Looking Forward.
Giving Back.
Donors
LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY
Whether you want to give a one-time donation or establish a recurring gift, your contributions are essential to the ongoing community support that is funded through your community foundation. Click the Give button to easily make a secure, online donation of any size. There is no minimum gift. Once you begin, you will be given the option to designate your gift to a specific affiliate or event. Thank you for helping us Look Forward by Giving Back.
10 Reasons to Give Through a Community Foundation
1) We are a local organization with deep roots in the community.
2) Your funds help local people and the local causes you care about most.
3) Your individual charitable and financial interests are tailored through personalized service from our knowledgeable staff.
4) Your donation will receive the maximum tax advantage for most gifts under federal law.
5) Your gift dollars are pooled with other gifts and grants to increase the impact of giving.
6) Your direction is supported by our professional staff with broad expertise regarding community issues and needs.
7) Your endowment funds are built to benefit the community forever and help create personal legacies.
8) Your funds are guided by community leaders who are convening agencies and coordinating resources to create positive change.
9) We accept a wide variety of assets and can make even the most unique forms of giving easy.
10) Your funds benefit partnerships with professional advisors to create highly effective approaches to charitable giving.
GETTING STARTED
Our staff is here to help you make the most of your charitable giving. Contact us today to set up an appointment. The process is easy and will be similar to the 6 steps below.
1) Determine your charitable goals.
What type of impact do you want to make in the community? Do you have a favorite cause you want to support or do you want the flexibility to support the emerging needs of your community?
2) Determine what type of fund is best.
Based on your goals, decide what type of fund works best. Click the Fund Options tab to learn more about the different type of funds. Don’t know what works best? Call us and we can help.
3) Decide what you would like to give.
Contributions can be made with cash, securities, real estate, property valued and more. Click the Gift Options tab to learn more.
4) Select the name of your fund.
A fund can be set up in your name, the name of your family or business or in honor of a person or an organization.
5) If creating a Donor Advised Fund, determine who the current and future advisors will be.
This may include you and your spouse today and your children and grandchildren in the future.
6) Complete and sign a simple governing document.
Based on the type of fund you are establishing, certain paperwork is required.
FUND OPTIONS
There are many different fund options available through our community foundation that allow you to support charitable organizations that leave a lasting legacy. See the options below.
The Community Trust Grant Endowment (CTGE) Fund, or unrestricted fund, began 30 years ago with a vision from local philanthropists to help the Foundation address a wide range of needs and pressing issues in our community. Your gift allows us to respond to the community’s needs, today and tomorrow.
Gifts can also be made to the CTGE Fund without establishing a fund. Many donors choose this option for end of year giving needs to help support the long-term impact in the community.
Establishing a Field of Interest (FOI) Fund with the Foundation allows us to make grants to the organizations and projects in your chosen area of interest. Your gift allows you to identify and support a broad charitable purpose or category of interest, such as the arts, education, human services or a particular geographic area.
Establishing a Donor Advised Fund with the Foundation allows you to remain actively involved in suggesting uses for your gift. These flexible funds for individuals, families and businesses are ideal for satisfying a range of community interests.
Establishing a restricted fund allows you to support the good work of a specific nonprofit organization – a senior center, museum or social service agency. Your gift allows you to choose one or more specific charitable organizations to support and the Foundation will “restrict” grants only to those nonprofit agencies.
Establishing a scholarship fund is an investment in the future. Your gift can help students achieve their educational goals while honoring a parent or loved one. You may create a scholarship for students from a particular school, for those attending a specific college or enrolled in a specific area of study. The Foundation handles the application process and oversees distribution of the awards.
GIFT OPTIONS
Gifts of Cash
Gifts of cash can be made by check or credit card, on-line or by sending us a check in the mail.
Gifts of Stock & Bonds
Gifts of appreciated stock offer a two-fold tax saving: an income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock at the time of the gift and an avoidance of any capital tax gains on the increase in the value of the stock.
Real Estate
A gift of property may avoid capital gains tax while allowing the donor a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the property.
Life Income Gifts
Charitable remainder trusts provide an annual income to the donor or his beneficiary. Upon the termination of the trust, the assets of the trust are transferred to the Foundation to be used for charitable purposes. The donor receives income for life and a charitable deduction for tax purposes.
Life Insurance
By purchasing a new policy or donating a currently owned one, the donor may receive a deduction for the value of the policy simply by designating the Foundation as owner and beneficiary of the policy.
FUND OPTIONS
Establishing a Donor Advised Fund with the Foundation allows you to remain actively involved in suggesting uses for your gift. These flexible funds for individuals, families and businesses are ideal for satisfying a range of community interests.
Below are answers to frequently asked questions that you may have about Donor Advised Funds.Opening a Donor Advised Fund means you can take full tax advantage of a financial windfall now and spread your giving out over time to charitable organizations. Some of our Fund Donors view their funds as philanthropic investment accounts and add to them regularly in order to make a significant impact in the future. Some Fund Donors actively involve their children and grandchildren in the process, creating a legacy of generosity. On the other hand, some Fund Donors especially appreciate the ability to remain anonymous, an attractive option that can be a standing request or one that is exercised only occasionally. You have the freedom to decide.
A gift of $5,000 cash, marketable securities, real estate and other real property accepted by the Board of Directors is required in order to open a DAF with the Foundation. Once our establishing documents are signed by all parties (you and representatives of the Foundation), you become a Fund Advisor and can begin making grant recommendations from your fund.
Only Fund Advisors listed on the original Fund Agreement are permitted to make grant recommendations from a Fund. Additional advisors, such as children or grandchildren, can be added. Please let us know in writing.
Fund advisors can make recommendations from their Fund as often as they like.
The minimum grant recommendation is $100.
All grant recommendations must be received in writing, by fax or by email. Please include the name and address of the organization you are recommending, the amount and any requested designation for the grant. Grants can be made in the name of the Fund or anonymously. Please indicate with your request.
According to the IRS, an organization described as 501(c)3 is tax-exempt and eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. Churches, schools, hospitals and government units with 509(a)1 status and public safety groups with 509(a)4 status are also eligible for grants from Donor Advised Funds. Individuals are not allowed to receive grants from Donor Advised Funds.
The word “pledge” implies a legal obligation. If you were to pay that pledge from your Donor Advised Fund, the IRS would see it as discharging a personal debt that you have and you would owe taxes on the value you receive.
No portion of event expenses can be paid through your fund. You may pay the entire sponsorship amount from your fund as long as neither you nor anyone known to you will benefit from the donation by attending the event.
Questions?
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