Ways to Give
Giving to Impact Your Hometown
You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a positive impact on your hometown. Each year, around 75% of donations made to the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County are $100 and under. When you give to the Community Foundation, you’re helping to support the organizations and causes that you care the most about. You can also give anonymously – we respect your wishes for privacy. Read more about how you can give now or give later to help your local area. A copy of our Gift Acceptance Policy is available upon request.
Ways to Give Now
- Cash
- Funds are most often started or established with gifts of cash or check.
- Securities
- Gifts of stocks and securities can be processed easily with help from our staff. For highly appreciated stock, you will not pay capital gains and your tax deduction will be the market value of the shares.
- Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Charitable Rollover
- A donor who is 70 1/2 years old can direct any or all of their required minimum distribution to the Community Foundation and they won’t pay income taxes on the amount donated.
- Real Estate and Personal Property
- Gifts of real estate may include homes, condominiums, apartments, undeveloped land, farmland, and rental property. The Foundation’s Board of Directors must approve acceptance of all real estate gifts.
Ways to Give Later
- Bequests
- Remembering the community in one’s will can be an important way to reduce estate taxes. A donor may leave a share of an estate or a specific dollar amount.
- Life Insurance Policy
- A donor assigns the policy and beneficiary rights to the Community Foundation. The charitable tax deduction will be for the present cash value of the policy. If the donor continues to pay annual premiums, these are also tax-deductible.
- Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
- The IRA that helps a donor and spouse face retirement years will be reduced greatly by income and estate taxes before it reaches their heirs. By naming the Community Foundation as the contingent plan beneficiary, all of the assets will be used to benefit the community.
- Charitable Gift Annuities
- A Charitable Gift Annuity is an irrevocable, simple agreement between the donor and the Foundation. The donor gives cash or stock to the Foundation and receives income payments, guaranteed for life. When the annuitant passes away, the remainder of the annuity goes to an endowment fund established by the donor or to an existing fund at the Foundation.
- Charitable Remainder Trust
- A donor places assets in trust and receives income for life or designates a spouse, children, or other to receive the income. The donor receives a charitable deduction, avoids capital gains tax and removes the asset from his or her taxable estate. The asset eventually passes to a named fund of the Community Foundation.
- Charitable Lead Trust
- This trust pays income to the Community Foundation for a specific number of years. Then, the principal is given to designated beneficiaries. This removes assets from a donor’s estate and gifts the assets to the heirs. The donor pays no income or capital gains taxes on this asseet during the period of control by the Community Foundation.
- Life Estate
- A donor may contribute a home or farm but retain the right to live in it for life. After the lifetime, the property’s value will be used to establish a fund with the Community Foundation. The donor receives an income tax deduction, avoids captial gains tax, and exempts the property from estate taxes.
- Trust Fund
- If the donor is the beneficiary of a trust that pays a regular income, a portion of this income may be assigned to the Community Foundation. The donor pays no further tax on this income and may take an income tax deduction for the value of the assignment.
Types of Endowment Funds
The Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County administers nearly 250 permanent charitable endowment funds – each with a purpose that mirrors an individual’s, family’s, group’s, or organization’s particular philanthropic goals. The Foundation has six categories of permanent funds to help you meet your philanthropic goals.
An Agency Fund lets a nonprofit organization create a permanently endowed fund. We handle all administrative and investment responsiblities, freeing the organization to pursue its mission. An Agency Endowment Fund can be created with a minimum of $5,000.
A Designated Fund provides a steady stream of income to one or more specific charities – forever. Most people designate a recipient of their present charitable giving. A Designated Endowment Fund can be created with a minimum of $5,000.
A Donor Advised Fund offers donors maximum flexibility over charitable distributions. As the fund advisor, you can recommmend distributions to specific charitable organizations. Donor Advised Funds are a cost-effective and efficient alternative to a private or family foundation. A Donor Advised Endowment Fund can be created with a minimum of $5,000.
A Field of Interest Fund supports a particular area of interest. At the inception of the fund, you can identify an issue that is important to you. From the environment to the arts and more, our staff, Grants Committee, and Board of Directors identify projects that elevate and support your specialized interests. A Field of Interest Endowment Fund can be created with a minimum of $5,000.
A Flexible Community Fund (aka Unrestricted Fund) is used to address needs within our community as they change over time. Flexible Community Funds support the Foundation’s competitive grant making process. Once a year, the Foundation’s Grants Committee screens and selects programs and projects that benefit Jefferson County. A Flexible Community Endowment Fund can be created with a minimum of $5,000.
A Scholarship Fund supports students pursuing their academic goals. You may define guidelines for eligibility, selection, and the school. A Scholarship Endowment Fund can be created with a minimum of $20,000.
Any of these funds can begin as an Acorn Fund – a way to reach the minimum amount by pledging annual donations over a period of time, typically five years.
Give While You Shop
Help at the Grocery Store
- Create a digital account at kroger.com. If you already have a digital account, link your Kroger Plus Card to your account so all transactions apply toward the organization you choose.
- Sign in to your digital account
- Enter your zip code, clicking on the store you shop at most, and agree to the Terms and Conditions
- Once signed in, click on My Account, then click Edit Kroger Community Rewards information
- Enter your Kroger Plus Card Number and the NPO number RI066 or Community Foundation Madison/Jefferson
- Select the organization from the list and click on confirm
- To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side of your information panel
- Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus Card or use the phone number that is attached to their Kroger Plus Card when shopping for each purchase to count
Take the Next Step
Ready to create your own endowment? Visit our Establish a Fund page for more information, or call Bill Barnes at
(812) 274-0241, or email Bill by clicking the button to the right!
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