Why Create the Fluvanna Action Fund?

·       The demand for the services of Fluvanna County non-profits and community service organizations is growing rapidly, as is their need for additional resources to meet those needs. Fluvanna Meals on Wheels is delivering 4,400 more meals per year than three years ago, and its number of routes has grown from eight to ten. The new  FLRD Community Food Pantry already serves over 100 families per week. The number of clients served by All Blessings Flow has nearly quadrupled in the last five years, while warehouse costs have risen sharply.

·       Generous county residents and companies face requests from multiple worthy organizations that need those additional resources, sometimes making it difficult to decide which to support. The Fluvanna Action Fund can provide “one-stop shopping” for busy donors: Instead of listening to requests from multiple groups and evaluating each, or donating to a group that serves the entire Charlottesville area instead of just Fluvanna, generous residents can make one donation, knowing it will impact multiple community service groups specifically for Fluvanna that have been vetted by the Fund managers.

·       As an affiliate of the Lake Monticello Community Foundation, a certified 501©3 charitable organization, all contributions to the Fluvanna Action Fund are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

·       Also as an affiliate of the Lake Monticello Community Foundation, the Fluvanna Action Fund will have essentially no operating costs that are not covered by the Foundation, guaranteeing that every dollar contributed goes to those that need it.

 How Sure Are You That the Fluvanna Action Fund Can Ably Service Fluvanna County Non-Profits and Community Service Organizations?

·       The Lake Monticello Community Foundation launched in March 2020 and already has a strong track record of raising money and completing significant projects such as the All-Inclusive Playground in record time, while significantly donating to community service groups.

·       In six years, the Foundation has contributed more than $50,000 to county-wide nonprofits and community service organizations such as Fluvanna Meals on Wheels, the Fluvanna SPCA, the Lake Monticello Fire & Rescue Service, the MACAA food bank, Fluvanna Habitat for Humanity, scholarships for county high school students, the Fluvanna Dolly Parton Imagination Library, FLRD food pantry, Fluvanna High School Boosters, Happy Faces, All Blessings Flow, Fluvanna Arts Studio Tour, Lake Monticello Piecemakers and Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation.

·       The Lake Monticello Community Foundation expects to continue donations to the Fluvanna Action Fund in an amount approximating its previous years’ donations to county nonprofits.

·       All operating costs of the Fluvanna Action Fund will be covered by the Lake Monticello Community Foundation, guaranteeing that 100% of contributions to the Fund are distributed to county community service organizations.

 How Will the Fluvanna Action Fund Operate?

·       Money contributed to the Fluvanna Action Fund is guaranteed to go to nonprofits and community service organizations that serve the entire county, not just Lake Monticello.

·       Money in the Fund will be distributed to organizations that submit grant applications, or that the Foundation feels would benefit most, much like typical United Way distributions. An advisory committee, including some large contributors and county residents, will help guide the distribution of Fund money.

·       The Fund will solicit grants from various other foundations and groups to supplement the money contributed by the Foundation and donors.

·       Money contributed to the Fluvanna Action Fund will be placed in a separate, dedicated fund and accounted separately. The Lake Monticello Community Foundation board of directors has adopted the following policy:

      Fluvanna Action Fund Reserve Fund Operating Policy

     This reserve operating policy statement has been adopted by the Board of Directors (the Board) of the Lake Monticello Community Foundation (the Foundation) to outline the goals of the organization with regard to its restricted Fluvanna Action Fund (the Fund). This statement establishes a clear understanding of the Fund’s goals for its Reserve Fund and establishes the criteria against which funds may be distributed from the Reserve Fund’s restricted account.

     Decisions about the Fund’s goals for use of its restricted account shall lie with the Foundation Board of Directors, with input from an advisory committee.

     The Fund will be maintained in a separate bank account managed by the Foundation, accounted for separately and so restricted as-designated in the financial statements as separate from funds without donor restrictions.

     Disbursements from the Fund’s restricted account shall be based on full Foundation Board approval. Disbursements from the Fund will be based on these principles:

     1. Donations to the restricted Fund account, either from the Foundation itself or from other donors, will only be used to benefit organizations and activities that serve all Fluvanna County residents, not just Lake Monticello residents (examples include the fire department, the SPCA, Meals on Wheels, etc.)

     2. Money contributed to the Fund will not be used to cover the operating expenses of the Foundation, or any of its Lake-centric activities. 

     3. As a restricted account administered by the Foundation’s 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization, the administration and operation of the Fund will comply with all relevant 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization requirements. 

     4. Donations to the Fund will be placed in a separate restricted Foundation-managed account, and clear accounting records will be maintained and available to assure that the funds in that restricted account are used for the purposes noted herein and in accordance with all relevant Foundation Board directives.

     To ensure continued relevance of this policy, the Foundation Board will review its language annually. The policy can also be evaluated and amended by the Foundation Board whenever internal or external events warrant

 ·   Donors will get recognition on the Fluvanna Action Fund website, social media and other outlets. Donors will be recognized in the following categories:
Platinum -- $10,000 or more

Gold -- +$5,000

Silver -- +$3,000

Bronze -- +$1,000

 How will the creation of the Fluvanna Action Fund Affect the Operations of the Lake Monticello Community Foundation?

·       Donors will continue to be encouraged to donate to Lake Monticello Community Foundation itself to help finance projects and activities more-directly affecting the Lake, and the Foundation will continue its vigorous fundraising activities.

·       The Lake Monticello Community Foundation will continue its efforts to benefit Lake Monticello specifically, following up on such projects as its popular All-Inclusive Playground, the kayak launch ramps and the Mobility Mat, and is currently evaluating several ideas for new Lake-centric projects. Donors will continue to be able to donate to the Foundation in general to support those projects.

·       The Lake Monticello Community Foundation expects to continue contributing to the Fluvanna Action Fund at a rate similar to its countywide contributions in the past.

Fluvanna Action Fund Mission Statement

The mission of the Fluvanna Action Fund is to enhance the well-being of all Fluvanna County residents by supporting non-profit, non-government community service organizations and activities that benefit residents throughout Fluvanna County. The Fund will solicit donations throughout the county, Lake Monticello and from the Lake Monticello Community Foundation, as well as outside the county, and use those funds to benefit all county residents.