What is a Community Foundation?

A community foundation is a tax-exempt public charity that enables people like you to establish charitable funds. Your fun will be commingled with our other funds and managed professionally. Its assets will grow over time. You and your family and colleagues are encouraged to continue giving to the fund to help it grow even more. Grants will be awarded from your fund to support local non-profit organizations, in accordance with your wishes.

Like all community foundations, we are overseen by a volunteer board of leading citizens and run by professionals with expertise in knowing our region's needs. We go beyond simply making grants that advance charitable activities; we also identify current and emerging issues, stimulate resources to address those needs and help our region prepare for the future.

It is for these reasons that community foundations represent one of the fastest growing areas of philanthropy. When charitably minded people like you seek suitable ways to give, we can help you make a difference.

How Does A Community Foundation Work?

The community foundation idea is simple:
Anyone may use it to give something back to the community.

Assets that you donate to the foundation create one of several types of funds to support your charitable goals. We offer you a full menu of planned giving options to tailor your gift.

You can create a fund in honor of someone you love or to celebrate a special event. You can direct your gift broadly or narrowly to issues you care about or to wherever the needs are greatest. However you give, your gift can change lives - today and in the future.

We use professionals to invest and manage our assets. Our board is made up of local citizens who know the community. And, our staff can help you create the gift that makes the difference you want.

We offer you power and flexibility in charitable giving without the paperwork, time and expenses associated with running your own private foundation. We can help you set up a fund that will maximize both your tax advantages and your impact in the community - now and forever.

Here are some ways we can help you:

• Managing the fund, overseeing its investment and maintaining tax records
  
• Filing tax returns and providing an independent audit
  
• Providing the services of experienced grantmakers who know the community,
  its needs and its organizations
  
• Ensuring that grants are always awarded in the name of your fund
  
• Issuing regular financial reports detailing the status of the fund