Community Foundation Invests $54,000 in Music Education Through 2026 Neel Family Fund Grant Awards6/29/2026
 Joe K. Neel, Jr. believed that music changes young lives, and through the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region, his legacy is showing up in classrooms, rehearsal halls, and concert stages across the region.
Recently, the Community Foundation awarded $54,000 through the Neel Family Fund Grant Program to four organizations supporting music education initiatives that will provide meaningful learning, performance, and artistic enrichment opportunities for hundreds of youth across Grand Forks County. “Joe understood something that research has long confirmed - that music education shapes not just musicians, but confident, creative, engaged young people." said Becca Baumbach, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. "These grants are a reflection of that belief, and we're proud to help carry it forward." The 2026 Neel Family Fund Grant recipients include:
These projects reflect the continued impact of the Neel Family Fund Grant Program in expanding access to music education and helping young people across the region build creativity, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts. The Neel Family Fund was established by Joe K. Neel at the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region to support and strengthen music education opportunities for children and youth ages 18 and younger throughout Grand Forks County. A lifelong lover of music, Neel recognized the important role music plays in youth development and education. Through annual grant awards, the fund helps school music programs, youth bands, choirs and orchestras, summer music opportunities, the purchase of instruments and music, and educational experiences with guest conductors and clinicians. The fund is intended to enhance and expand music education resources rather than replace existing support, ensuring young people throughout the region have access to meaningful musical experiences for generations to come.  Nonprofits are navigating a period of rapid change. From shifting donor expectations to technological advances and evolving economic pressures, organizations are being asked to adapt faster than ever before. While these changes can feel overwhelming, they also present important opportunities for nonprofits that are willing to evolve thoughtfully and strategically.
One major trend is the growing emphasis on donor retention rather than simply focusing on new donor acquisition. Nonprofit organizations are increasingly recognizing that long-term supporters are among their most valuable assets. Donors want to feel connected to the mission, understand the impact of their gifts, and see themselves as partners in the organization’s work. As a result, stewardship, personalized communication, and meaningful engagement are becoming even more important. Here are factors to consider in your donor retention strategies: Focus on planned giving Deepening relationships with existing donors is also the best way to build a pipeline for planned giving and long-term philanthropy. As the Great Wealth Transfer continues, donors across many income levels are thinking more intentionally about legacy, family values, and charitable impact. Organizations that make planned giving conversations approachable and accessible may find new opportunities to deepen donor relationships across generations. Keep an eye on technology Artificial intelligence and automation tools are helping many nonprofits personalize donor outreach, streamline administrative work, and better analyze fundraising trends. While technology can improve internal efficiency, experts continue to emphasize that successful fundraising remains rooted in genuine human connection. Donors still want authentic relationships, transparency, and trust. Build trust You’ve likely already noticed a growing demand for flexibility and trust-based philanthropy. Many donors are showing greater interest in unrestricted giving and multi-year support, recognizing that nonprofits need stable resources to respond effectively to changing community needs. Organizations that clearly communicate impact and demonstrate strong leadership may be better positioned to inspire this kind of long-term donor confidence. Adapt for generational changes Younger donors often prioritize values-driven giving, collaboration, and community engagement. Many want to participate actively in charitable work rather than simply writing a check. This creates opportunities for nonprofits to build deeper engagement through volunteerism, storytelling, donor education, and family philanthropy initiatives. As always, please lean on the Community Foundation during this time of change and opportunity. We are here for you!  For years, experts have talked about the coming “Great Wealth Transfer”—the massive movement of wealth expected to pass from Baby Boomers to younger generations over the next two decades.
But are you seeing it at your organization? You probably are, even if the phenomenon is not manifesting as an immediate wave of large cash gifts! Here are the nuanced trends to watch for evidence that the transfer is underway:
 Nonprofit organizations have long known that the IRS Form 990 is more than just a tax filing. It is a public document that funders, donors, watchdog organizations, journalists, and community partners often review to better understand an organization’s governance, financial stewardship, and mission impact. Now, proposed changes signaled by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS could make the Form 990 even more important.
What does this mean for your organization and other nonprofits? At this stage, no immediate action is required, and nonprofit organizations are not yet facing new filing obligations. Proposed regulations are expected later this year and will likely include an opportunity for public comment before changes are finalized. Here’s what’s important to know: Not a total surprise As alarming as this news may seem, it’s not entirely “new” news. In many ways, the anticipated changes reinforce trends nonprofits have already been experiencing for years, including growing expectations around transparency, documentation, governance, and financial accountability. There’s a silver lining Increased transparency is not all bad! Your donors and grantmakers genuinely want to understand not only where funds come from, but also how decisions are made and how dollars ultimately support mission-related work. Increased understanding among your key stakeholders is an excellent opportunity to foster deeper engagement. Effects would be varied Some organizations will be more affected than others. If your nonprofit receives public funding or participates in fiscal sponsorship arrangements, the proposed revisions could mean you’ll be subject to more detailed disclosures and recordkeeping requirements. Focus on specific functions Certain areas of nonprofit reporting may be particularly important. Treasury officials have specifically indicated interest in clearer reporting around who controls funds, how grants are administered, and how sponsored projects operate within larger charitable structures. Importantly, none of this means that you should panic. Many organizations already have strong internal controls and reporting systems in place. Instead, this is an opportunity to take a few key steps right now:
Above all, remember that the Form 990 is a public-facing storytelling tool, not simply a compliance form. While Form 990 reporting can sometimes feel technical or burdensome, it also gives nonprofits an opportunity to communicate impact, stewardship, and organizational integrity. Strong governance and transparent reporting can strengthen credibility with funders and the broader community alike. If you’d like to discuss how the Form 990 creates engagement and communications opportunities, please reach out! The team at the Community Foundation is always happy to serve as a resource and sounding board for our nonprofit partners. Thank you for all you do to make our community stronger!  You might initially think of a donor-advised fund as a simple charitable savings account: contribute assets, immediately receive a tax deduction, if eligible, and recommend grants to your favorite 501(c)(3) nonprofits over time. While that is certainly true, many people are surprised to learn just how flexible a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation can be.
For many donors, the creative use of donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation opens the door to a larger charitable impact than they originally thought possible. Here’s how: Your fund grows and changes alongside your life Many people do not realize that a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation can help simplify giving during major life transitions. If you are preparing for retirement, selling a business, receiving an inheritance, or navigating a particularly high-income year, your donor-advised fund can provide flexibility in both timing for income tax planning and philanthropic grantmaking decisions. What’s more, during many of these transitions, it may make sense to look beyond cash gifts and explore using appreciated stock, closely held business interests, real estate, and other noncash assets to fund your charitable goals in tax-efficient ways. Your fund can help you engage the next generation Some donors are using donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation to involve children and grandchildren in family philanthropy. Because grants can be recommended over many years to 501(c)(3) organizations locally and across the country, donor-advised funds create opportunities for ongoing conversations about values, generosity, and community impact across generations. The Community Foundation supports your areas of focus Working with your local Community Foundation adds the important elements of flexibility, personalization, and expertise. Unlike national commercial donor-advised fund providers, Community Foundations combine the administrative advantages of a donor-advised fund with deep local knowledge and personalized philanthropic support. The Community Foundation can help identify community needs, connect you with nonprofit organizations of all shapes and sizes, and explore creative strategies tailored to your own charitable interests. The Community Foundation is here to help you support your favorite causes, whatever they may be. The takeaway? Your donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation is much more than just a giving account—it is a flexible tool for building a thoughtful, lasting charitable legacy that supports your favorite causes and the community as a whole. Please reach out to our team to expand your impact and enjoy your philanthropy even more!  As charitable planning conversations become more sophisticated, many advisors are revisiting so-called “split-interest gifts” to help clients balance philanthropic goals with income needs. Two of the most common strategies—a charitable gift annuity (CGA) and a charitable remainder trust (CRT)—can both provide clients with lifetime income while ultimately benefiting charitable causes. Despite their similarities, the two vehicles function very differently and may serve distinct client needs.
Understanding when to consider each option can help attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors deliver more customized and impactful planning guidance. Unless your practice specializes in charitable giving, though, you’re not likely to have the rules for CGAs and CRTs at your fingertips. Here are six FAQs to get you started. What do CGAs and CRTs do for a client? At a high level, both a CGA and a CRT would allow your client to make an irrevocable charitable gift while retaining an income stream for life or for a term of years. In both cases, your client may qualify for an immediate charitable income tax deduction, and a portion of future payments may receive favorable tax treatment. In short, people use CGAs and CRTs to save taxes, make a gift to charity, and create an income stream. Which is easier—a CGA or a CRT? A charitable gift annuity is generally the simpler of the two arrangements. The client transfers assets to a charitable organization in exchange for a fixed lifetime payment backed by the charity’s general assets. Payment rates are typically based on age and standardized actuarial assumptions. Because the payout is fixed and administration is relatively straightforward, CGAs often appeal to older donors seeking predictability and simplicity. Note that not every charity offers a CGA option; many smaller or mid-sized nonprofits lack the resources, licenses, or state registrations needed to manage them. Which is more flexible—a CGA or a CRT? A charitable remainder trust offers considerably more flexibility than a CGA, but it is also more complex. A CRT is a separately administered trust—its own legal entity—that pays income to one or more beneficiaries before the remaining assets eventually pass to charity. Unlike a CGA, a CRT can be designed in different ways. A charitable remainder annuity trust (CRAT) provides fixed annual payments, while a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) pays a variable amount based on a percentage of the trust's annually revalued assets. Which option is better for clients contributing larger assets? CRTs are often better suited for clients contributing larger or more complex assets. Because the trust can sell appreciated assets without triggering immediate capital gains tax within the trust, CRTs are frequently used in connection with highly appreciated real estate, concentrated stock positions, or even business interests prior to a sale. In addition, CRTs can accommodate multiple beneficiaries, customized payout structures, and professional investment management strategies. Clients who want greater flexibility, longer-term wealth planning opportunities, or inflation-sensitive income may prefer a unitrust structure over the fixed nature of a CGA. Of course, that flexibility comes with added responsibilities. CRTs require formal trust administration, annual tax filings, ongoing investment oversight, and legal drafting. CGAs, on the other hand, are generally easier for clients to understand and establish. When is a CGA better? You may recall that a technique called a “Legacy IRA” was created by the SECURE 2.0 Act, allowing taxpayers aged 70 ½ or older to make a one-time election for a tax-free Qualified Charitable Distribution to certain CRTs or CGAs. Clients who want to take advantage of the Legacy IRA may find that a CGA is better suited to their needs. The cost of setting up and administering a CRT may not be worth it because the limit for these transactions is $55,000 (2026 level) per person. What’s the first step in exploring CRTs and CGAs? As always, the team at the community foundation is honored to be your first call whenever charitable giving comes up in a client conversation. If you are exploring CGAs and CRTs, we’ll point you in the right direction so that you can evaluate the rules for each technique and review important questions related to the particular client situation, including what type of asset will fund the gift, the size of the proposed contribution, the client’s income goals, the number of beneficiaries, and cost concerns. Finally, keep in mind that charitable giving conversations are not limited to ultra-high-net-worth households. Many clients today are seeking ways to create reliable retirement income while also making meaningful charitable commitments. Split-interest gifts can help accomplish both objectives simultaneously. We look forward to our next conversation!  You might initially think of a donor-advised fund as a simple charitable savings account: contribute assets, immediately receive a tax deduction, if eligible, and recommend grants to your favorite 501(c)(3) nonprofits over time. While that is certainly true, many people are surprised to learn just how flexible a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation can be.
For many donors, the creative use of donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation opens the door to a larger charitable impact than they originally thought possible. Here’s how: Your fund grows and changes alongside your life Many people do not realize that a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation can help simplify giving during major life transitions. If you are preparing for retirement, selling a business, receiving an inheritance, or navigating a particularly high-income year, your donor-advised fund can provide flexibility in both timing for income tax planning and philanthropic grantmaking decisions. What’s more, during many of these transitions, it may make sense to look beyond cash gifts and explore using appreciated stock, closely held business interests, real estate, and other noncash assets to fund your charitable goals in tax-efficient ways. Your fund can help you engage the next generation Some donors are using donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation to involve children and grandchildren in family philanthropy. Because grants can be recommended over many years to 501(c)(3) organizations locally and across the country, donor-advised funds create opportunities for ongoing conversations about values, generosity, and community impact across generations. The Community Foundation supports your areas of focus Working with your local Community Foundation adds the important elements of flexibility, personalization, and expertise. Unlike national commercial donor-advised fund providers, Community Foundations combine the administrative advantages of a donor-advised fund with deep local knowledge and personalized philanthropic support. The Community Foundation can help identify community needs, connect you with nonprofit organizations of all shapes and sizes, and explore creative strategies tailored to your own charitable interests. The community foundation is here to help you support your favorite causes, whatever they may be. The takeaway? Your donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation is much more than just a giving account—it is a flexible tool for building a thoughtful, lasting charitable legacy that supports your favorite causes and the community as a whole. Please reach out to our team to expand your impact and enjoy your philanthropy even more!  You might initially think of a donor-advised fund as a simple charitable savings account: contribute assets, immediately receive a tax deduction, if eligible, and recommend grants to your favorite 501(c)(3) nonprofits over time. While that is certainly true, many people are surprised to learn just how flexible a donor-advised fund at the community foundation can be.
For many donors, the creative use of donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation opens the door to a larger charitable impact than they originally thought possible. Here’s how: Your fund grows and changes alongside your life Many people do not realize that a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation can help simplify giving during major life transitions. If you are preparing for retirement, selling a business, receiving an inheritance, or navigating a particularly high-income year, your donor-advised fund can provide flexibility in both timing for income tax planning and philanthropic grantmaking decisions. What’s more, during many of these transitions, it may make sense to look beyond cash gifts and explore using appreciated stock, closely held business interests, real estate, and other noncash assets to fund your charitable goals in tax-efficient ways. Your fund can help you engage the next generation Some donors are using donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation to involve children and grandchildren in family philanthropy. Because grants can be recommended over many years to 501(c)(3) organizations locally and across the country, donor-advised funds create opportunities for ongoing conversations about values, generosity, and community impact across generations. The Community Foundation supports your areas of focus Working with your local Community Foundation adds the important elements of flexibility, personalization, and expertise. Unlike national commercial donor-advised fund providers, community foundations combine the administrative advantages of a donor-advised fund with deep local knowledge and personalized philanthropic support. The community foundation can help identify community needs, connect you with nonprofit organizations of all shapes and sizes, and explore creative strategies tailored to your own charitable interests. The community foundation is here to help you support your favorite causes, whatever they may be. The takeaway? Your donor-advised fund at the community foundation is much more than just a giving account—it is a flexible tool for building a thoughtful, lasting charitable legacy that supports your favorite causes and the community as a whole. Please reach out to our team to expand your impact and enjoy your philanthropy even more!  At the Community Foundation, we are honored to work with many individuals, families, and businesses who support the causes that matter most to them and help make our entire community a better place to live. In many cases, trusted professional advisors, including attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, are helping donors make important decisions about taxes, investments, estate planning, and family wealth.
All of this is wonderful! There’s one more step, however, that is often overlooked: Connecting the dots. If you are a donor or fund holder at the Community Foundation, or plan to establish a fund in the near future, please consider introducing your advisors to the community foundation team. A simple introduction can make a tremendous difference in ultimately achieving your charitable goals. Here’s why:
Importantly, collaborative conversations among donors, advisors, and the community foundation are not only for ultra-high-net-worth families. Even relatively straightforward charitable plans can benefit from collaboration between your advisors and the Community Foundation. In many cases, donors discover giving opportunities they might not otherwise have considered. What’s more, many advisors appreciate having philanthropic specialists available to help explore charitable strategies that benefit both the donor and the causes they care about. So what can you do? We invite and encourage you to take the lead! A simple email introducing each of your advisors to the community foundation team is often all that is required to open the door to better communication and stronger planning. The Community Foundation is always happy to join a conversation with you and your advisors, but a baseline introduction is the most critical part. When professionals work together, the result is often a more coordinated and impactful charitable plan. By connecting your advisors with the Community Foundation, you help create a team that can support both your financial goals and your desire to make a lasting difference. We look forward to hearing from you—and meeting your advisors! Thank you for all you do to make our community a better place.  Over the last several years, communities across the country, including our own region, have faced moments of enormous challenge—from natural disasters and economic uncertainty to housing shortages and growing mental health needs. Increasingly, the community foundation team is talking with donors and fund holders about how their charitable giving can make the biggest difference right now. This idea is being described in industry circles as “meeting the moment.”
In the simplest terms, meeting the moment means responding thoughtfully and generously to the needs that matter most today while still keeping long-term community impact in mind. Sometimes that means supporting immediate emergency relief efforts. Other times, it means helping nonprofits today so that they can build long-term solutions that strengthen our community for years to come. Here are three tips that may help you and your family consider how you can make the biggest difference: Think broadly about your charitable giving plan Many fund holders have adopted a “portfolio approach” to their philanthropy, leaning on the Community Foundation to serve as a convenient and strategic hub. For example, your charitable giving “portfolio” at the community foundation might include a donor-advised fund to support your annual and ongoing charitable giving, legacy provisions to ensure that your impact extends across future generations, capacity-building gifts to the community foundation itself to ensure the growth of philanthropy and impact across our region, and special “field of interest” or “designated funds” to support particular focus areas or specific nonprofit organizations as needs ebb and flow. The combination of multiple fund types and giving structures helps ensure that your dollars make the biggest difference. Incorporate flexibility as you carry out your charitable giving plan With the appropriate funds and planning vehicles in place, many donors take the next step to ensure their charitable portfolio allows for flexible funding during times of crisis and transition. Specifically, nonprofits in our community often need unrestricted support so they can respond quickly to changing conditions, invest in staff capacity, and continue serving people effectively even after headlines fade. Donors who understand this can play a powerful role in helping organizations remain resilient and responsive. The Community Foundation can help you identify instances where it’s most beneficial simply to provide general support to nonprofit organizations, rather than designating your gift to a specific program or desired outcome. Consistency is key Meeting the moment does not mean changing all your charitable priorities overnight, only to revert them back when the moment has passed. There will always be moments of need! Instead, “meeting the moment” means staying informed about current community needs with the help of the Community Foundation team, remaining flexible in the causes you support and the ways you support them, and responding quickly when your philanthropy can create meaningful impact and your community needs it most. Sometimes, even a small adjustment in timing, focus, or funding approach can make a big difference in the lives of people in need. As always, the Community Foundation is here to help. Our team members are deeply connected to local nonprofits and community leaders, which means we are uniquely positioned to identify emerging needs and opportunities for impact. Whether you want to respond to a current challenge, support a specific cause area, or balance immediate needs with long-term charitable goals, the community foundation can help you structure your overall giving strategy and serve as a sounding board as you carry out your plans. Please reach out anytime! |
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