Why Give Through a Community Foundation?
A quick internet search will tell you that every nonprofit in your area already offers the opportunity to make a direct donation to its programming. If that option is readily available, why should someone take the extra step to grant funds through a local community foundation?
While direct giving is a wonderful way to support immediate needs, community foundations are uniquely positioned as strategic philanthropic partners. We help you streamline your contributions, maximize your tax benefits and craft a giving legacy that makes a difference for generations.
So what is a Community Foundation anyway?
Community foundations are charitable organizations dedicated to supporting community needs and improving the quality of life in a specific area. They offer various avenues for giving, from donor-advised funds to structured donations as part of your estate planning.
At the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, we offer four main ways to give as well as additional paths to meet your giving goals:
- Donor-advised fund
- Nonprofit (agency) funds
- The Good2Give Community Fund
- Planned Giving
How can you give through a community foundation?
One of the primary giving avenues community foundations offer is a donor advised fund, which functions like a charitable checkbook.
At CFNEG, our staff acts as your personal giving guide, powered by our partnership with the Capital Group. To begin, simply open your account with cash, securities, property or other assets of your choosing. Our wealth management partners will invest these assets and grow your account until you’re ready to grant these funds to causes that matter.
What’s the difference between giving through a community foundation and giving directly to a nonprofit?
While giving directly through a nonprofit offers tremendous benefits in the present, giving through a community foundation offers a “big picture” approach to your philanthropy.
With a community foundation, you receive partnership and expertise.
Community foundations are experts in local needs, and their staff have built longstanding partnerships with organizations that address these needs across the region. They know which organizations are effectively improving your community and can help you make a real difference in the causes that matter most to you. They can help you research nonprofits, spot red flags and make the greatest impact with your donations.
You can also receive more tax benefits than you might by giving directly to an organization! Ask community foundation staff and your financial advisor how opening a fund could unlock additional tax deductions that help you stretch the impact of your donations.
Direct donations can seem transactional, but giving through a community foundation is transformational.
Opening a fund, creating a scholarship or establishing structured donations as part of your estate planning helps you cement your legacy in your community.
Through your partnership with a community foundation like us, you can provide consistent support to existing nonprofit programs or create an endowment that impacts local needs forever!
Ready to take your giving to new heights? Contact us today!