RESTRICTED FUND

A reserve of money that may only be used for specific purposes. It provides reassurance to donors that their contributions will be used in a manner they have chosen. When a donor gives money to a nonprofit organization, he or she may specify whether the gift is unrestricted and can be used for any purpose the organization sees fit, temporarily restricted to be used for a certain purpose, or permanently restricted so that the donation acts as principal on which interest can be earned (and only the interest is to be spent).