Giving

How do you give to the Community Foundation? The Community Foundation has created many avenues of giving for you to choose from. You can

• Honor someone living or deceased, or celebrate any occasion by making a gift in the name of someone who has made a difference in your life.
  
• Give a cash gift
  
• A pledge of any amount on any schedule can be made.
  
• Designate the foundation as a recipient of all or part of your estate
  
• Designate the foundation as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
  
• Contribution of appreciated stock can provide several tax advantages.

The foundation has a dedicated, volunteer Board of Directors, made up of leading citizens in our community that approve final grants and oversee the Foundation. We also have a President's Cabinet that assist the Board of Directors with development and grant reviews, and a Senior Advisory Council that advise the board when guidance is needed. The Board of Directors hired Carol Savage in July 2000, to become the Foundation's first Executive Director, and Cristy Shubert Moody was hired in 2001 as the Administrative Officer. The staff is available to talk with prospective donors and applicants for grants.

Giving Appreciated Stock

A recent survey showed that while most Americans give to charity each year, less than 10% have donated appreciated stocks. Take a look at the benefits of gifting stock to the Community Foundation:

• You receive a full fair market deduction for stock held over one year;
  
• You avoid all capital gains taxes on the stock’s growth or increased value;
  
• Your gift can equal up to 30% of your Adjusted Gross Income;
  
• Any unused tax deduction can be carried over for five additional years; and
  
• You can give highly appreciated stocks to reduce applicable estate taxes.
  

What can I accomplish with a stock gift to the Community Foundation? For a gift of $10,000 or more, you can establish a new fund in your name. This new fund might be an endowment for your favorite charities or your church, or a field of interest fund that makes grants to address new community issues.

What if I have a stock that has declined in value and I want to give it to the Community Foundation? You may consider selling the stock and making a deductible gift of the cash proceeds. In this way you create a loss that may be more beneficial along with your cash contribution. The total of the deductible loss and the charitable deduction for the cash gift may actually be more than the current value of the stock.

The Walker Area Community Foundation accepts stocks on a regular basis and can assist you in achieving your charitable goals. Ask your personal advisor if giving appreciated stock is right for you. For more information, call the Community Foundation at 205-302-0001