Simple answers to the top ten
most asked questions.....
 

1. What is the Huntington County Community Foundation?
   The Community Foundation helps people of all means improve their community now and in the future. A public foundation, we provide grant making dollars for non-profit organizations that serve Huntington County citizens.
    
2. How is the Huntington County Community Foundation operated?
   Eighteen volunteer board members donate their time and talents to serve as foundation ambassadors and oversee the administration and investments. Board members also serve on various foundation committees. A paid executive director manages the operation.

3. What is the difference between charity and philanthropy?
   Charity is money given to meet an immediate need – food for hungry people, shelter for the homeless. Philanthropy also provides funds but is more strategic, aiming for long-term improvements. It requires not just money but human resources, innovative thinking and effective follow-up.
    

4. Is Huntington County Community Foundation a “charity” itself?
   Yes. The Community Foundation is a charitable organization under the tax code and relies on public support of its operating costs. Our primary role is to encourage and administer philanthropy to benefit effective programming and projects throughout the community. People give through the Community Foundation to the community.
    

5. What is an endowment?
   To the Community Foundation, an endowment gift is a permanent gift that cannot be spent. The gift is invested for growth and a portion of the income is granted each year to support charitable causes. Most of the Community Foundation’s funds are endowed.
    

6. What is the difference between Huntington County Community Foundation and the United Way of Huntington County?
   United Way of Huntington County accepts donations each year and distributes all it collects to worthy human service organizations in the community for immediate ongoing operating costs. Huntington County Community Foundation accepts gifts for all types of charitable purposes but it only spends the income produced by those gifts. United Way can be described as the community’s checking account. The Community Foundation can be described as the community’s savings account.
    

7. Why establish a fund with Huntington County Community Foundation instead of giving directly to a favorite charity?
   A gift to the Community Foundation to support a favorite charity or cause is a permanent gift that will produce income forever. A donor who supports a particular charity with an annual gift can continue to support the charity forever by making a permanent gift to the community foundation for that charity in his/her will.
    

8. What does Huntington County Community Foundation charge?
   The Community Foundation provides a variety of administrative services to donors, including investment management, gift acceptance and receipt, and filing of tax and legal documents. The annual fee for endowments is 0.6 % of the fund’s value.
    

9. Is Huntington County Community Foundation set up to serve only wealthy people?
   No. Anyone can be a philanthropist by making a donation to any of the Community Foundation’s funds. There are more than 70 funds to choose from.
    

10. How does Huntington County Community Foundation decide how to distribute grant funds?
    The Grant Committee reviews grant proposals for many charitable purposes – arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health and human services and youth development. After the Grant Committee makes their selections, the Board of Directors has final approval.