Unrestricted Funds
An Unrestricted Fund is the ultimate gift to the future. Unrestricted funds allow for the support of emerging and unforeseen needs of our community by providing innovative solutions which may not even exist at the time of a fund's original contribution. For example, Unrestricted Funds have helped many members of our community by providing:
- Internet access for seniors with limited mobility to allow them to access the broader world and communicate with loved ones who may live in other communities
- Automated external defibrillators placed in public places so that anyone can save a life when emergency medical teams are still minutes away
- Video conferencing systems to help rural residents have access to educational opportunities that traditionally are only available in urban areas
- Mobile communication devices for neighborhood watch programs to help keep our children and families safe
- Affordable housing programs to help keep quality housing in Southern Nevada within the financial reach of average families
Need for these solutions arose in time from a constantly growing and maturing community.
This is the power of an Unrestricted Fund. It is a permanent endowment that makes grants at the discretion of the Community Foundation's Distributions Committee to deal with the most pressing issues of the day. No one knows what tomorrow's challenges will be. But we can be sure that the Nevada Community Foundation will be there to help because of the generous people who create Unrestricted Funds.
Our primary unrestricted pool is the Southern Nevada Unity Fund. It is a flexible source of grant dollars that is used to respond to the unmet and evolving needs in our community. Many generous families make annual gifts into this important community endowment.
Others choose to create "named" Unrestricted Funds to leave their own philanthropic legacy or to forever honor a loved one. Each and every grant that is distributed from these Funds is done so in the name of the person the donor has chosen to honor. In other words, local charities will be celebrating Unrestricted Funds like these literally forever:
- Kirsten Carter Fund
- Lou Gamage Unrestricted Fund
- Beverly House-Myers Family Community Fund
- Ritter Charitable Trust Unrestricted Fund
- Roesener Family Unrestricted Fund
- Southern Nevada Unity Fund
- Ethel Wilson Unrestricted Fund
The Nevada Community Foundation receives many requests for funding from local nonprofit groups and works diligently to meet the shifting needs of our community. First-hand knowledge of, and constant interaction with, charitable organizations gives the Board of Directors and the professional staff of the Community Foundation a thorough understanding of Nevada's strengths and challenges.
Unrestricted Funds could support anything from an arts program to a homeless shelter. It could combat hunger or provide health care. An Unrestricted Fund is the ultimate gift to the future. It provides us with the resources needed to deal with whatever issue or opportunity may come before our community.