Posts by nathan
A Boost for Tomorrow’s Philanthropists
What’s hot when it comes to gifts for the graduate? You guessed it. Once again, the ever-popular, flexible, and tax-effective donor-advised fund carries the day. More and more parents and grandparents across the country are giving a graduating child or grandchild a donor-advised fund, pre-established and pre-funded, in the name of the graduate. Donor-advised funds…
Read MoreIs It Time for an Agency Fund?
Ensuring that a nonprofit organization can sustain its mission for the long term is a key responsibility of the organization’s executive team and board of directors. But how solid is your plan for perpetual support and sustainability? As your organization emerges from the aftermath of pandemic shut downs, you and your board of directors may…
Read More1, 2, 3: Easy Ways to Check Out a Charity
Many American households give to charity each year or volunteer for a favorite cause. Chances are, you are doing it yourself, maybe even two or three times a year. But how do you know the charity you choose is a good one? That’s a good question. And the answer is, you can check out a…
Read MoreVolunteering, Happiness and Success at Work
Happier and healthier at work, thanks to a workplace volunteering program? You bet. Volunteer activities are good for everyone–you, your company, and the community. That’s what emerging research is beginning to suggest, including a study by the Corporation for National and Community Service which outlines the heart-healthy benefits of rolling up your sleeves alongside your colleagues…
Read MoreIs Serving on a Charity’s Board of Directors a Good Move for You?
Serving on the board of directors of your favorite nonprofit organization is a great way to celebrate the cause you love the most and share the gift of your leadership. But is a stint on a board of directors the right move for you? It depends. Here are three factors you can evaluate to make…
Read MoreGetting in Touch With Your Social Impact Personality Type
Social connections and community impact are two of today’s hottest cultural trends. Combined, they add up to a growing commitment to social impact all across America. But not everyone likes to “do good” in exactly the same way. What’s your ideal social impact activity profile? It depends on your personality. Research indicates that most people trend…
Read MoreQualified Charitable Distributions: A Hidden Gem in Your Financial Plan
Designated funds and field-of-interest funds may not always be top of mind when you are developing philanthropy plans for yourself and your family, but they are extremely valuable tools in certain circumstances and it’s important to be aware of what the terms mean. You can establish a field-of-interest fund at the community foundation for a charitable…
Read MoreEstate Gifts: Unlock the Benefits of Bequests
Your fund at the community foundation can be an ideal recipient of estate gifts through a will or trust, or through a beneficiary designation on a qualified retirement plan or life insurance policy. Bequests of qualified retirement plans can be extremely tax-efficient. This is because charitable organizations such as the community foundation are tax-exempt. This means…
Read MoreDonor-Advised Funds and Your Personality Type
Personality type matters, even when it comes to supporting community causes. Your “social impact personality type” is especially important as you gear up to structure your donor-advised fund at the community foundation. A donor-advised fund is a terrific vehicle to help you and your family organize gifts to charities, whether you identify as an “investor,”…
Read MoreWhen Cash Is Out
We’ve all heard the saying “cash is king.” Most of the time that’s a fantastic rule of thumb. But sometimes cash isn’t the best way to support your philanthropic endeavors. How can you tell? Here are three clues to keep you on the lookout for opportunities to get more bang for your giving back bucks,…
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