Duggan Cooley talking about tax benefits of donor advised funds with Donors

Designated Fund: Consistent Support For The Organizations You Love

A Designated Fund at PCF allows you to provide stable, ongoing support to the nonprofit(s) that matter most to you—whether it’s a local arts organization, church, food pantry, or school. This type of fund ensures that your giving continues, year after year, exactly as you intend. With PCF managing the details, you can create a lasting impact that supports your values and strengthens the organizations you care about most.

A Designated Fund At PCF Allows You To:

  • Provide annual support to a specific nonprofit

  • Create a permanent or time-bound legacy

  • Give through your estate, trust, or IRA (QCDs welcome)

  • Rely on PCF to manage investments and disbursements

  • Ensure your intent is honored—even if the nonprofit changes

Designated Fund At PCF

Are you interested in a Designated Fund? View our downloadable brochure.

Meg Lokey
Meg Lokey

Director of Philanthropy

How Can I Help?

PCF Makes Giving Simple, Strategic, And Personalized

When you open a Designated Fund through PCF, we take care of the details so you can focus on what matters most—supporting the causes you care about. From fund setup to annual grant disbursements, our team handles every step with care, professionalism, and deep community insight. Whether you’re giving today or planning for the future, we simplify the process and amplify your impact.

HOW TO CREATE A SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT PCF

Step #1:

Define your vision

Choose your focus—such as financial need, academic merit, specific schools, fields of study, or student backgrounds.

Step #2:

Sign a simple agreement

We’ll help you create a simple document that outlines your goals and criteria.

Step #3:

Fund now or later

Give today or plan a future gift through your estate. We manage the process—so students get the support they need, and you see real impact.

Endowed Impact You Can Count On

Your designated fund is built for long-term sustainability. If your selected nonprofit ever closes or shifts its mission, PCF redirects support to a similar organization—preserving your values and legacy.

How One Donor Made Her Values Sing

A retired music teacher spent her life helping students find their voice through song. Passionate about expanding access to the arts, she created a designated fund at PCF to support music education programs for underserved youth at her favorite local nonprofit.

Each year, her fund provides scholarships, instruments, and free instruction to children who might not otherwise have access to the arts. Even after her passing, her generosity continues to echo—sustaining a program that now reaches more schools and more students than ever before.


Her legacy lives on in every note played, every child inspired, and every future shaped by the power of music.

Advantages of a Designated Fund

A Designated Fund offers a smart, structured way to give—providing peace of mind for you and dependable support for the nonprofit(s) you care about most. With PCF managing the details, your generosity can make a lasting difference with ease.

  • Predictable, recurring funding for your chosen nonprofit

  • No annual giving decisions or paperwork

  • Legacy planning made simple

  • Protection if the nonprofit changes or closes

  • Professionally managed investments for long-term growth

Is a Designated Fund Right For you?

This fund type is ideal for donors who want simple, structured, and meaningful giving—whether during their lifetime or as part of their legacy.

  • Donors 70½+ using IRA QCDs

  • Estate planning & trust-based giving

  • Memorial or honorary giving

  • Donors who want simplicity and structure

Ready to Set Up Your Designated Fund?

For over 55 years, PCF has helped donors achieve lasting impact through trusted stewardship, professional investment management, and deep community insight. We’re here to ensure your charitable vision is honored—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

Pinellas Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered with the state of Florida. A copy of the official registration and financial information for Pinellas Community Foundation (CH3646) may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or visiting www.FDACS.gov. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. Your gift may be tax-deductible; please consult your tax professional to explore your benefits.