There is no one-size-fits-all solution for managing charitable giving. That’s why we offer a variety of giving options. Establishing funds that honor the wishes of our donors is our specialty. Whether your fund focuses totally on our local community or includes charitable interests throughout the United States, we can build (a plan that meets your needs).
Unrestricted Funds. By making a gift to our Community Trust Fund, you allow your gift to be used to meet ever-changing community needs -- including future needs that often cannot be anticipated at the time your gift is made. We evaluate all aspects of community well-being -- arts and culture, economic development, education, environment, health and human services, neighborhood revitalization and more. The flexibility of your unrestricted gift enables our program staff to respond to the community’s most pressing needs, today and tomorrow.
Field of Interest Funds. You can target your gift to address needs in an important area of community life. The arts. Aging. At-risk youth. You identify your personal interest area when making your gift; our board awards grants to community agencies and programs that are making a difference in the area you select.
Designated Funds. You can direct your gift to a specific charity or purpose. Help provide ongoing funding for a senior center, museum, your church or virtually any nonprofit charitable organization. You identify the recipient or recipients you wish to benefit through your gift; our staff manages the annual distribution of funds.
Donor Advised Funds. You can have ongoing involvement in the use of your gift and, if desired, work with our professional grantmaking staff, identifying ways to use dollars from your Donor Advised Fund to address the issues and needs you care about most. Your recommendations are submitted to our local board for approval; we then distribute grant dollars.
Establish a fund in your name. Any of these funds can be named for you, your family, your organization, or anyone you wish to honor. You may also establish an anonymous fund. All grants distributed from your fund -- today and in the future -- are awarded to charities in the name of your fund. You may decide how your funds are awarded or designate all or a portion of your funds to be used to meet the ever changing needs of our community. It’s a great way to always be involved with, and remembered for, your community investment.
Opening a Donor Advised Fund, by far the most popular of the funds above, allows you to make a gift to your community foundation then remain actively involved in suggesting uses for your gift.
Why create a Donor Advised Fund? It provides a convenient and flexible tool for individuals, families, businesses or groups who want to be personally involved in suggesting grant awards made possible by their fund. Donor Advised Funds are typically less costly and easier to administer than other forms of philanthropic giving (such as family or corporate foundations).
Plus, a Donor Advised Fund includes these benefits:
You can establish a charitable legacy in your name, in the name of your family or in honor of any individual or organization you select.
You can also use a name for your fund which provides anonymity for your giving.
You can recommend grants from your fund to causes within our tri-county area or anywhere in the United States!
You know your gift will be carefully invested and managed via our proven stewardship practices.
You are eligible to receive maximum tax benefits in the year your gift is made.
Your gift can generate the long-term advantages of endowment funding -- principal from your gift can be invested, not spent; investment income is then used to make grants.
You can add to your fund at any time and receive tax benefits with each new gift.
How Donor Advised Funds work:
You make a gift to your community foundation -- of cash, appreciated stocks, real estate, or other assets.
We set up a special fund in your name, in the name of your family or business or in honor of any person or organization you choose.
You receive tax benefits the year your gift is made.
You recommend uses for your fund working with our professional grantmaking staff to support the agencies and programs you care about most.
Your recommendations are presented to our community foundation board for approval.
We handle all the administrative details and issue grant awards to charities in the name of your fund unless you prefer anonymity.
How does a Donor Advised Fund compare to a private foundation? In general, Donor Advised Funds are simpler to start and maintain than private foundations. Importantly, they provide maximum tax benefits for individuals, families and businesses.
Donor Advised Funds
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Private Foundations |
Deduct 50% Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on cash gifts
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30% AGI |
Deduct 30% AGI on gifts of long-term appreciated securities
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20% AGI |
Easy to establish
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Several months to establish |
Minimal administrative fees
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Typically higher administrative fees |
No minimum payout
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5% minimum payout |
Grantmaking advice
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On their own |
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1-2% excise tax |
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Self dealing disclosure requirements |
Our federal tax ID number is 64-0845750.
