Benefits of giving to the
Huntington County Community Foundation
 

The Foundation offers Service to Donors. A community foundation’s principal function is that of serving donors and their community. Donors may set up individual funds, in their own name or the name of a loved one, or contribute to a variety of existing funds. The donors may have essentially as little or as much control as they wish in determining which charities or charitable purposes benefit from their generosity.

The Foundation offers Simplicity. A gift to the Huntington County Community Foundation will simplify your charitable giving. One contribution to the Community Grants Unrestricted Fund of the Foundation will address many charitable organizations in Huntington County. The Foundation provides permanence. Donors are assured that their gifts will benefit the agencies, charitable purposes, and citizens of the community in perpetuity. Your gift will be safe. As a permanent endowment, the principal will never be spent and the earnings will be there to permanently support your community.

The Foundation offers Flexibility. The donors are provided flexibility not only in the types of funds they choose to establish, but also in the types of gifts acceptable. With discretionary funds and the income from the Community Grants Unrestricted Fund, the board of directors has the flexibility to address present and changing future needs of the community.

The Foundation offers Stewardship and Professional Management. Trained staff develops relationships with donors, serve the board of directors by executing foundation policies, manage daily operations, and serve as a link to the other community nonprofit organizations. Through the finance and investment policy guidelines established by the board of directors, the foundation’s assets are accounted for and professionally managed and invested.

The Foundation offers Tax Advantages. A community foundation is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions are tax deductible to the maximum amount allowable for gifts to a public charity, which is the tax code classification for a community foundation. Income taxes are reduced through the deductions allowed by the IRS for contributions to a public charity. If appreciated assets are donated, in most instances the donor eliminates the capital gains tax that would be incurred if the assets were sold. When funds are contributed through an estate, estate taxes are avoided.

The Foundation offers Alternative to Private Foundations. Donors who want the individual involvement of a private foundation without the accompanying administrative complexities, restrictions, and expenses can accomplish the same result by establishing a donor advised fund within the community foundation. Using a donor advised fund within a community foundation also offers a donor more generous tax deductions than those offered to donors to a private foundation.