WAYS TO GIVE - CHARITABLE FUNDS
Great giving options. Choose the one that’s right for you:
When you establish an Unrestricted Fund, your gift can address a broad range of local needs — including future needs that often cannot be anticipated at the time your gift is made. We evaluate all aspects of community well-being: arts and culture, economic development, education, environment, health and human services, neighborhood revitalization, and more. The flexibility of your unrestricted gift enables the Solano Community Foundation’s program experts to respond to the community’s most pressing needs, today and tomorrow.
Because you set no restrictions on the use of your gift, it enables our experienced program staff and board to do what they do best — assess community needs and respond by awarding grants to the nonprofit organizations that undertake our community’s most critical work. Unrestricted Funds enable the Solano Community Foundation to support long-term solutions; respond quickly to emergencies; and meet changing social, cultural, educational, or environmental needs in our local community.
Grants are made in the name of the fund you establish, creating your personal legacy of giving. You may give your gift immediately or through your will or other estate planning strategy. If you endow your gift, it becomes a permanent community funding resource.
Example Donor Story: A lasting legacy
Peggy and Ed Gibb always made giving to their community a personal priority. In meetings with their professional advisor, they began to consider including a bequest that would benefit their local community. “Peggy and I care a lot about this town,” says Ed. “We wanted to give in a way that would continually help the people who live here.” After considering their options, the Gibbs decided to establish an Unrestricted Fund with their local community foundation. The Gibb Community Fund would take effect after they both passed away, leaving a portion of their estate to charity. “By establishing an Unrestricted Fund, we were able to keep our gift from becoming outdated. Community needs change, so we wanted to make sure our gift wasn’t too narrowly focused,” says Peggy. “Because it’s endowed at the foundation, our gift will make a difference forever,” Ed says. “It will grow over time and become a more and more valuable asset for our community. This is exactly the legacy Peggy and I want to leave.”
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Also called “endowments,” Endowed (Permanent Named) Funds bear the name of an individual, family, or business and create a legacy for the donor in perpetuity. These Funds are permanent, charitable assets dedicated to meeting the changing needs of Solano County, and ensure a continuous flow of grants back to local causes. Endowments are very powerful philanthropic tools. As an endowment donor, you use the growing dividends and interest of your Fund to make grants, without invading the principal. Because the Foundation is a permanent entity, your charitable intent will always be protected.
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Establishing a Non-endowed (Donor Advised) Fund allows you to make a gift to the Solano Community Foundation, then remain actively involved in recommending uses for your gift. Grant awards are issued to charities in the name of the fund (or anonymously if you prefer). It’s a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.
You can work with the Solano Community Foundation’s professional staff to suggest ongoing uses for the fund — targeting the issues you care about most. Grant awards are issued to charities in the name of the fund (or anonymously if you prefer). It’s a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.
Non-endowed (Donor Advised) Funds are convenient, flexible tools for individuals, families, businesses, or groups that want to be personally involved in suggesting grant awards made possible by their gifts. If you have a range of community interests, you may find that it’s an ideal vehicle for fulfilling your charitable wishes. Non-endowed (Donor Advised) Funds are typically less costly and easier to administer than other forms of philanthropic giving (such as family or corporate foundations).
Your gift can be combined with others to increase its impact, and you can add to the fund you establish at any time, receiving tax benefits with each new gift. You can establish a fund today and make grant recommendations now or in the future. And if you endow your gift, it becomes a permanent community funding resource.
Example Donor Story: Individual Donor - A personal connection
When Alex Dorado retired, he wanted a way to give more to his community. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and now that I have more time and resources, I can give back to a number of causes and organizations that are very special to me,” he says. Alex and his financial advisor met with their local community foundation to discuss ways Alex might increase the impact of his giving and gain maximum tax advantage. Alex chose to establish a Non-endowed (Donor Advised) Fund in his family’s name. He now meets with the foundation’s professional program staff to recommend grants in the areas he cares about most. “Last year, based on my recommendations, the fund bought uniforms for an after-school sports league and supported an adult literacy program,” reports Alex. “This is a great way to stay involved and use what I have to make a difference in the community I love.”
Example Donor Story: Family Donor - Sharing family values
“We wanted to share our community values with our children and share our family values with our community,” says Sara Lin, explaining why she and her husband Peter established the Lin Non-endowed (Donor Advised) Fund at their local community foundation. Every year, the Lins and their children meet with foundation staff to recommend uses of the fund. Two years ago, they recommended that it be used to help start an inner-city daycare center. Last year, the fund helped expand the hours of this center, in addition to supporting an area arts camp. “We look forward to a day when we might involve our children’s children in giving back,” says Sarah.
Example Donor Story: Business Donor - A better approach
TRI, a company with a tradition of giving back, receives many requests for donations. In the past, company president Anthony Hall found it hard to decide which appeals to respond to… and even harder to know if his company’s charitable gifts made a difference. Three years ago, the company established a Non-endowed (Donor Advised) Fund at their local community foundation. Each year, partners add a percentage of profits to the fund. A team of employees from TRI meets with the foundation to review local needs and recommend grants. Anthony says, “Our company is able to do much more through our local community foundation.”
Opportunities
 Year-end tax planning |
Simple alternative to private foundations |
| Strategic giving |
Sale of a business |
| Closely held stock |
Preserving an estate |
Year-end tax planning: Just earned a large bonus, but no time to decide on the most deserving charities? Establish a Non-endowed (Donor Advised) Fund for an immediate tax deduction, and stay involved in your gift for years to come.
Simple alternative to private foundations: Thinking about establishing a private foundation, but looking for a better, simpler way? Or, frustrated with the ongoing management of your private foundation? Establish a Non-endowed (Donor Advised) Fund and stay personally involved with the distribution of gift dollars. Use Solano Community Foundation grant expertise for community knowledge and greater impact.
Strategic giving: Passionate about meeting a specific community need and want to make a meaningful gift? Solano Community Foundation uses expertise in local need to recommend ways to make the greatest impact.
Sale of a business: Own highly appreciated stock in a company that is about to be acquired? Structure a charitable gift of stock before the company is sold to reduce capital gains and increase charitable deductions. Establish a Non-endowed (Donor Advised) Fund so a once-in-a-lifetime event can help you do good, forever.
Closely held stock: Personal net worth tied up in a closely held company but want to give back? Donate a portion of company stock to the Solano Community Foundation and the company may buy it back for fair market value. Establish a Non-endowed (Donor Advised) Fund or planned gift and you are eligible for a tax deduction at the fair market value of appreciated stock (less any planned gift value).
Preserving an estate: Estate planning identifies significant taxes going to the IRS, but want to keep tax dollars local? Reduce taxable estate through a charitable bequest or other planned gift. Create a personal legacy in community that stays true to your charitable intent forever.
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By establishing a Endowed or Non-endowed (Field of Interest) Fund, you can target your gift to address needs in an important area of community life. You identify your personal interest area when making your gift; our board awards grants to community organizations and programs that are making a difference in the area you select. Your gift stays flexible enough to meet community needs in your interest area — even as they change over time.
While you direct the Endowed or Non-endowed (Field of Interest) Fund you establish from its creation, the maintenance is left up to us. Our professional staff continually monitors changing community needs so that you can be sure grants made in the name of your fund make the most impact in your field of interest and create your personal legacy of giving.
You can add any amount to the Endowed or Non-endowed (Field of Interest) Fund you establish at any time — and so can others who share your interests in community. If you endow your gift, it becomes a permanent community funding resource.
Example Donor Story: A personal mission unforgotten
When they lost their adult daughter, Susan, to cancer, the Perez family received hundreds of contributions from people throughout the community. Susan had been a high school teacher, so many of the contributions came from fellow teachers and from parents of the students whose lives she had touched. “Susan cared so deeply about her work,” says Mrs. Perez, “and we wanted to use the money to continue in that spirit of helping children through their education.” The Perez family spoke with their local community foundation and decided to establish the Susan L. Perez Education Fund, a Endowed or Non-endowed (Field of Interest) Fund that memorializes their daughter by supporting local educators and students. “We chose to begin this kind of fund because education is so dynamic,” says Mr. Perez. “We realize that we aren’t always aware of what our school system needs and how it works, and we wanted to be sure that, even years from now, grants made in Susan’s name make sense for our community.”
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In creating a Endowed or Non-endowed (Scholarship), you invest in your community’s future and show students you care. The Solano Community Foundation provides the expertise to help you meet your personal goals and awards Scholarships to deserving students. Your gift can help students — from preschool to postgraduate — achieve their lifetime dreams.
You can create a Endowed or Non-endowed (Scholarship) as a memorial to someone special, selecting eligibility criteria that exemplify that person’s goals and values. Or, you may use it to express your educational values — or those of your family or business. Depending on your preferences, the Endowed or Non-endowed (Scholarship) you establish can support any area of academic need, including tuition, room and board, and books. Our program staff tracks performance to ensure students continue to meet the terms for Endowed or Non-endowed (Scholarship) support.
If the Endowed or Non-endowed (Scholarship) you establish is renewable, you can review updated information on the progress of recipients over the years. You may even elect to meet these students — something many donors find rewarding.
Example Donor Story: Valuing education
A couple of years into a comfortable retirement, Mr. and Mrs. DiAngelo, both retired teachers, realized how much they missed making a difference in the lives of students. “For both of us, education was not only a profession — it was a calling,” says John DiAngelo. Looking for a way to stay involved, the DiAngelos started a Endowed or Non-endowed (Scholarship) with their local community foundation. They wanted Scholarships made in their name to benefit students interested in becoming teachers. “The foundation helped us create our legacy. It’s a wonderful feeling to let students know we still care,” says John. “The foundation does all the administrative work involved in determining the most deserving students,” says Rose DiAngelo. Over the past three years, The DiAngelo Education Fund has provided six Scholarships to the next generation of teachers.
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Establishing a Endowed or Non-endowed (Designated) Fund allows you to support the good work of a specific nonprofit organization in Solano County. Because it’s given through the Solano Community Foundation, your gift provides the organization a source of funding on which they can depend over time. If you desire, you can endow this gift to create a permanent legacy for your favorite nonprofit organization. You can add to the Fund at any time. If the organization you select ceases to exist or changes in mission, the Fund can be redirected so that it continues to address your original charitable intent.
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Nonprofit organizations can also establish an endowed (agency endowment) at the Solano Community Foundation. It’s a simple and efficient way to build an endowment — and help create sustainability — for your nonprofit organization. The Solano Community Foundation’s experienced staff will handle all the administrative details, and the Finance and Investment Committee will oversee the growth of your endowed fund.
Your donors can be sure that the endowment fund’s principal will not be spent and can grow over time, providing a source of lasting support. And the Solano Community Foundation’s economies of scale provide your organization the benefits of a diverse investment portfolio and low investment fees that typically come only with very large funds.
Your organization’s regular donors can leave a bequest through the Solano Community Foundation to benefit your organization forever and create a personal legacy. The Solano Community Foundation can facilitate even the most complex planned gifts or gifts of appreciated stock or real estate.
Example Donor Story: Individual Donor - A source of strength and stability
Three times a week, Wendell Pittman delivers meals to homebound senior citizens as a volunteer for Meals for Seniors. While the organization has benefited from volunteerism and community recognition for over a decade, it depended largely on small donations and lacked a more predictable funding source. “Our organization needed more reliable funding, but we had trouble accepting large or complex gifts,” says Mary Lynch, Meals for Seniors’ executive director. After talking with Mary and with his financial advisor, Wendell decided to begin a Endowed or Non-endowed (Designated) Fund with his local community foundation. He donated a piece of rental property that was becoming a bother in his retirement. The foundation immediately sold the property and established the Meals for Seniors Fund. Thanks to this fund, other donors can contribute assets of a variety of types and sizes. “We’re thrilled to be working with our local community foundation,” says Mary. “Meals for Seniors would not have been able to do this on its own.”
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LEARN MORE
There is so much more we’d like you to know. For more information and ideas on ways to integrate your financial planning with charitable giving, ask your financial advisor or contact Stephanie Wolf.