ABOUT PCF

About PCF

About Pinellas Community Foundation

Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to strengthening Pinellas County. We provide philanthropic expertise, community leadership, and investment oversight to support local nonprofits and the people they serve.

We collaborate with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to establish customized charitable funds that drive meaningful impact.

Through strategic grantmaking and endowments, we create lasting resources that ensure nonprofit sustainability—enhancing the quality of life in Pinellas today and for generations to come.

Our Mission

To improve the quality of life in our community by uniting philanthropy with solutions to local challenges.

Why Partner with PCF?

Unlike many charitable organizations that concentrate on a single issue, PCF adopts a comprehensive approach, offering leadership and cultivating sustainable resources to address the significant challenges facing our community, now and in the future.

Proven Leadership

Over 55 years of successful leadership and community engagement.

Philanthropic Expertise

Extensive experience in managing and guiding charitable efforts.

Unrivaled Local Knowledge

Deep insights into the community’s needs and dynamics.

Customized Giving Strategies

Personalized plans to maximize philanthropic impact.

Exceptional Fiduciary Oversight

Rigorous management of funds to ensure accountability and fund growth.

Endowment for Lasting Impact

Long-term financial stability to support ongoing philanthropic efforts.

PHILANTHROPIC SOLUTIONS CUSTOMIZED FOR YOU

We pride ourselves on our ability to help you make the best charitable decisions with as much or as little help as you need. We have the convenience of an online donor portal for quick funding or offer investigating assistance to find the right charity to meet your charitable giving needs.

Investing In PCF

PCF Supports Local Charities

Pinellas Community Foundation provides financial support to eligible nonprofit organizations through grants that cover general operating needs, as well as programs that help our neighbors in need. Since its founding, PCF has distributed over $108 million in donor-funded grants to more than 596 charities, including social services, educational, and cultural nonprofits. PCF also collaborates with donors to establish scholarships, providing educational opportunities to deserving students. Additionally, PCF distributes emergency relief funds to charities, ensuring timely and effective support to communities in need during crises.

Financially Sound Investments with PCF

Donations to Pinellas Community Foundation are prudently invested, growing and earning interest over time. These earnings are a sustainable source of funding, and a portion of the earnings are released annually for charitable giving. PCF is governed by community leaders with expertise in charitable giving, nonprofit management, and investment strategies.

Pinellas Community Foundation

What types of funds are available at PCF?

Unrestricted Fund

At Pinellas Community Foundation, we’re committed to meeting our community’s most pressing needs—including those we can’t yet foresee. By creating an unrestricted fund, you give our team and Board of Directors the flexibility to assess evolving challenges and direct grants where they’re needed most. This adaptability ensures your philanthropy remains a lasting force for good, providing vital support to nonprofits and strengthening the community you care about for generations to come.

Field of Interest Fund

Support the causes that matter most to you. Whether it’s the arts, environment, education, health, or another passion, a Field of Interest Fund allows you to focus your philanthropy on a specific area. Our expert team and Board of Directors handle the grantmaking process, ensuring your contributions are directed where they will have the greatest impact. With this fund, your support remains dedicated to the issues you care about, creating lasting change in alignment with your values and vision.

Donor-Advised Fund

A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) gives you the flexibility to support the charities you care about—on your timeline. You recommend grants to the organizations of your choice, while we handle the due diligence and administrative details. As new opportunities arise, our philanthropic experts can connect you with causes that align with your interests. Plus, you receive an immediate tax deduction when you contribute to your fund, allowing you to plan your giving thoughtfully and make a lasting impact.

Designated Fund

A Designated Fund ensures lasting support for the organizations you care about most. Your contribution is invested in PCF’s endowment, growing over time while providing annual grants to your chosen nonprofit(s). As your fund’s value increases, so does its impact—creating a reliable, long-term financial foundation for the causes you cherish. If an organization closes or shifts focus, PCF will thoughtfully redirect your fund to honor your original intent, ensuring your philanthropic legacy continues for generations to come.

Scholarship Fund

A Scholarship Fund allows you to directly impact someone’s future by supporting their education or career training. You can define the focus—whether in nursing, the arts, engineering, or another field—and set criteria such as financial need, academic achievement, residency, or community service. Your fund opens doors to opportunity, helping students and job seekers build brighter futures while honoring your philanthropic vision.

Nonprofit Endowment Fund

A Nonprofit Endowment Fund helps charitable organizations build long-term financial stability. By partnering with PCF, nonprofits gain access to our diversified investment portfolio and expert financial management, ensuring a steady stream of support. We handle tax reporting, audits, and financial oversight—allowing organizations to focus on their mission while securing a sustainable future.

Duggan at Glady Douglas Preserve

Frequently Asked Questions

Community foundations are public charities dedicated to improving lives in specific local areas by pooling resources from individuals, families, and businesses to support effective nonprofits. They vary in size, from under $100,000 to over $1.7 billion in assets.

Community foundations identify and solve local problems. In 2017, they contributed an estimated $5.48 billion to nonprofits in arts, education, health, human services, the environment, and disaster relief.
Pinellas Community Foundation is one of the first fifty community foundations established in the US, where there are now over 900. This model has spread globally, with U.S. community foundations’ international giving tripling from $103 million in 2011 to $315 million in 2015, and their share of overall U.S. international giving increasing from 1.4% to 3.4%. Despite being local in nature, the impact of community foundations is felt across the globe.

Adapted from the Council on Foundations

PCF offers a range of flexible philanthropic solutions to help you make a lasting impact in the community. Whether you want to support a specific cause, involve your family in giving, or establish a legacy, we’ll work with you to create the right fund for your charitable goals.

Our available fund types include:

  • Unrestricted Fund – Supports evolving community needs with maximum flexibility.
  • Field of Interest Fund – Targets a specific cause or area of need.
  • Donor-Advised Fund – Provides an easy, tax-efficient way to give with the ability to recommend grants.
  • Designated Fund – Directs support to a specific nonprofit of your choice.
  • Scholarship Fund – Helps students pursue educational opportunities.
  • Nonprofit Endowment Fund – Strengthens a nonprofit’s financial future.

Learn more about how PCF can help you achieve your philanthropic vision: Explore Fund Options

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a flexible, tax-efficient way to manage your charitable giving. It works like a charitable investment account—you contribute cash, stocks, or other assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to the nonprofits you care about. Your contributions grow tax-free, allowing you to give more over time. Learn more here.

Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF) ensures responsible financial stewardship through a clear investment strategy and independent oversight.

  • CAPTRUST, a third-party investment advisory firm, provides expert guidance.
  • The PCF Investment Oversight Committee meets quarterly to review performance.
  • The PCF Board of Governors ensures transparency, governance, and long-term sustainability.

With 55+ years of proven expertise, PCF is committed to financial integrity, prudent investment management, and maximizing impact for the community.

Since 1969, PCF has proudly invested over $100 million to support the vital work of nonprofits across Pinellas County. Our grant recipients include a wide range of organizations dedicated to strengthening our community—addressing needs in education, healthcare, social services, the arts, and more.

Discover the inspiring nonprofits we’ve had the privilege of funding: Grant Recipient Directory

PCF membership is a community of dedicated donors who share a commitment to making a lasting impact in Pinellas County. By giving an annual donation, members help fund PCF’s competitive grant programs, ensuring support goes to the nonprofits making the greatest difference. Every contribution is reinvested into the community, strengthening the organizations that serve our neighbors.

Learn more about how you can be part of this meaningful giving: PCF Membership

PCF proudly stewards a diverse range of charitable funds, including individual and nonprofit endowments, all dedicated to strengthening our community for generations to come. These funds are entrusted to us by generous donors and organizations committed to creating lasting impact in Pinellas County.

Explore the full list of funds and see how philanthropy is making a difference: PCF Fund Directory

At PCF, we are committed to the highest standards of financial stewardship and accountability. Every philanthropic investment is carefully managed to honor donor intent while maximizing community impact. Our Board of Governors—comprised of trusted Pinellas community leaders, many with estate planning expertise—works alongside our dedicated staff to ensure sound financial management and responsible expense oversight.

We invite you to explore our financial reports and see how we uphold our promise of transparency and fiscal responsibility: PCF Financials

Trustee Banks

In 1969, various Pinellas County banks and trust companies joined forces to simplify philanthropic options for improving our community. They became the original trustee institutions of the Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF). Through PCF, financial gifts of any amount can be combined, safeguarded and nurtured to maximize charitable impact.

These 11 bank and trust companies currently serve as signatories to the Pinellas Community Foundation Trust Agreement. Representatives of these financial institutions constitute the Trustees Committee, and each financial institution is authorized to receive and manage gifts in trust for PCF and the betterment of our community.

  • Bank of America, N.A.

  • Evercore Wealth Management

  • Fifth Third Bank

  • Merrill, a Bank of America Company

  • PNC Institutional Asset Management

  • Raymond James Trust Company

  • Regions

  • Sabal Trust Company

  • Truist Bank (formerly SunTrust Bank)

  • U.S. Trust, Bank of America Corporation

  • Wells Fargo, N.A.