It is important to have a strong development plan in place to raise funds and ensure the foundation’s long-term success. The Council is here to help you develop your foundation's strategies to attract resources and monetary gifts, and cultivate ongoing relationships with donors and their advisors.
Sample policies for gift acceptance including ethical standards, who has authority to accept gifts on behalf of the foundation, types of gift assets and more.
Giving Days are an opportune strategy to engage residents, donors and non-profits in your community. Because of the value Giving Days can provide many community foundations the Council created this resource page for Council members that will allow them to connect directly with each other and utilize many Giving Day resources. We encourage you to consider hosting a Giving Day after careful consideration to determine if this is the right path for your foundation and your community.
Discover the tax treatment under the Pension Protection Act (PPA) for gifts of fractional interests in tangible personal property, like books, artwork, furniture and more.
Guidance to donors on in-kind, food and inventory, taxidermy, S corporation stock, and recapture of tax benefit on property.
Community foundations occasionally receive a request for their money back from donors of advised funds and organizations that have established designated funds or agency endowments. This article discusses why the proper answer is a firm "no"—and some polite ways to communicate the community foundation's policies. The community foundation need not and should not refund donors' and designees' funds, and it should be clear from the start of any relationship that transfers to the community foundation are irrevocable.
Community foundations are often faced with requests from donors or local volunteers who wish to express their support by raising money for the community foundation or for a particular fund. Allowing individuals or a group of volunteers to engage in fundraising activities on behalf of the community foundation (a practice called donor-initiated fundraising) can be a great way to increase foundation assets and boost name recognition in the community. However, this approach to fundraising also comes with risks. The community foundation is delegating its authority to individuals or groups who are neither staff nor board members of the community foundation. Before allowing others to fundraise on the foundation’s behalf, foundations should understand the key issues and create a strong policy to guide fundraising activities. The fundraising policy should be carefully explained to potential donor-fundraisers before fundraising begins.
Definition and issues around accepting gifts of tangible personal property.
When a contribution consists of property other than cash, it must be determined if it is in the community foundation’s best interests to accept such property.
Raising money for community needs is the central function of community foundations. No surprise, then, that we receive more questions about fundraising than about any other topic. Following are some common inquiries we receive by telephone and e-mail and the replies we give.
Frequently asked questions about matching gifts.