What is the Future Fund?
The Future Fund is a fresh approach to philanthropy. It’s members are a group of young leaders from the Greensboro area who are committed to making our community a better place and improving the quality of life for all of our citizens. Future Fund members have this impact on their community by contributing to a permanent endowment that makes grants to build a better Greensboro.
What is the Future Fund’s mission?
The mission is to nurture philanthropic leadership through grantmaking and the development of a permanent endowment.
How was the Future Fund started?
The Future Fund was started in 1999 by the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. Ann Lineweaver, then-Chair of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro’s Board of Directors, suggested the concept of the Future Fund as a way to educate a younger audience about philanthropy and engage young leaders. She approached Louise and Jim Brady, local young professional leaders, to chair the Future Fund, and they recruited 264 people to join them in their first year. The Future Fund continued to grow, with an average of 300 members per year and a mention in Time Magazine. To date, the Future Fund has distributed $313,662 in grants. The Future Fund continues to be an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, and its permanent endowment, the Ann Lineweaver Future Fund Endowment, is a permanent fund held at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.
Who sponsors the Future Fund?
The Future Fund is an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, and receives staff support from the Community Foundation. In the Future Fund’s early years, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro’s Community Grants Program contributed $5,000 per year for three years to help launch the initiative, and anonymous donors contributed funds for the Future Fund’s operations. Since then, the Future Fund’s operations and events are underwritten by generous corporate and individual sponsors; membership dues are not used for Future Fund operations, but are deposited directly into the Ann Lineweaver Future Fund Endowment.
What is the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro?
Founded in 1983, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro is a charitable organization dedicated to strengthening the community for present and future generations. With $110 million in charitable assets and more than 700 charitable funds under management, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro promotes philanthropy by addressing emerging community issues, managing permanent endowments, and working with individuals, families, corporations, private foundations, and nonprofit organizations in achieving their charitable objectives. The Future Fund is but one example of the Community Foundation’s impact in our community.
How much is the membership fee?
Annual Memberships are $125 for adults and only $50 for students. For a full list of membership prices, including lifetime memberships, please visit the online future fund membership form.
Where does the $125 membership fee go?
The funds donated by members are deposited into a permanent endowed fund held at the Community Foundation called the Ann Lineweaver Future Fund Endowment. As this fund grows over time, the income from the invested funds will be used to make grants into the community. The principal and income is preserved, growing through appreciation each year.
How do I join?
Online! Please click here to join the Future Fund.
Once I join the Future Fund, what are my obligations?
Your one-year commitment (renewable annually) can be as limited or extensive as you choose. By joining, you add your charitable gift to the Future Fund and are eligible to attend all events. If you want to be more directly involved, you may volunteer to serve on one of the Future Fund Committees: Grantmaking (Chair: Kate Weaver), Marketing and Membership (Chair: Cecelia Thompson) and Events (Chair: Ashley Wigglesworth).
Who manages the money raised?
The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro manages the assets through its investment committee.
How is the Future Fund governed?
A Steering Committee of Future Fund members is the Future Fund’s “Board of Directors.” Each year, a Chair and Chair-Elect preside over this committee. The Steering Committee sets the goals, strategies and tactics for the Future Fund. Because the Future Fund is an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, it is ultimately governed by the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.
How big is the Ann Lineweaver Future Fund Endowment?
At the end of 2007, the endowment was valued at $850,000 in cash and pledges. One of the Future Fund’s goals is to grow the endowment to $1,000,000. Until then, no distributions are made from the fund; investment earnings are redistributed for growth.
If there are no distributions from the Ann Lineweaver Future Fund Endowment, where does the money for grants come from?
The Future Fund is very fortunate to have a grantmaking partner each year who matches the amount raised for the endowment in membership dues and gives that amount to the Future Fund to redistribute in grants to the community. The 2008 grantmaking partner is the Greensboro Jaycees.
Who decides what grants will be made?
All Future Fund members are able to held determine the annual grantmaking theme and then the Future Fund’s grantmaking committee distributes the funds. We invite you to be a part of this process. Kate Weaver is chairing this committee in 2008, and it includes Future Fund members Derek Allen, Mary Katherine Bell, Sanders Cockman, Alex Elkan, James Faucher, Kevin Gesse, Liddy Hall, Richard Jones, Jay Kenerly, Dan Koenig, Jennifer Koenig, Janice Lanier, Paul Miller, Caroline Ritchie, Katie Sopcik, David Starmer, Denise Turner, Chris Valenta and Kate Weaver.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
Please contact Corey Pitz at the Community Foundation by phone at 379-9100 x 122 or via email at cpitz@cfgg.org.
