Ease

You can enjoy making donations that connect you with the causes and organizations you care about and receive the maximum tax benefits, while we handle all the administrative details.

• Manage all your giving from one simple account
• Consult our staff for personalized service that matches your charitable and financial interests
• Handle donations and fund management online when it’s convenient for you
• The Foundation takes care of check writing, grant administration and IRS

Confidence

You will benefit from our track record in careful stewardship and expertise in charitable giving.

• Three decades of experience in stewarding assets that donors have entrusted to us
• Governance and investment oversight by a board of key community leaders
• Collaboration with your attorney or advisor to facilitate even the most complex forms of giving
• Full accreditation by the Council on Foundations, which signifies that we maintain the most rigorous standards in philanthropy

Freedom

You can manage your giving according to your personal interests and choose your investment options according to your timeline.

• Support the causes and community organizations that you care about most
• Choose a fund type that is personalized to match your priorities and goals
• Select from a range of investment vehicles to grow your fund
• Establish or add to your fund using cash or a variety of appreciated assets, such as publicly traded stocks, mutual funds, real estate or closely held business interests

Resources

You will have access to our knowledge base of the nonprofits who are effective in addressing local needs and benefit from our experience in strategic philanthropy.

• Expert program staff available for personalized advice to guide decisions about your fund and your plans for giving
• Printed and online resources to keep you informed of community issues and giving opportunities
• Opportunities to meet other donors at events offering dynamic learning and sharing opportunities

Satisfaction

You will enjoy knowing that your charitable giving is both smart and generous, and:

• Receive the maximum tax advantage possible, as compared to a private foundation
• Reach across generations by involving family members in your fund
• Leave a legacy through estate planning that can benefit the community - forever
• Enjoy anonymous giving and a buffer from unwanted solicitations, should you desire it
• Know that you are part of a group of generous people who support positive change in our region

Donor Advised Fund

Ideal for those who want to give to multiple organizations and programs throughout the year. Consider a Donor Advised Fund if you:

• Want to manage all of your giving through one account
• Wish to give to multiple organizations and programs
• Want the flexibility to support the individual nonprofit organizations that matter most to you

Please click here for more information on Donor Advised Funds

Designated Fund

Allows donors to create a fund that automatically makes grants to their favorite charities without any extra effort.

Consider a Designated Fund if you:

• Want to create a legacy of support for your favorite causes
• Prefer to avoid administrative hassles of charitable giving – from sending checks to keeping track of receipts
• Seek to support individual organizations regularly and in perpetuity
• Want to endow your annual giving

Please click here for more information on Designated Funds

Field of Interest Fund

Offers you the opportunity to support evolving needs and a variety of nonprofits focused on your broad area of interest. Consider a Field of Interest Fund if you:

• Have a specific area of interest that you want to support
• Want to learn more about other nonprofits in our community offering programs in your chosen field of interest
• Believe in the depth of knowledge and evaluation capabilities of our staff to determine the needs and effectiveness of nonprofit programs

Please click here for more information on Field of Interest Funds

Options for Planned Giving

There are a variety of ways that you can be charitable after you are gone. Consider including charitable giving through your will or estate plan if you:

• Need to preserve cash, but want to make sure the causes you care about are supported over the long term through an estate gift to your charitable fund at the Foundation
• No longer need your retirement plan or life insurance and want to designate your fund as the beneficiary
• Need income for retirement but want to shield assets from estate taxes through a Charitable Gift Annuity or Charitable Remainder Trust

Please click here for more information on planned giving

Endowments for Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofits who want to give their donors a way to support the mission of the organization forever may consider opening an endowment. Consider opening a nonprofit endowment if:

• Your organization has a stable operating budget and cash reserves
• You want to generate income for operations - forever
• You would like to offer a full menu of planned giving options, but lack the internal resources required to manage the complexity

Please click here for more information on nonprofit endowments

5 Easy Questions

Opening a fund is easier than you might think, considering that the impact of your generosity may last for generations to come. To get started, there are a few things to think about to make your fund a true reflection of your individuality. You will also want to consult your professional advisor. The answers to the following questions will help us to create a personalized fund that accurately reflects your charitable intentions.

1. What are you passionate about?

• How do you want to change your community through giving?
• What are your unique interests?
• How will the world be different because of your commitment?

2. Want immediate impact or enduring impact?

You can decide whether you want to create an Expendable Fund to help community organizations today, or build a permanent Endowment to support their needs, today, tomorrow and forever.

3. Which type of fund meets your goals?

You may want the flexibility offered by a Donor Advised Fund, or you many prefer to direct your giving only to certain charities through a Designated Fund. You can also choose to impact a certain cause, while asking us to help identify the organizations doing the most effective work in that field through a Field of Interest Fund. Finally, you may be interested in supporting deserving students through a Scholarship Fund.

4. What will you give, and when?

You will want to decide if you are giving current assets, or you want to give after you are gone through your estate plan – or both.

Give Now

Cash Gifts: Donors can give by check, money order or cash

Other Assets: Gifts of non-cash assets may allow you to make a substantial contribution while receiving valuable tax advantages. Generally, you may deduct the fair market value of the gift and the capital gain from the donated asset will pass tax free to your fund at the Foundation. While we readily accepts publicly traded securities, other gifts, such as closely held stock, IRA assets, partnership interests and some tangible personal property, may also be accepted based on review by our board.

Give Later

When you include a gift to your fund at the Foundation in your estate plan, you make a charitable gift, enjoy tax benefits, and preserve economic security for yourself and your family. We can work with you and your professional advisor to find a charitable estate vehicle that works for you. Some future gifts may allow you to receive an income during your lifetime and benefit your favorite causes after you are gone.

Please click here for more information on planned giving

5. What will you name your fund?

A fund may be named for you, a family member, after a cause, or in memory of someone special in your life. If you prefer to be anonymous, you may choose a name that has a special meaning for you. Every grant from the fund will carry your fund’s designated name.

Next Steps

Whether you give now or in the future, we can help you to fill out a fund agreement and arrange to transfer assets to support your vision. There is no start-up fee and no waiting period. The Foundation’s work on behalf of donors is partially supported by minimal annual fees based on fund type and balance. Those fees also support our work in advancing the quality of life in this community, while you simultaneously support the causes you care about – doubling the impact of giving through the Foundation.