GIFTS / FUNDS

Should you give through the Jackson County Community Foundation?
Consider these three reasons:

1. You can address a broad range of local needs. Arts. AIDS. Aging. At-risk youth. These are just a few aspects of local life addressed by the Community Foundation.
   

2. Your donations work forever. When you donate through our endowment funds, your gift principal never gets spent. It’s carefully invested, and the earnings are used to benefit your community through annual grants. Plus, each gift is fully tax deductible, and qualifies for maximum benefit via the Michigan Community Foundation Tax Credit.
   

3. You can create a personal legacy of giving. We offer a variety of giving options – including the ability to set up a charitable fund in your family’s name. If you desire, you can even be involved in the distribution of grant dollars generated by your fund. It’s a highly personalized approach to giving.

Charitable Funds

Establish a fund in your name.

Any of these funds can be established in your name, or in the name of your family, your business, or anyone you wish to honor (see Endowment Funds for minimum gift requirements). All grants distributed from your fund – today and in the future – are then awarded to local charities in the name of your fund. It’s a great way to always be involved with, and remembered for, good works in your community.

Unrestricted Funds
Meeting ever-changing community needs. 
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 your community foundation's program experts to respond to the community's most pressing needs.

Field of Interest Funds
Connecting personal values to high-impact opportunities.
By establishing a Field of Interest Fund, you can target your gift to address needs in an important area of community life.  Arts.  AIDS.  Aging.  At-risk youth.  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.

Designated Funds
Helping local organizations sustain and grow.
Establishing a Designated Fund allows you to support the good work of a specific nonprofit organization--a senior center, museum, or virtually any nonprofit charitable organization.  Because it's given through your community foundation, your gift provides the organization you select not only funding, but planned giving and investment management services and the power of endowment.

Donor Advised Funds
A personal approach to giving.
Establishing a Donor Advised Fund allows you to make a gift to your community foundation, then remain actively involved in suggesting uses for your gift.  You can work with the community foundation's professional program 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.

Scholarships
Investing in deserving students.
In creating a Scholarship, you invest in your community's future and show students you care.  Your community foundation provides the expertise to help you meet your personal goals and awards scholarships to deserving students.  Your gift can help students achieve their lifetime dreams. 

Endowing your nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organizations can also establish a Designated Fund or agency endowment at the community foundation.  It's a simple and efficient way to build an endowment--and help create sustainability--for your nonprofit organization.  The community foundation's experienced staff can also help your organization develop planned giving programs and assist with investment management and administrative details.

Charitable Instruments

Every donor is special. Each individual, family, or business we work with has unique charitable interests…and unique financial circumstances. We help you make the most of both to do lasting good work in our community.

Outright Gift
You can make a gift of cash, stocks, bonds, real estate, or personal property to the Community Foundation. Your gift qualifies for maximum charitable benefit under state and federal law.

Bequest
You can designate a gift or portion of your estate to the Community Foundation, and in some cases receive a substantial reduction in federal gift and estate taxes.

Charitable Remainder Trust
You can place cash or property in a trust that pays annual income to you (or another named beneficiary) for life. After your death, the remainder of the trust transfers to the Community Foundation, and is placed in a charitable fund you select. You receive tax benefits in the year you establish your trust.

Charitable Lead Trust
You can place cash or property in a trust that pays a fixed amount to the Community Foundation for the number of years you select. Once this period ends, the assets held by the trust are transferred to the beneficiaries in you name. In some cases, you receive a substantial reduction in federal gift and estate taxes.

Gifts of ALL Sizes are Important