Your Cause, Under Nonprofit Oversight, In One Simple Fund
Launch a Community Support Fund for ongoing support and accept multiple ways to give, so more donors can say yes.
A simple fund for ongoing support
A Community Support Fund is for organizers, community leaders, and small teams who need a credible place to fundraise year-round, without taking on nonprofit formation and operations yet.
You lead the mission and the work on the ground. BrightLeaf Giving gives you the structure to accept support, track it clearly, and request funds when you need them.
Crowdfunding can raise money, but it doesn’t solve the trust gap
Crowdfunding can be quick, but it’s not built for long-term community fundraising. Supporters often ask how giving works, whether it qualifies as charitable giving, and how funds are handled once they’re collected.
If you’re not ready (or able) to form a nonprofit yet, you’re stuck: either take on the full setup burden, or use a casual platform that doesn’t give serious donors the confidence they need.
How community support funds work
With BrightLeaf Giving, a Community Support Fund is a simple way to raise ongoing, tax-deductible support within an established charitable structure, without starting a nonprofit first.
01
Apply with your purpose
Tell us what you’re raising for and how the funds will be used
02
Get approved & launch
We set up your dedicated fund page so you can start sharing immediately
03
Welcome more donors (and bigger gifts)
accept cards, ACH, Zelle, PayPal, wire, e-checks, and even grants from donor-advised funds
04
Request funds when you need them
Submit a disbursement request tied to your stated purpose. We review it and send funds through Crowded to an account you can access. This comes with an additional 2% disbursement fee (as well as our 4.5% processing fee)
Watch this video to see how our CSFs work!
What this lets you do (with confidence)
If you’re doing real work and need ongoing support, a Community Support Fund gives you a stable way to raise funds now, without pausing to form a nonprofit first.
Your fund runs under Rekonect’s nonprofit umbrella, which brings established charitable governance and helps keep giving aligned with IRS requirements.
Supporters can contribute as tax-deductible gifts, while BrightLeaf Giving keeps the process organized and accountable.
Use it to:
Fund an ongoing community program (monthly needs, recurring support, year-round work)
Launch fast when a nonprofit isn’t practical yet (no time for filings, board setup, or infrastructure)
Build momentum toward independence while keeping fundraising clean and accountable from day one
Built for trust.
Easy to run.
Community Support Funds give you a credible way to raise ongoing support without building a full nonprofit first.
They’re managed in partnership with Rekonect, so giving happens inside an established charitable structure, not casual crowdfunding.
Supporters can donate in the ways they already use (card, ACH, wire, and DAF-friendly giving), which makes it easier to welcome both everyday gifts and larger contributions.
When it’s time to send funds out, disbursements run through Crowded for added safeguards and flexible access, with a 1% third-party disbursement fee.
BrightLeaf Giving handles the administration and the workflow behind the scenes, so you can stay focused on the work.
Ready to Start a Community Support Fund?
If you have a clear purpose and want a compliant way to raise ongoing support, a Community Support Fund is the fastest path to launch.
Support You Can Count On
Clean records, donor communications, and a clear process for requesting and sending funds.
BrightLeaf Giving is built to help you run a campaign that feels organized, trustworthy, and easy to manage.
IRS-aligned framework
End-to-end administration
Reporting support
Starting is straightforward
$0
setup fee
4.5%
donation processing fee
$5+ million
donations processed
Donations are processed securely, and disbursements are delivered through Crowded, adding safeguards and giving recipients flexible access to funds.
Card
ACH
Wire
DAF-friendly
So, if you have a clear goal and timeline, we’ll help you launch quickly with a campaign page and a structured process that donors feel good supporting!
Community Support Fund Application
Third-Party Fees
(*All third-party fees are separate from our service fee)
Funding via ACH TRANSFER – No Fee
Funding via WIRE – $15 (Domestic), $35 (International)
Funding via CREDIT CARD – 3.5%
Rules of Credit Card Processing
- Never process multiple transactions with the same name or credit card number on the same day
Funding via CHECK – 1% (Electronic), 3% (Mailed)
Rules of Check Processing
- Checks should be processed electronically through your custom link
2%
This fee is deducted from the disbursed amount.
Funding via CHECK: 1% (Electronic), 3% (Mailed)
Rules of Check Processing
- Checks should be processed electronically through your custom link
Funding via CHECK: 1% (Electronic), 3% (Mailed)
Rules of Check Processing
Checks should be processed electronically through your custom link