBTQ+ Communities

Join us to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, illuminate and preserve LGBTQ+ history, and make health care, housing, and legal support available for LGBTQ+ Communities.

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Housing & Economic Opportunity

Create opportunity

Everyone deserves access to stable housing, ample and nutritious food, and rewarding work with equitable pay. With your partnership, we help nonprofits advocate for safe and affordable housing, reform food systems, and provide job training and other employment services.

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People with Disabilities

Create a more accessible society

With the generosity of people like you, we support advocacy for more inclusive and accessible schools, workplaces, cultural attractions, and public transit, while providing resources and support to New Yorkers with disabilities.

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Older Adults

Improve Life for Older Adults

Together, we’re making New York a better place to grow old. With your partnership, we support training for home care workers, create opportunities for older adults to become leaders in their communities, and make it easier for New Yorkers to age at home.

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Democracy

Support civic engagement 

Together, we’re strengthening our democracy and ensuring communities in our region have equal opportunities to make their voices heard and take part in the political process. We promote civic engagement and get out the vote, increase census participation, help nonprofit media keep communities well-informed, and more.

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Choose your own cause(s)

Something missing?

Which causes would you like to support to build a stronger New York? Let us know and we’ll help you find the most effective ways to make a meaningful difference.

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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 Co-Founder

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
An older adult holding a bright pink scarf dances in front of five older adults who watch and smile while wearing colorful shirts and waving brightly colored scarves. 

Giving Guide: Making New York a Better Place to Age

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Leave a New York legacy with a permanent fund at The Trust

How do you want to be remembered? For 100 years, people who love New York have chosen to house their…
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Why open a designated fund?

Support specific nonprofits you love

A designated fund is an easy way to provide ongoing support to nonprofits you care about. We invest the money, regularly make grants in your name, and monitor the organizations for any changes.

The future is unpredictable

The Trust is not. If an organization goes out of business or changes its mission substantially, we will allocate the gift in a way that is consistent with your charitable intent.

Create a permanent legacy

We invest the money and regularly award grants to your designated organizations.

FAQs

Designated funds allow an enduring commitment while acknowledging the future is unpredictable.

What can I support with a designated fund?
What can I give with a designated fund?
When can I give with designated fund?
How much money do I need to start a designated fund?
What can I support with a designated fund?

The choice is yours

You choose the charity or charities you would like to support. Many donors create funds that allocate a percentage of resources for individual charities and also provide other funding for broader issue areas.

 

Valerie Delacorte wanted to honor her husband George Delacorte, the founder of Dell Publishing. Through her will, she created a designated fund, the Fund for Performances at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, which brings performances to the people each summer.

What can I give with a designated fund?

A variety of assets

Designated funds can accept donations of many types of assets, including cash, stock, and real estate. You can make the Trust a beneficiary of your life insurance policy. For those age 70 ½ and over, you can use the charitable rollover provision to direct a contribution from your IRA and claim a deduction.

Learn more about assets you can give
When can I give with designated fund?

Give today or leave a legacy

Start supporting your favorite nonprofits today by creating a designated fund or leaving a bequest in your will. Our expert philanthropic staff can provide language and guidance. Reach out today!

Contact Us
How much money do I need to start a designated 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.

Start a designated fund today

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, clients' goals and aspirations will last forever.

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

I think it's important that we all contribute to our communities. The Trust makes it so easy to become an involved donor.

Michael Sasse, nurse, donor-advised fund cofounder
An older adult holding a bright pink scarf dances in front of five older adults who watch and smile while wearing colorful shirts and waving brightly colored scarves. 

Giving Guide: Making New York a Better Place to Age

There are more than 4.6 million adults ages 60 and over  in New York. By 2030, this population is expected…
Learn more

Leave a New York legacy with a permanent fund at The Trust

How do you want to be remembered? For 100 years, people who love New York have chosen to house their…
Learn more
GoVoteNYC grantee Faith in New York carries out voter registration efforts.

GoVoteNYC Grantees Launch Week of Action to Engage NYC Voters

Multiple Events Across NYC to Align With National Voter Registration Day Contact: Lauren Stewart | (804) 690-9966 | Lauren@Turn-two.co Neill…
Learn more

Contact us to jumpstart your legacy

Diana Gordon

She/They

Philanthropy Officer

Email: dgordon@thenytrust.org

Phone: (212) 481-2677

Diana Gordon

Contact us to jumpstart your legacy

Marie C. Smith

Director of Donor Relations & Communications, Long Island

Email: msmith@thenytrust.org

Phone: (631) 991-8800 x223

Marie Smith

Contact us to jumpstart your legacy

Laura Rossi

She/Hers

Executive Director, Westchester

Email: lrossi@thenytrust.org

Phone: (914) 948-5166 x3

Laura Rossi

More Ways to Give

No matter how you want to make a difference, we can help you turn a variety of assets into a force for good. Explore the different options we offer.