Becoming a Donor
Establishing your own named charitable fund does not require great wealth and it isn't complicated. Plus,

You can provide ongoing support to your favorite organizations.

You can choose different non-profit organizations each year during your lifetime.

You can make your own choices, or take advantage of our staff's expertise to help you address the
community's most pressing challenges.

You have the opportunity to distribute gifts during your lifetime or to leave a lasting legacy - or both.

We are here to help with all aspects of your charitable giving. If you have any questions about becoming a donor that have not been answered in this section, please click here to Contact Us for more information.


Reasons to Give
Becoming a member of our donor family offers an easy way for you to accomplish your charitable dreams. As our partner in giving, you receive the simplicity and tax advantages of a public charity combined with the personal recognition, involvement and flexibility of a private foundation. You also gain access to the highest level of strategic thinking on ways to meet community challenges to help make your contributions as effective as possible. And because we plan to be here serving this community for generations to come, you can be assured that there will be a permanent source of funds available for issues you care about.

Easy
A fund can be established with a simple governing document that requires less than an hour to prepare. And we'll guide you carefully through the process. Giving should warm your heart, not burden you with tax complications and ongoing administrative details. You can establish a charitable fund without having to cope with the complexities of setting up a special-purpose nonprofit corporation. Accomplishing your objectives is made simple by our expert and professional management of your fund.

Flexible
We take pride in our ability to customize services to meet your charitable objectives. You may establish a fund that supports charitable organizations or programs you care about, the community's greatest areas of need, or a broad field of interest. You may also contribute to an existing fund or make an unrestricted gift that our Board of Directors will invest in the community on your behalf.

Effective
We are dedicated to ensuring that your charitable giving is as effective as possible. If your fund operated independently and had to recreate our services on its own, the price tag would be prohibitive. But your fund will share the costs of a knowledgeable staff, enjoy excellent financial management and benefit from a closely monitored investment strategy.

Satisfaction comes from knowing that your contributions have been effective and have created positive change. We know you consider your charitable gifts to be an investment - in your community, your church, your alma mater or whatever causes you select. Tap into the expertise of our staff members who are available to assess the effectiveness of a grant, research a giving option or to discuss opportunities with you. We care a great deal about the effectiveness of your gifts and that your giving experience rewards you with great satisfaction and joy.

Permanent
An important part of our work is building a permanent collection of funds for our community. Our Board of Directors ensures that these funds will grow in perpetuity and will continue to carry out the charitable objectives of the donors who established them. If these objectives ever become impossible to carry out, due to changing community circumstances, the Board will redirect the funds to support a closely related purpose.

We are available to help you with all aspects of your giving experience. If you have questions about becoming a donor that have not been answered in this section, please click here to Contact Us for more information.

Establishing a Fund
It is easy to establish your own named charitable fund and it can be done in less than a day. Working with a member of our staff, and your financial advisor if you choose, you will take these simple steps:

1. First, determine your charitable purpose or intent.

2. Select the type of charitable fund that best supports your purpose. Our staff will outline your options and discuss advantages of each.

3. Complete a simple governing document. Our staff will help you to complete a document that makes your intentions clear.

4. Select a name for your fund. You can use your name, that of a family member, the name of a favorite cause, or choose a name that allows you to remain anonymous.

5. Depending on the type of fund you establish, you may designate current fund advisors such as yourself and spouse, and successor advisors such as your children. This information will be included in your governing document.

6. Make an establishing gift. See Ways to Give for the types of contributions you can make.

7. Receive a tax deduction at the time the fund is established and when additional contributions are made to the fund.


Enjoy giving through your fund. Once your fund is established you can:

Add to the fund at any time in any dollar amount.

Specify how grant disbursements are to be acknowledged whether in the name of the fund or
anonymously.

If you establish a donor advised fund you may recommend distributions to charities, locally or
throughout the United States.