Charitable Giving

Become a Donor

You can make a difference when you donate to the Lake Area Foundation.

Donors to the Lake Area Foundation (LAF) are special people and we appreciate them. They’re committed to making a difference in our community through their gifts. Whether you are passionate about supporting the arts, building the community infrastructure, enriching education, protecting the environment, safeguarding health or serving vulnerable populations you can make a difference through your donations to the foundation.

Individuals, families, corporations, institutions or nonprofit organizations may establish funds with the LAF. We offer our donors many ways to meet their charitable goals. LAF funds operate as perpetual endowments.

what is an endowment?

An endowment is a permanent fund that distributes only the income. The fund is invested and continues to grow through sound stewardship; the recipient (your cause, institution or nonprofit) continues to receive a perpetual and ever-increasing amount of income. Because your dollars are pooled for investment, you can maximize giving and fund growth.

Address the community’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities as they change over time.

Allow you to remain actively involved in your giving. You make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the distribution of gifts from your fund.

Support specific charities named by the donor.

Provide access to education to deserving students. Donors define the selection criteria.

Enable non-profit organizations to ensure their own future through the creation of an endowment to support their operation or a particular program.

Benefit an area of need such as education or the arts rather than a specific charity.