 Understandably, nonprofits often worry that donor-advised funds may delay or diminish their donors’ contributions. In reality, though, donor-advised funds can be very helpful to boost financial support for your mission. Three fundamental concepts are important to gaining a better understanding of how donor-advised funds work at the Community Foundation.
Many options are available at the Community Foundation. It’s important to note that a donor-advised fund is just one of many types of funds that an individual, family, or business can establish with the Community Foundation. You’re likely more aware of donor-advised funds than other types of funds because they are frequently covered in financial media and also because your organization might have received grants from specific donors through their donor-advised funds. Dollars in donor-advised funds are already set aside for charitable giving, and it’s very convenient for donors to use their funds to support favorite organizations–like yours. The Community Foundation encourages donors to give directly. Rest assured that the team at the Community Foundation encourages donors to give directly to their favorite charities when that’s the best strategy to achieve a donor’s estate planning, tax, and charitable goals. When that’s not a viable option, though, both the donor and the charity benefit from the donor using a donor-advised or other type of fund at the Community Foundation. Examples include cases where the donor wants to give a complex asset, such as real estate or closely-held stock, or needs to plan out several years of giving to address fluctuating income levels and tax liability. Some donors also prefer to give anonymously, and a donor-advised fund can help with that. Donor-advised funds are becoming increasingly popular. Donor-advised funds are attractive vehicles to help donors organize their giving. In turn, donor-advised fund sponsors—including community foundations—continue to channel billions of dollars in contributions annually to thousands of charities through these vehicles. When donors begin giving through a donor-advised fund, their annual support for organizations often increases significantly, underscoring donor-advised funds’ potential to deepen long-term donor engagement. The Community Foundation is always happy to provide an overview of how these vehicles work and why donors set them up in the first place. Please reach out anytime.  It’s certainly no secret that times are tough. Nonprofits in our community are facing mounting pressures as inflation drives up operating costs, pandemic-era relief funds have expired, and demand for services continues to climb. At the Community Foundation, we are honored to work with local charities that are powering through the obstacles to engage donors and keep charitable dollars flowing to support important work, all while keeping an eye on long-term prospects for legacy gifts and endowment growth. Here are strategies that are working for many charities:
Focus on financial basics Of course, during good times and bad, nonprofit organizations are encouraged to strengthen financial management practices by closely monitoring cash flow, improving transparency, and enhancing reporting to build trust and stability with stakeholders. What’s new for some organizations in 2025 is stepping up communications with donors on these fundamental topics, both in marketing strategies and in one-on-one meetings. For example, if your organization’s endowment fund is managed at the Community Foundation, it’s worth considering leaning on that as a talking point to inspire confidence among your donors. Stay innovative It’s easy to see why some organizations get caught in “hunker down” mode when times are tough. Perhaps counterintuitively, though, challenging economic conditions can often serve as inspiration for nonprofits to innovate operationally—streamlining processes, adopting new technologies, and rethinking traditional service models—to improve efficiency and impact. This is also an area where the Community Foundation can help. To streamline your ability to accept gifts of noncash assets, for example, the Community Foundation can serve as your back office to receive “alternative” donations. Cultivate current donors Taking care of your biggest fans is tried and true advice. Certainly you’ll always want to be on the lookout for new donors, but that work ought not diminish ongoing efforts to build strong relationships with your current donors. Recurring donations, for instance, not only offer nonprofits a predictable and stable funding stream, but they’re also a strong sign of donor loyalty. Indeed, recurring donors demonstrate significantly higher retention and tend to remain committed for many years compared to one-time donors. Long-term donor relationships also pave the way for meaningful conversations about legacy and endowment giving. Please reach out to the Community Foundation anytime. We are happy to be a sounding board to help your mission stay strong, in good times and in bad!  Every August, National Make-A-Will Month highlights the importance of planning for the future. For charitable organizations, it presents a unique and timely opportunity to engage donors in meaningful conversations about leaving a lasting legacy through their wills and other estate planning documents. Beyond encouraging supporters to complete or update their estate plans, National Make-A-Will Month gives you a ready-made platform to discuss how legacy gifts and contributions to your endowment can sustain mission-driven work for generations to come.
Here are a few ideas to inspire your donor communications during this month and beyond: Remind donors that an estate plan is important. Never assume that your donors have their estate plans in good shape. Indeed, many people know they should have a will or a trust but postpone getting it done. With estate planning already top of mind thanks to widespread Make-A-Will Month awareness campaigns, your donors may be more receptive to considering how charitable gifts, including to your organization, can become part of their legacy. Consider Make-A-Will Month as a sort of “bridge” between donors’ good intentions and taking action, benefiting both the donor and your organization. Start a conversation about legacy giving Even though you and your team know how important it is to at least briefly mention planned giving in nearly every donor conversation, discussions about leaving a legacy still can sometimes feel uncomfortable. Make-A-Will Month is a ready-made ice breaker, so it’s easier for you to introduce the topic without awkwardness. You can normalize the idea of including charitable gifts in a will, which in turn empowers donors to think about the impact they’d like to make long after they’re gone. The upshot here is that every single donor communication this month is an opportunity to open the door for a legacy discussion. Shine a light on endowment gifts Make-A-Will Month is a perfect time to educate your donors about the benefits of supporting your endowment. Indeed, endowments are often built with assets received from bequests in a donors’ wills or trusts, via beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance, or more complex gifts such as charitable remainder trusts. While estate planning is on your donors’ minds, reinforce the importance of your organization’s endowment to fund essential programs year after year. By connecting the themes of estate planning and lasting impact, you’ll be able to illustrate how a bequest to your organization can make a difference for generations to come. As always, whether it’s Make-A-Will Month or any other time of the year, please reach out to the Community Foundation. We are happy to serve as a resource as you develop strategies to deepen donor relationships. We’ll help you evaluate strategies for reaching out thoughtfully during Make-A-Will Month so you can tap this opportunity to expand trust and connection with your donors, paving the way for the future of your mission.  Recent changes in federal tax law under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) bring both challenges and opportunities for nonprofit organizations in our community. The Community Foundation is here to help you prepare and consider how to update your strategies as the landscape shifts. We’re sharing answers to three frequently asked questions about how the new laws will impact giving, what you can do about it, and how the Community Foundation can help.
“What’s happening with the standard deduction, and how big of a deal is it?” The nonprofit sector is no stranger to the challenges resulting from a high standard deduction. In the aftermath of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which increased the standard deduction, the number of taxpayers who itemized deductions dropped significantly. This eliminated tax deductibility as a motivator for charitable giving for many Americans, which in turn, caused charitable giving to drop. Now, under the OBBBA, the standard deduction is going up again, which may continue to impact tax-motivated charitable giving, even with the uptick in itemizers thanks to the OBBBA’s new state and local tax deduction allowances (subscriptions required to the Wall Street Journal). So how big of a deal is this? In many ways, the increase in the standard deduction means more of the same. Tax motivations to give to charity will continue to apply to the relatively small number of donors who itemize deductions. That said, keep in mind that donors don’t give to charity solely for a tax deduction. Many other motivations come into play because people truly want to make a difference. What’s more, the additional changes coming in 2026, described below, may motivate certain donors to make big gifts this year. “Could 2025 really be a big year for charitable giving?” The answer is yes! Coupled with an increasing standard deduction, two OBBBA provisions that take effect in 2026 may provide incentives for your donors to “front-load” charitable contributions, not only to exceed the high standard deduction to allow them to itemize, but also to avoid two limitations to charitable deductions effective starting with the 2026 tax year. First, beginning in 2026, the deductibility of charitable contributions will be capped at 35% of adjusted gross income (AGI), even for itemizers in the 37% tax bracket. Second, also beginning in 2026, a 0.5% floor will apply to itemized charitable deductions, meaning that only contributions exceeding 0.5% of AGI will be deductible. These two upcoming changes reduce the value of charitable deductions for high-income taxpayers and may create a strong incentive for your donors to make big gifts in 2025. Our team is happy to serve as a sounding board as you explore ways to maximize support in 2025, including motivating donors to make gifts to add to your endowment or reserve fund at the Community Foundation. “How can we make the most of the new deduction for non-itemizers?” The OBBBA introduced a new deduction for charitable contributions starting in 2026: $1,000 for individual filers and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. This provision, similar to the temporary pandemic-era incentive, allows non-itemizers to receive a modest tax benefit for their charitable gifts. This could meaningfully encourage new donors - particularly younger donors - to start making gifts to your organization. Note that this new deduction is for cash gifts only (and it also does not apply to gifts to donor-advised funds). You’ll want to mention this limitation specifically in your donor communications next year, and you’ll also likely want to clarify that despite the rules for this particular deduction, typically gifts of appreciated assets deliver the most tax benefits. Certainly, the OBBBA presents a mixed bag. You may discover that 2025 is a great year for large gifts, and, as the new laws take effect, 2026 will be an important time to add an additional focus on cultivating smaller gifts and broad-based support. As always, the Community Foundation is honored to be your trusted partner and sounding board, whether or not your organization has established an endowment or reserve fund at the Community Foundation. We invite you to reach out to explore how our team can help navigate tax law changes and maximize opportunities in 2025 and beyond.  These days, it seems as though there’s a subscription for anything you need. A recent study noted that the average consumer holds approximately 4.5 entertainment streaming subscriptions alone. With the world continuing its shift toward convenient subscription options, it makes sense that your donors are happily moving in this direction as well.
In 2023, a year when revenue from one-time online giving decreased by 5%, revenue generated from monthly giving increased by 6%. In a more recent study, revenue from monthly giving outpaced revenue from one-time giving by 10%. Monthly giving is continuing to trend as an attractive giving option for donors. Here’s why that’s good news for you: Recurring Givers are Committed If you start a subscription for a new product or service, it’s likely that you’re pretty committed, or at least believe in the product enough to subscribe for multiple months. Monthly givers are no different. A study tracking donor trends from 2018-2022 showed that nonprofits had better than average retention rates for recurring givers. Indeed, if a donor starts a recurring gift, there’s a pretty good chance they’re bought into your mission and will be around for the long haul. Recurring Givers Make it Easier to Plan With one-time donors, it’s hard to know how much they’ll give from one year to the next. Turbulent economic conditions, busy family lives, or flat out forgetting to give can always affect your bottom line giving totals. With recurring givers, you can often expect a similar amount month-to-month, helping you plan your short-term budgets and expected income. Indeed, 91% of recurring donors have their gifts set on “autopilot” by automatically charging their credit or debit cards. Recurring Givers Often Donate More Than Their Regular Gift While recurring donors are already contributing a great deal to support your mission, 50% of recurring donors also make additional gifts throughout the year. Whether through regular communications, solicitations, or year-end gifts, recurring givers are excellent candidates for major gifts, endowment gifts, planned gifts, and legacy gifts. Just because a donor has set giving on autopilot, though, it doesn’t mean the donor doesn't need cultivation. It’s actually the opposite. How are you caring for your recurring givers and building a community of some of the most faithful, committed partners to your work? And how are you optimizing your communications and training your team to bring in new recurring givers that will be around for the long haul, especially to ultimately make major gifts and leave a gift to your organization in their estate plans? The Community Foundation team is happy to help you explore ways to elevate your stewardship strategies to deepen relationships with recurring donors so that they become strong supporters for your endowment or legacy program. We look forward to a conversation!  The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, after the House of Representatives approved the Senate’s changes to H.R. 1, which passed the House by a narrow margin in May.
The OBBBA, with nearly 900 pages of provisions, reshapes policy across major sectors of the U.S. economy. Included in the OBBBA are several provisions that impact philanthropy. Three major takeaways are of particular importance as the Community Foundation helps donors, fund holders, and nonprofits–as well as attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors–navigate charitable planning opportunities over the months and years ahead. (Notably, the OBBBA omits several provisions that appeared in previous versions of the legislation, such as a proposed increase to the net investment income tax on private foundations.) Insight #1: Standard Deduction Goes Higher What’s in the OBBBA? The new law makes permanent the standard deduction increases under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), increasing the standard deduction for 2025 to $15,750 for single filers and $31,500 to taxpayers who are married and filing jointly. The new law also expands the “bonus” deduction for taxpayers 65 and older through 2028. What’s more, under the new law, individuals who itemize may take charitable deductions only to the extent the charitable deductions exceed 0.5% of adjusted gross income. Furthermore, taxpayers in the top bracket can only claim a 35 percent tax deduction for charitable gifts instead of the full 37 percent that would otherwise apply to their income tax rate. Note also that the final bill permanently extended the 60% of adjusted gross income contribution limitation for cash gifts made to certain qualifying charities. What does this mean for charitable giving? With even fewer taxpayers eligible to itemize, and deductions capped for high-income earners, we’re likely to see a continuation of the chilling effect on charitable giving that occurred in the wake of the TCJA. What can you do? If you regularly support charities, it’s important to continue to do so whether or not you’re benefiting from a tax deduction. Our community needs you, now more than ever. If you’re a nonprofit, or if you’re an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor who works with charitable clients, remember that people do not give to charity solely to secure a tax deduction. Keep in mind that many other factors motivate charitable giving, and philanthropy is an important priority for many families. (This article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review has stood the test of time.) Insight #2: Deduction for Non-Itemizers What’s in the OBBA? The new law includes a provision, effective after 2025, allowing non-itemizers to take a charitable deduction of $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for taxpayers who are married and filing jointly. As has been the case in the past, gifts to donor-advised funds are not eligible. Unlike a previous (but smaller) similar provision, though, this law is not set to sunset. What does this mean for charitable giving? After the TCJA went into effect, households that itemize deductions dropped to under 10%. Parallel to this trend, the number of U.S. adults who give to charity in any given year has dropped over the last 20 years from nearly two-thirds to less than half, according to some studies. Against this backdrop, the OBBBA’s deduction for non-itemizers has the potential to re-motivate charitable giving among a significant number of households. What can you do? For everyone, now is the time to take a serious look at your charitable giving plans to support the causes you care about over the years ahead, especially if you are early in your career and not yet itemizing deductions. If you’ve already established a fund or you’re working with the Community Foundation in another way, please reach out to learn how we can help you make the most of the new tax laws, and even get your children and grandchildren involved. If you’re a nonprofit, now is the time to attract and engage brand new donors. And if you’re an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor, make sure you talk about charitable giving with your clients who don’t itemize; a $1000 or $2000 deduction could be just the motivation they need to begin a journey of philanthropy. Insight#3: No Sunsetting Estate Tax Exemption What’s in the OBBA? For affluent taxpayers updating financial and estate plans, and for the attorneys, CPAs, and wealth managers advising them, the last couple of years have been a roller coaster because of the looming possibility that the TCJA’s increase to the estate tax exemption would sunset at the end of 2025. Finally, there is clarity: Under the OBBBA, the sunset will not happen. The new law makes permanent the increase in the unified credit and generation-skipping transfer tax exemption threshold. The 2025 exemption is $13.99 million for single filers and $27.98 million married filing jointly. In 2026, these numbers increase to $15 million and $30 million respectively. What does this mean for charitable giving? Purely estate tax-based incentives to give to charity continue to apply only to the ultra-wealthy, likely resulting in a continuation of the taxpayer behavior triggered by the TCJA. In other words, most people will give to charity during their lifetimes and in their estates for reasons other than a tax deduction. What can you do? There is no guarantee that the estate tax exemption will stay high forever. As families work with their tax and estate planning advisors, many are viewing the next two years as an important window to plan ahead. The upshot of the new law is that high net-worth taxpayers now have more time to thoughtfully consider estate planning strategies, including charitable giving. For nonprofit organizations, this means continuing to focus on long-term planned giving strategies is wise.  Over the last few weeks, our team at the Community Foundation has talked with dozens of nonprofit leaders and people who serve on charities’ boards of directors about the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" (H.R. 1) that passed the House of Representatives by a narrow margin on May 22, 2025. Understandably, many nonprofit organizations are concerned that this legislation might impact their work.
Among many troubling elements are provisions that could affect fundraising strategies to attract annual gifts, major gifts, endowment gifts, and planned gifts. Here are three provisions that are especially important to watch. Corporate giving What’s the provision? The proposed legislation introduces a 1% “floor” on corporate charitable deductions, meaning corporations could only deduct charitable contributions that exceed 1% of their taxable income, up to the existing 10% cap. What’s the concern? This provision could discourage corporate giving, particularly for companies that typically donate less than 1% of their income, as their contributions would no longer be deductible unless they surpass that threshold. The uncertainty over whether corporations can deduct the full value of their contributions or only the amount above 1% adds further ambiguity, potentially leading to reduced corporate support for charities. Is it all bad news? Many corporations support charities through sponsorships that come out of their marketing budgets, not their charitable giving budgets. The proposed legislation does not impact a corporation’s ability to deduct marketing expenses. Private foundation giving What’s the provision? The pending bill would restructure and increase taxes on private foundations, specifically the net investment income tax. The bill replaces the previous flat rate with a graduated structure, imposing higher rates on larger foundations - up to 10% for those with assets exceeding $5 billion. What’s the concern? The proposed increase in tax liability could potentially reduce the amount of funding available for charitable grants, as private foundations may have fewer resources to distribute after accounting for the higher taxes. Additionally, increased compliance costs associated with these new tax structures could further divert funds away from charitable activities and into administrative overhead. Is it all bad news? Donor-advised funds could become an even more important source of funding if the new laws cause some donors to shift away from private foundations as their primary organizing structure for their philanthropy. In the case of donor-advised funds held at the Community Foundation, this could be good news because the Community Foundation actively works with donors to use their donor-advised funds to keep charitable dollars flowing to charities in our community. Individual giving What’s the provision? The proposed legislation affects individual giving by extending provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that were scheduled to sunset at the end of this year. Specifically, the standard deduction is slated to remain high under the proposed legislation, as is the estate tax exemption. What’s the concern? The chilling effect on charitable giving of a higher standard deduction and higher estate tax deduction is likely to continue. Is it all bad news? The bill includes a modest charitable deduction for non-itemizers, allowing up to $150 for single filers and $300 for married couples. Collectively, these changes potentially could make fundraising more challenging for charities. What’s important to keep in mind, though, is that nothing is set in stone–yet. Significant changes to the bill are likely as the Senate starts reviewing the bill in June. The process could stretch into July or August as both the House and Senate work out their differences before sending the bill to President Trump for signature. We’ll keep you posted as the situation develops. We are here for you! This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  It is an understatement to say that 2025 has been rough for charitable organizations. Economic volatility, a challenging political climate, and tax reform on the horizon are major factors for many nonprofits.
Despite the harsh realities of external factors, here are three potential bright spots for your organization’s staff and board to consider as you continue the hard work of delivering on your mission. Generosity tends to endure through crisis History shows that even during economic downturns, disasters, or uncertainty, the spirit of generosity persists. Donors are motivated not just by surplus wealth but by a deep belief in the causes they support. In other words, the people who care about your organization really do care. Even in the wake of major recessions and national tragedies, nonprofits have adapted to new realities, rallied donors, and continued to raise the funds they need to carry out their missions. Keep talking to donors Certainly not all donors are affected the same way when times get tough. Some may find it hard to give due to financial constraints, while others may be less financially affected and continue giving at historical levels or even beyond. It’s important for a nonprofit’s board and staff to keep communicating with donors, avoid making assumptions about capacity or lack thereof, and stay confident and passionate about your mission and its importance to the lives of the people you serve. In other words, don’t stop asking donors for gifts, and don’t narrow the range of gifts you’re seeking. Annual giving, campaign giving, endowment giving, and planned giving all are still on the menu. Now is not the time to take a step back. Step up your own game There is no better time to get better at fundraising than during a challenging time! You and your team may look back and be glad you were forced to get more efficient, creative, and strategic about engaging donors in every aspect of giving, including endowment and legacy giving. Double down on testing new ideas on a few donors so you can “fail small” and see what works. When you see results from a particular strategy, take note! If something works during really tough times, imagine what could happen when things turn around. Please reach out to the Community Foundation team! We are happy to serve as a sounding board to help you navigate these turbulent times so that your organization can emerge stronger and better than before. Philanthropy is essential to maintaining and improving quality of life in our community, and we are all in this together. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  Many charities and their boards of directors are evaluating strategies to grow the organization’s endowment during these challenging economic times. One way to do that is by strategically leveraging donors’ financial contributions through corporate or other matching gift programs.
You’re certainly aware that many employers will match your donor’s donation - often dollar for dollar - effectively doubling the impact without requiring the donor to give more. Sometimes an individual donor or a specific foundation will offer to match donations for a particular campaign or for a period of time. Of course, any type of match increases the total dollar amount flowing to your organization to sustain operations or grow your endowment. In addition – and a factor that charities often overlook – is that matching gifts also incentivize donors to give larger gifts because they know their contributions will be amplified. Indeed, research shows that 84% of donors are more likely to give if a match is offered, and one in three will increase their gift size when they know it will be matched. Here are two tips to attract matching gifts.
Both of these factors are important. Many donors are unaware of their eligibility for employer matching programs, so it’s a good idea to consider integrating matching gift search tools into donation forms, send targeted follow-up emails, or at least provide clear instructions on how to submit match requests. Promoting matching opportunities during key campaigns - such as endowment drives or special giving events - and combining corporate matches with major donor or board-funded matching challenges can create a sense of urgency and multiply the impact even further. Some organizations have seen campaign revenue increase by 30% or more when a matching gift offer is included. Beyond immediate fundraising gains, leveraging matching gifts deepens donor engagement and builds stronger relationships with both individual supporters and corporate partners. Donors who participate in matching programs often feel a greater sense of impact and are more likely to continue giving in the future. If you’re ready to explore how you can tap even further into matching gifts as a strategy to sustain your operating budget or grow your endowment, please reach out to the Community Foundation team. We are happy to discuss ideas for cultivating partnerships with local businesses and major donors for matching campaigns that can open new avenues for support and ramp up your organization’s visibility within the community. Making matching gifts a central part of your fundraising strategy can help unlock new revenue streams, inspire larger and more frequent gifts, and ensure long-term financial sustainability. We look forward to a conversation! This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  If you’re looking at your endowment-building goals for 2025 and feel a wave of uncertainty wash over you, you are not alone! Charities everywhere are facing mounting challenges in 2025 as economic uncertainty, market volatility, and shifting donor priorities threaten endowment giving. The Community Foundation is here to help ensure that your endowment fund and efforts to grow it remain robust, which in turn fosters the stability of your mission.
Here are 3 forward-thinking, donor-centric strategies to consider right now to avoid losing momentum on your endowment-building efforts: Focus on Current Donors Retaining existing donors is more cost-effective and impactful than acquiring new ones, especially during economic downturns. Be sure to maintain regular, transparent communication with endowment and legacy donors, sharing real-time updates on how their gifts are making a difference. Express appreciation through personalized recognition, such as thank-you calls from board members, special events, or exclusive updates. You can also offer tailored engagement opportunities, such as site visits or meetings with people your organization has helped, to deepen donor connection and trust. In times of uncertainty, your donors want assurance that their contributions are well-managed and impactful. Share Compelling Stories Donors - especially those considering or maintaining endowment gifts - are increasingly focused on impact and results. To build and sustain trust, highlight specific stories and data that demonstrate the real-world results of endowment giving. Invite donor feedback and, where appropriate, involve them in discussions about endowment management or future priorities. Indeed, a 2023 survey found that 70% of donors consider transparency a key factor in their giving decisions. By proactively sharing information and outcomes, charities can reassure donors and encourage continued or increased endowment support. Offer Choices Economic upheaval often prompts donors to reassess how and what they give. Meet your donors where they are right now by offering a range of planned giving options, such as charitable trusts, bequests, gifts of appreciated securities, or retirement assets, to accommodate donors’ financial planning needs. At the same time, make giving as simple and flexible as possible, including digital platforms for recurring or micro-donations, and options for non-cash gifts. Related, consider designing your communications to provide personalized experiences, recognizing that different donor demographics respond to different messages and opportunities. The Community Foundation is here for you! We are honored to help you maintain strong relationships and keep your endowment efforts resilient, even as economic conditions fluctuate. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  The news from the stock market has not been rosy! Investor confidence is rattled and many households are reassessing their financial priorities. Despite increasing challenges brought on by 2025’s turmoil, it’s important to remember that your organization and other charities are presented with a unique opportunity to lean into planned giving discussions.
Certainly many donors are feeling less secure about their finances amid a challenging economic climate and the recent stock market downturn. Understandably, In this environment, donors may be more hesitant to make large gifts or even maintain previous levels of annual giving, preferring instead to preserve liquidity and safeguard their immediate financial well-being. This is where planned giving comes in. Planned giving offers you and your colleagues a compelling alternative because donors can make a significant, lasting impact without affecting their current cash flow through bequests or beneficiary designations that take effect in the future to support your organization’s endowment. Unlike annual gifts, planned gifts are less vulnerable to short-term market volatility and provide a more predictable, stable revenue stream—critical for organizational resilience during uncertain times. By proactively engaging donors in thoughtful planned giving conversations, you can help your supporters feel confident about their legacy and financial security, while also ensuring your organization’s long-term sustainability despite today’s economic headwinds. Please reach out to the Community Foundation! We’re always happy to offer suggestions and resources to help you maintain momentum with your planned giving program. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  In an environment where immediate community needs are never-ending (and actually seem to be skyrocketing), it’s really hard to carve out energy and time in your fundraising plan to make room for planned giving. We understand! The team at the Community Foundation knows how crucial it is for our community’s charities to attract as many donor dollars as possible to meet 2025’s mounting demands.
Ignoring a planned giving plan altogether, though, would be a mistake. You’d be sacrificing the long-term longevity of your mission. Intellectually, nonprofit fundraising professionals understand this. It’s just that it seems so hard to do at the moment, in the midst of turbulent times and emotional drain. Keep your planned giving spirits high by considering the following:
The key is to make it easy. Here’s how:
We look forward to working with you to help you grow your endowment! The Community Foundation is committed to your success. We believe in philanthropy’s ability to improve the quality of life in our region through outstanding nonprofit organizations delivering services to people who need it most. Thank you for all you do. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  Repeat, repeat, repeat. You may feel like you are constantly talking with your donors about the benefits of giving appreciated stock. Your talk track may go something like this:
You say all of this so much that you’re sick of it, so surely your donors are sick of hearing it too, right? Wrong. Your donors don’t live and breathe charitable giving like those of us who work in the nonprofit sector day in and day out. So, not only is the subject matter sometimes challenging, but it’s also likely that donors are not paying attention most of the time. Indeed, a lot of donors are missing out on the benefits of giving stock instead of cash. Building your endowment fund, like any type of fundraising, is a long game. You have to keep repeating key messages so that the point finally gets across, often when the timing is just right and the topic of tax planning or charitable giving happens to be on a donor’s mind. The team at the Community Foundation is always happy to serve as a sounding board for key messages and strategies to build your endowment, one person and one gift at a time, over and over–and over–again. We’re honored to work with you! This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  The Community Foundation is honored to work with so many wonderful nonprofit organizations in our region that are improving quality of life every single day. We know that it’s important for you to grow endowment assets to create a permanent source of support for your mission.
You’ve likely made it a priority to provide ongoing education and information to your donors to help them understand how your endowment works and why it’s so important to the future of your organization. Occasionally, a donor may ask you about the difference between making a gift to support your endowment, or, in the alternative, establishing a separate endowment fund at the Community Foundation to support your organization. Here’s a little background that may help you explain the differences to your donors. In either case, our team can help, so please do reach out. Building your endowment fund. Many donors will want to support your endowment fund held at the Community Foundation. Your board of directors may from time to time elect to make transfers from your organization’s assets to the fund. Your organization’s endowment fund is sometimes referred to as “quasi-endowment” because your board of directors has some degree of flexibility to access the principal for certain stated purposes such as emergencies. Annual distributions to supplement your organization’s budget are often made from the endowment fund based on market value percentages. Donor-designated endowment fund. Sometimes, a donor would like to support your organization by establishing a separate and permanent designated endowment at the Community Foundation, whether during lifetime or through a bequest. In that case, the board of directors and staff at the Community Foundation will oversee income payments to your organization and also ensure that the principal stays intact in perpetuity. In many cases, a donor will want to structure an endowment gift as a designated fund to benefit your organization while also leaning on the Community Foundation for support. The donor can name the fund whatever they’d like (e.g., the Smith Family Endowment Fund). The Community Foundation team is experienced at managing the accounting, investment, and distribution aspects of all types of endowment funds. When you work with the Community Foundation, it’s convenient and rewarding to establish and grow your organization’s endowment, as well as offer donors the option to set up a separate named endowment fund. Both types of gifts help your mission stay strong and improve the quality of life for future generations. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  Opinion by Cynthia H. Shabb
Originally Published in the Grand Forks Herald on March 14, 2025 Over the past seven weeks, the president of the United States has signed dozens of executive orders covering a broad range of issues. The president and Congress have also engaged in other actions to cut federal funding. This has created a state of uncertainty for nonprofit organizations. Some federal grants and contracts have been paused or canceled, immediately affecting nonprofit work. There is a lack of information about current and future grants. Over 300 nonprofit organizations contribute to the social environment in and around Grand Forks by providing countless services to the community. This includes housing, food security, health care, mental health care, social services, domestic violence services, education, immigrant integration, civic and social clubs, sports leagues, fitness centers, arts programs, environmental services, animal welfare, religious organizations, and more. Nonprofit organizations also drive the economy by being a major employer, engaging high numbers of volunteers, and generating significant revenue for the local economy. Nonprofits pay wages, unrelated business income and other taxes, and are purchasers of goods and services. It is important to understand the significant impact nonprofits have, not only in our local community, but also in the state. The North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations (NDANO) created a statewide Sector Report in 2022. It reported that there were 3,886 nonprofits in North Dakota who employed 54,953 people, paying $2.6 billion in annual wages. 218,019 North Dakotans volunteered, contributing 15.6 million hours of services equivalent to $377.8 million. Nonprofit organizations have an incredible financial impact on both local and state levels. The actions of the federal government are forcing nonprofit organizations in Grand Forks and the surrounding region to consider what they will do as their federal funding changes. They have already had to reduce their workforce, reduce and eliminate programs and services, and more reductions may come. Some nonprofits may even have to close their doors. This will put a heavier burden on local communities, states, private grantors, and individual donors to ensure organizations can continue to operate. Every member of our community benefits from the work of nonprofit organizations in one way or another. It is vital to contact legislators, sharing why local nonprofits are important. Fully executed executive orders and federal funding cuts will have negative impacts on our community. Additionally, each one of us should give what we are able to support nonprofits in our area. Cynthia Shabb, of Grand Forks, is the executive director of the Global Friends Coalition. This letter is a collaborative effort of nonprofit organizations in the Grand Forks region who want to promote, protect and strengthen the nonprofit sector.  Addiction is a struggle that affects not only individuals but also their families, friends, and communities. In Grand Forks, North Dakota, one woman has taken a stand to help those fighting this battle. Alison Cruz, a local realtor and property owner, has transformed one of her rental properties into The 209 House—a transitional home for women recovering from addiction. A Personal Mission For Cruz, The 209 House is more than just a rental property; it’s a deeply personal mission. Having grown up witnessing friends and loved ones struggle with substance abuse, she always wanted to provide support for those in recovery. When one of her properties became available, the timing aligned with her longtime friend Kayla Edvall’s journey to sobriety. Edvall, a mother of a five-year-old son, Emmitt, was finishing treatment for alcoholism but faced the challenge of finding a stable and supportive environment post-treatment. Recognizing the gap in recovery resources for women in Grand Forks, Cruz opened the doors of The 209 House, offering Edvall and other women in similar situations a place to rebuild their lives. A Critical Need for Transitional Housing The transition from treatment back into everyday life is often a fragile period for those in recovery. Without stable housing, many are forced to return to environments where substance use is prevalent, increasing the risk of relapse. Cruz understands this struggle, stating, “How do you expect to stay clean and sober when you’re around people who are actively using? It doesn’t work.” The 209 House provides a structured, supportive space for up to eight women at a time. The home is designed not only to offer a roof over their heads but also to provide accountability and encouragement as they navigate their recovery journeys.  Structure and Support Participants at The 209 House are required to attend at least three Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings per week. They pay a $500 monthly program fee, which covers all utilities and grants access to shared resources such as a laptop for job searches, virtual meetings, and additional recovery tools. Cruz is selective about who she accepts into the program. The application process ensures that participants are committed to their recovery, have successfully completed treatment, and are ready to engage in a positive community environment. “I’m not just accepting anybody in here,” Cruz emphasizes. “They need to have a good attitude. They need to be respectful to staff and their peers. They have to keep their area clean.” Honoring a Legacy Beyond providing transitional housing, The 209 House is also a tribute to a lost friend. Cruz dedicated the house to Shayna Jo DuBois, a close friend who lost her life to addiction nearly three years ago. “She was the mother to three kids. She was a daughter; she was a sister; she was one of my best friends since I was 13 years old,” Cruz shares. By putting a face to the reality of addiction, Cruz hopes to inspire women in recovery to choose a different path. Community Support and Future Goals Ultimately, Cruz hopes The 209 House will empower women to achieve long-term success, including homeownership and financial independence. “I want them to be able to see that you can have more,” she says. The 209 House has received overwhelming support from the community. People have donated clothing, purchased necessary items from a Walmart registry, and volunteered their time to help. Cruz acknowledges that while she has laid the foundation, sustaining and expanding this mission will require continued community involvement. To assist in those efforts, The 209 House has partnered with the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region and can now accept tax-deductible donations to support their mission. To make a one-time or recurring gift, click here. By providing a safe, stable environment for women in recovery, The 209 House is not just changing lives—it’s saving them.   April 15 is right around the corner! Now is a good time to review a few basic tax principles related to charitable giving so that you’re prepared for donor conversations. Tax planning is on their minds, and you don’t want to miss an opportunity to secure a gift to your endowment fund.
Your donors give for lots of reasons other than a tax deduction. With taxes on the minds of so many donors this time of year, it’s important to remember that it’s not all about the tax deduction! Charitable giving is a priority for the vast majority of affluent families. Indeed, among people who own investments of $5 million or more, 91% of those surveyed reported that charitable giving is a component of their estate and financial plans. In another study, most affluent investors cited reasons for giving well beyond the possibility of a tax deduction and would not automatically reduce their giving if the charitable income tax deduction went away. During the fundraising process, be aware of donors’ non-tax motivations for giving, such as family traditions, personal experiences, and compassion for your mission. Your donors may still default to giving cash, so you have to stay in front of them. Many donors simply are not aware of the tax benefits of giving highly-appreciated assets to their favorite charities. Even if you feel like you say it a lot, keep saying it! Donors often forget or are in a hurry and end up writing checks and making donations with their credit cards. It’s really important to remind your donors about the benefits of donating non-cash assets such as highly-appreciated publicly-traded stock, or even complex assets (e.g., closely-held business interests and real estate). The Community Foundation can help you work with donors to give highly-appreciated assets in lieu of cash to your endowment fund. This in turn can help donors reduce - significantly - capital gains tax exposure, and they can calculate the deduction based on the full fair market value of the gifted assets. Your donors may not remember the basic rules of deductibility. It’s important to know that the deductibility rules are different for donors’ gifts to a public charity (such as your endowment fund at the Community Foundation) on one hand, and their gifts to a private foundation on the other hand. Donors’ gifts to your organization directly, or to your endowment fund, are deductible up to 60% of AGI for cash gifts and 30% of AGI for gifts of other assets. Gifts to private foundations are deductible up to 30% of AGI for cash gifts and 20% of AGI for gifts of other assets. In addition, gifts to public charities of non-marketable assets such as real estate and closely-held stock typically are deductible at fair market value, while the same assets given to a private foundation are deductible at the donor’s cost basis. This difference can be enormous in terms of dollars, so make sure you let your donors know about this if they are planning a major gift. Make it a habit to repeat the tax basics in your donor communications. This will help you grow your endowment fund not only during tax time, but also throughout the year. As always, the Community Foundation is here to help! Reach out anytime! This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  As you and your team review lists to identify potential endowment and legacy donors, it’s easy to slip into the habit of zeroing in on donors who are well-established in their careers and businesses, nearing retirement, or already retired. Of course, you’ll want to target these groups because they are likely to have the capacity to make large gifts, and they may be in a position to revise their estate plans or beneficiary designations to include your endowment fund.
But don’t stop there! Expand your endowment and legacy fundraising outreach to include not only Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials, but also Gen Z. Gen Z’s philanthropic engagement defies stereotypes about short-term thinking, with 84% already supporting causes through donations, volunteering, or advocacy—demonstrating a readiness to commit to long-term impact despite their youth. Certainly their financial contributions may be smaller due to early-career stages, but their focus on social justice, climate action, and equity aligns with the legacy-building nature of planned giving. Here are three strategies to keep in mind:
Proactively engaging Gen Z now will help your organization secure future revenue and build on young people’s sincere desire to make a difference. Please reach out to the Community Foundation team to discuss ways you can engage Gen Z to strengthen your endowment and legacy giving strategies. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  The team at the Community Foundation is always happy to help you evaluate potential gifts to your endowment fund. This is especially the case when a donor proposes giving something other than cash or marketable securities.
When a donor mentions the possibility of giving real estate or closely-held stock, for example, please reach out to our team. One of the benefits of housing your endowment at the Community Foundation is that we can serve as your back office for complex gifts as well as serving as a sounding board for giving strategies in general. One of the most important factors to remember is that valuing and accepting complex gifts like real estate and closely-held stock is not easy! The Community Foundation will help you make sure that the donor and the donor’s advisors are aware of the IRS’s rigorous requirements for securing a qualified appraisal of a complex gift. Failure to follow these rules could wipe out the otherwise excellent tax benefits to the donor. These assets are called “complex” and “hard-to-value” for a reason! Even though complex gifts can present inherent challenges, they’re still worth pursuing. Charities that cultivate hard-to-value assets such as real estate and closely-held stock can unlock significant advantages for both their missions and their donors. Remember that unlike gifts of nonmarketable assets to a private foundation, a donor’s gift of a nonmarketable asset to your endowment fund or other public charity can qualify for a full fair market value charitable deduction, up to 30% of AGI, and also avoid capital gains tax. What’s more, beyond real estate and closely-held stock, the Community Foundation is happy to work with you and a donor to explore gifts of other complex assets, such as cryptocurrency, NFTs, and intellectual property, which expands philanthropic opportunities for donors who are business owners and investors in alternative assets. Keeping an eye out for opportunities to attract hard-to-value assets will help you build a resilient endowment fund at the Community Foundation while also empowering your donors to optimize their financial and philanthropic legacies. The Community Foundation helps you bridge expertise gaps, handle asset liquidation, invest the proceeds, and meet regulatory requirements so that you and your team can focus on donor relationships and impact. Please reach out to talk with our team. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  Family Day began at the North Dakota Museum of Art under the leadership of Sue Fink in 2004. The original goal of the program, initially called Saturday Art Workshops, was to provide children and their families an opportunity to engage in art activities while exploring a wide variety of media with modeling and guidance. As the current Education Director, I am continually striving to bring fresh and exciting experiences to our Family Day programming. My goal is to ensure that everyone feels welcomed at our museum, and for young people, the chance to connect with art can have a lasting impact on their lives. Equally important are the parents and caregivers who bring their children to these events, encouraging creativity and fostering a love of art that extends beyond the museum walls. For over twenty years, we’ve been inviting participants of all ages to explore diverse artistic practices while surrounded by stunning artwork in the spacious museum galleries. In 2024, we were proud to welcome over a thousand curious guests, alongside numerous arts organizations and local artists who partnered with us to foster a deeper appreciation for art and highlight its significance in our community. Family Day events are always free and open to the public, ensuring accessibility for all families. We are able to keep it that way thanks to the generous support of foundations, businesses, and individual donors who believe in the power of art to connect and inspire. Local businesses contribute through in-kind donations, and individuals support the program through their gifts. The support from the Community Foundation makes it possible for us to provide materials, bring in guest artists, and maintain a welcoming space where families can experience the joy of creating together. Each event is held on the fourth Saturday of select months (October, November, January, February, March, and April) from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, offering hands-on projects and unique collaborative experiences. The atmosphere is casual, encouraging families to drop in, create, and leave when they’re ready. These events inspire children by connecting our world-class exhibitions to real hands-on experiences—just like the artists they see on our walls. For example:
One of the most exciting aspects of Family Day is witnessing the creativity of our young participants. At a recent event, a child made a Motanka doll with a mohawk, putting their own twist on a Ukrainian tradition. During a collage activity, two sisters collaborated on a piece they called "Bird Lady", featuring photos of Queen Elizabeth surrounded by dollar bills and birds.
In addition to being inspired by our exhibitions, I always try to introduce a new medium for our guests to explore. We’ve had a variety of activities, including painting, clay, fiber arts, scratchboard art, pumpkin decorating, and more. Our volunteers play a key role in making it all come together, assisting in the activities and guiding participants as they explore their creative ideas. It’s a fun, relaxed environment where everyone can create something special to take home, along with the skills and confidence to recreate these projects at home, making art more accessible for families to continue enjoying together.
Upcoming Family Day Activities:
Thanks to our community of supporters, Family Day continues to bring people together in the spirit of creativity and discovery. MJ McHugh, Education Director, NDMOA  January
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 2025 is shaping up to be a very interesting year for tax policy, to say the least!
The Republican-led Congress and White House are aiming to use the budget reconciliation process to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. This process allows them to bypass typical filibuster rules and require only a simple majority of 51 votes in the Senate. So what does this mean to you and your colleagues and the way you should approach generating support for your endowment fund at the Community Foundation? The Community Foundation will help keep our nonprofit partners up-to-date on potential tax law changes in 2025 related to the scheduled expiration of provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, and what might happen if the TCJA provisions wind up expiring instead of being extended. Here are three things that are important to know: Potential reduction in estate and gift tax exemption The estate and gift tax exemption is slated to decrease significantly at midnight on December 31, 2025. Currently, the exemption is $13.99 million per person. After 2025, this could be reduced to approximately $7 million per individual and $14 million per couple. This change may impact charitable giving strategies, particularly for high net-worth donors who use estate planning as part of their philanthropic efforts. Changes to charitable deduction limits The TCJA temporarily increased the deduction limit for cash contributions to public charities from 50% to 60% of adjusted gross income (AGI). If this provision expires, the limit may revert to 50% of AGI. This reduction could affect the tax benefits for donors making large charitable contributions, potentially influencing their giving decisions. Increase in standard deduction and impact on itemized deductions The TCJA significantly increased the standard deduction, which led to a reduction in the number of taxpayers itemizing deductions. If these provisions expire, the standard deduction could revert to lower pre-TCJA levels. This change might increase the number of taxpayers who itemize, potentially making charitable deductions more attractive for a broader range of donors. However, it's important to note that the overall impact on charitable giving could be complex, as it may be influenced by other factors such as changes in tax rates and the reinstatement of certain itemized deductions. These potential changes underscore the importance for charity fundraisers to stay informed about tax law developments and to work closely with donors and their financial advisors to navigate the evolving landscape of charitable giving strategies. For context, if you like to get in the weeds, we recommend taking a look at a recent study that breaks down the flow of capital into the nonprofit sector. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  Especially at the beginning of a new year, the team at the Community Foundation fields a lot of questions from fundraising professionals about strategies for increasing gifts to an organization’s endowment fund. Not surprisingly, a very common question is this:
“How can we get our board members more involved in endowment fundraising?” And of course, that is an important question. Board members’ active participation in endowment fundraising can provide a big boost to achieving your organization’s long-term financial stability. Here's a five-point formula for getting your board involved in growing your endowment in 2025 and beyond. Step 1: Set the stage Help board members fully understand the importance of endowment fundraising. Let them know that a strong endowment provides financial stability, supports long-term planning, and helps weather economic uncertainties. Start the year with a dedicated segment in your first board meeting to discuss the status of your endowment and its significance to the organization's future. Remember, transparency is key. Be open about your endowment's current status, even if it has been affected by market fluctuations. Honesty builds trust and motivates board members to take action. Step 2: Inspire action Present a confident and enthusiastic approach to fundraising for the year ahead. Emphasize that your organization is proactively addressing financial challenges while others might be hesitant. Be sure your board members know that a strong endowment acts as a buffer during economic downturns, ensuring the continuity of your mission. Step 3: Equip your board members Your board members certainly do not need to know all the details of how a gift to your endowment can be structured. Indeed, board members don’t need to know any details; they simply need to be armed with just enough information to be able to listen closely for opportunities when a potential donor mentions anything related to charities or financial planning. Then, it is natural for the board member to make an introduction to your team. Jumping off points for an introduction, and suggested board member responses, include:
Step 4: Make it as easy as possible Keeping it simple is key! Complexity is a known barrier to a donor’s commitment to give. Meet individually with each board member to discuss potential involvement in endowment fundraising efforts. You may be pleasantly surprised to uncover unique skills, connections, or resources that could benefit your endowment strategies. Along these lines, take advantage of events where board members can engage with potential endowment donors in a comfortable setting. Assign specific, manageable tasks to each board member based on skills and preferences, including asking them to seek out specific donors. And, importantly, encourage board members to make their own contributions to the endowment, demonstrating their commitment to the cause. This makes it much easier for a board member to talk with potential donors because they can speak from personal experience. Step 5: Celebrate success Keep the board informed about the progress of endowment fundraising efforts, celebrating successes and addressing challenges. Acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of board members who actively participate in fundraising activities. Remember, activity creates results! If board members are out in the world talking about your organization and the endowment, good things will happen! As always, the team at the Community Foundation is here to serve as a sounding board as you implement strategies to encourage board members to become active participants in endowment fundraising, ensuring the long-term financial health of your organization. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  Philanthropy professionals have long recognized the importance of emotional engagement in fundraising, particularly during annual campaigns or initiatives focused on immediate donations. Indeed, recent research underscores the critical role of emotional intelligence in successful fundraising.
When it comes to charitable gift planning, however, such as helping a donor structure a legacy endowment gift, it’s tempting to approach the process as a primarily rational exercise. This is understandable given the complex tax and legal considerations involved in structuring various giving vehicles such as trusts, bequests, foundations, donor-advised funds, and beneficiary designations. Of course, it is crucial to address technical aspects to ensure donors' charitable intentions are fulfilled with tax benefits and financial goals in mind. At the same time, you’ll want to be sure that the emotional dimension of charitable gift planning isn’t overlooked. Legacy giving offers psychological benefits. Endowment gifts, in particular, can offer donors a sense of immortality and a way to perpetuate their values beyond their lifetime. No doubt you’ve watched this in action as you’ve helped donors structure legacy gifts to your endowment fund at the Community Foundation, and perhaps you've even played a role in facilitating a donor’s unique emotional and reflective process when considering such a gift. Encourage your donors to consider the benefits of a legacy gift:
To maximize success in legacy fundraising, nonprofit organizations should strive to engage both the hearts and minds of your donors. Consider sharing inspiring stories and testimonials that illustrate the long-term impact of legacy gifts. To further build an emotional connection, you might even offer the donor exclusive events or site visits to help donors visualize the future impact of their gifts. On the rational side of the equation, you’ll find that working with the Community Foundation team helps you provide clear information about the tax and legal aspects of various giving vehicles. Our team can also help you address concerns about administrative complexities and provide support throughout the giving process. Please reach out anytime to the team at the Community Foundation to help you implement a balanced approach to tap into donors' emotional desires to make meaningful, lasting gifts while also ensuring that all technical aspects are properly addressed. We are here to help you develop more meaningful connections and ultimately achieve greater success in securing endowment and legacy gifts to keep your mission strong for generations to come. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  Year-end gifts are a crucial component of every nonprofit organization’s operating budget, and December is a wildly busy time! Even with so many transactions flying around, it’s still important not to lose sight of the relationship side of fundraising, especially so that you and your team can continue to intentionally and methodically cultivate gifts to your endowment fund at the Community Foundation.
More than half of nonprofit organizations say they don’t have donor engagement plans. That’s a lot of missed opportunities! Enhancing donor engagement by creating entry points for their children is a strategy that can deliver a lot of good throughout the year, year after year. Here are three ways to plant seeds with donors about how leaving a legacy to your organization’s endowment creates meaningful opportunities for family engagement: Help donors celebrate their legacies. Encourage donors to talk with their children about why they’ve chosen to support your organization over the years, and why they are particularly interested in ensuring that your mission stays strong for generations to come. Offer your donors tangible examples of how your mission could help their children–and their children’s children and grandchildren–at critical junctures many years in the future. This helps reinforce the power of endowment giving across generations. Offer site visits, with a twist. Naturally, you and your colleagues regularly encourage donors to see your work up close. But have you considered encouraging donors to bring their teenage or adult children along to a site visit? And have you made sure that during the site visit, you are pointing out longstanding programs that are made possible only because of gifts to your endowment fund over the years? Wrapping these two elements into your site visit strategies can give your endowment fundraising an instant boost. Make it easy for young donors to donate to your endowment. It’s never too early to start talking about endowment gifts! If your fundraising strategy includes outreach to children of current donors, or emerging philanthropists in general, be sure your communications and marketing materials include at least basic language about supporting your endowment. You want all of your donors to see that giving to your endowment fund at the Community Foundation is always an option, at every stage of a donor’s philanthropic journey. Please reach out to the team at the Community Foundation to explore these and other ideas for engaging young givers in your endowment-building efforts. We are here to help! This articles is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. |
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