Private Foundation Services

We offer a variety of philanthropic services to support your local, national or international grantmaking. We handle the administrative work while you fulfill your philanthropic vision.

I love the ‘can do’ attitude of the Community Foundation. – Joel and Dena Gambord

The Joel and Dena Gambord Fund

Reduce your administrative burdens and maximize charitable giving with the assurance that your foundation’s philanthropic goals will be achieved in a personalized, cost-effective manner. From letterhead and checks to custom web page and online services, your giving can be branded to your foundation’s name or it can be anonymous. We work with many private foundations to enhance their philanthropy.

Three Ways to Work With Us

1. Personalized Foundation Services

Private foundations can benefit from our expertise by taking advantage of our customized philanthropic services. We offer guidance on all aspects of grantmaking to help you fulfill your vision.

2. Payout to a Donor Advised Fund

We can help your private foundation meet its required annual 5% payout by accepting contributions as a public charity. These contributions are added to a donor advised fund that you establish and our staff helps you make grants to continue the work of your foundation.

3. Convert to a Donor Advised Fund

Rollover your private foundation to a donor advised fund and work with our experienced staff. Reduce your administrative burdens and maximize charitable giving with the assurance that your foundation’s philanthropic goals will be achieved in a personalized, cost-effective manner.

Philanthropic Services, Customized to Meet Your Needs

Private foundation services are completely customized and can include any combination of support from the menu below.

Grantmaking Consultation

Vision and strategy development – Help you create and implement a strategy for your philanthropy that will transform your values into goals and objectives

Grantmaking Support

Application process – Assist with the creation of proposal guidelines, identification of eligible organizations, promotion and distribution of RFPs
Selection support – Review and screen proposals as well as advise on selections and award amounts
Due diligence – Conduct local site visits (out of area site visits may incur extra fees), research past accomplishments, review financials and assess organization leadership
Research – Provide in-depth assessments of community needs as a means to help determine funding priorities
Reporting – Creation of requirements, monitoring compliance and performance, and collecting and reviewing reports

Administrative Services

Grant processing – Ease the burden that comes with administering grant agreements as well as the disbursement and tracking of grant funds (minimum $500 per grant)
Creation of a web page for your fund, press-release (optional) and listing in the CFMC newsletter and annual report
Quarterly fund statements with online access
Professional investment management as part of a $185 million portfolio, or use your trusted investment advisor with Donor Recommended Investment Management.

Private Foundation vs Donor Advised Funds

For some foundations, a donor advised fund at the CFMC is a strong option. The CFMC offers many of the same benefits as a private foundation, plus increased flexibility, tax advantages and customized services to support your charitable vision.

When we were investigating how to extend our estate plans into the future we looked into establishing a family foundation. A donor advised fund in which our daughters were co-advisors provided an ideal solution without any significant administrative burden, simplifying cash flow planning for ongoing giving efforts, and additional tax benefits through being able to contribute highly appreciated assets. – Bill and Emmy Reese

Compare Donor Advised Funds to Private Foundations

	Community Foundation Donor Advised Fund	Private Foundation
Involvement, control, and family continuity	You make a gift to the CFMC and recommend grants to qualified nonprofit groups. Can involve multiple generations	You appoint a board, which controls investments and grantmaking. Can involve multiple generations
Tax status	Public charity Benefits from CFMC’s 501(c)3 nonprofit status	Private charity Apply to IRS for private foundation tax-exempt status
Tax deductions	Up to 60% on adjusted gross income on cash Up to 30% on appreciated stock Up to 30% on real estate and closely held stock	Up to 30% on adjusted gross income on cash Up to 20% on appreciated stock Up to 20% on real estate and closely held stock
Grantmaking support	Professional philanthropic services staff with local expertise grantmaking support research verification of nonprofit status accounting services marketing no minimum payout required	You must arrange and support your own grantmaking and monitoring structure 5% annual minimum payout
Startup costs	None	Several thousand dollars for legal and accounting expenses and filing fees
Time frame	Immediate	Typically several months
Effective gift size	$5,000 minimum (non-endowed) $25,000 minimum (endowed)	Typically millions of dollars
Administrative requirements	CFMC handles all administration and reporting.	Legal, accounting and federal filing fees. (Annual 990 tax form must be filed.)
Privacy	All tax and financial information is private. Donors may remain anonymous, if preferred.	Must file detailed public tax returns on grants, investment fees, board, staff, salaries, etc. Identity of major donors is also required.
Investment	Pooled with $190 million portfolio 15.4% return primary portfolio (2017)	Invested as its own entity. Diversification is based on asset size.