You Can Start a Fund Now!

Call CFGV at 970-641-8837 or email Lauren.

Why Give?

There are as many reasons for giving as there are donors. Whatever the amount, though, the motive is the same: to make a difference beyond a random act of kindness and to make that difference for more than the tax incentive the gift provides. Donors give because it feels like the right thing to do. The Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley can help you identify and refine your motivations for giving. When we do that together, your giving can be more satisfying and more effective, and you can take philanthropy to the next level – for today and for tomorrow.

A Personal Connection

The Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley’s staff welcomes the opportunity to meet with you individually. They can answer your questions on effective grantmaking, the type of fund that will most closely match your goals, and the assets you can use to start a fund at the community foundation.

Pursue your Passion

Arts and culture, youth mentoring, education, community agriculture, environmental protection – there is an abundance of worthy nonprofits serving our community. The staff will help you connect your passion with action by matching your interests to causes you care about. We steward charitable funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits – for the betterment of life in our wonderful high mountain valley!

Transfer assets from a private foundation

Establish a fund within the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley in the name of your private foundation. By arranging to transfer all or part of the assets, you also transfer the burden of paperwork, accounting, taxes, and other responsibilities to the CFGV. Click here to see a comparison of Donor Advised Funds and Private Foundations.

Types of Funds

The possibilities to make a difference are infinite!

Everyone has dreams. Philanthropy is a sure way to enable our individual and collective dreams to leave an impact on the community we love so well. When the Foundation works with you – our donors – our goal is always to be true to your intent and to find a way to help you make your gift work the way you want it to.

As a donor, you may choose to contribute to existing funds or may create one or more types of funds in your name or anonymously. Community Foundations are able to work with a wide variety of fund types; there is sure to be one that meets your needs.

UNRESTRICTED FUND
The best way for the Foundation to respond to immediate needs

Unrestricted funds may be established by donors who wish to leave the distribution of grants to the discretion of the Community Foundation’s Board, or a donor may contribute to Community Grants during a particular year. Unlike donor advised or designated funds, donors do not recommend or specify certain organizations or causes as grant recipients. An unrestricted fund or gift allows the Foundation to respond to local immediate and changing needs.

COMMUNITY GRANT FUNDS
Invest in the Community

The Grant Reviews Committee – community and Foundation representatives – reviews community opportunities and needs, as well as requests from local nonprofit organizations, in order to determine grants in areas that include art and culture, community development, environment, education, human services, athletics and recreation, domestic animal welfare and protection, and historical tradition and preservation.

DONOR ADVISED FUNDS
Your very personal approach to giving

Donor Advised Funds allow you to actively participate in the grant-making process over time. You – and those you name – may recommend grants to the Board for organizations that matter most to you at a given time. This type of fund affords the flexibility to change the organizations you support through the years. The advised fund is especially useful if you want to take a charitable deduction in one year and make distributions over several years, or if you wish to involve your family in your ongoing charitable giving.

FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS
Connect with your area of passion

A field-of-interest fund supports organizations in a general area of charitable interest. They could include funds that support health, social services, the arts, environment, education or a geographical area. These funds give the Foundation grantmaking discretion within the specified area of interest. Field of Interest Funds are established by donors who wish to make an impact in a specific area of interest or in broad areas of concern, i.e. the arts or human services. The Foundation Board of Directors then exercises grantmaking decisions.

SCHOLARSHIPS
Invest in the future of our youngsters

Scholarship funds can support a wide variety of educational needs of students and frequently honor a member of a family, a leader in the educational field or even a friend. Scholarship funds can be specific to one high school or open to all in the CFGV service area and can be founded by individuals, families or organizations. Scholarship Funds are tailored to meet the intent of the initial donors.

DESIGNATED FUNDS
Support specific nonprofit agencies

One or more nonprofit organizations or public agencies identified by you can benefit through a designated fund.

NONPROFIT (AGENCY) ENDOWMENT
Sustain your favorite nonprofits into the future

Establishing an endowment fund at the CFGV helps nonprofit organizations ensure the future with perpetual support for their work or services. Endowments ensure that bequests or gifts benefit one specific nonprofit organization. CFGV staff is available to advise boards, staff and donors to enable building an endowment that will last forever. Agency endowment funds may be started by the agency itself or by a generous donor. By starting an endowment with the Foundation, an organization’s board can rest assured that future boards will not have the power to dip into funds meant to remain permanent.

FISCAL SPONSORSHIP FUNDS
For a particular community purpose

Most often a fund is for a short-term charitable project for groups not yet designated as 501(c)(3) organizations, or the Foundation may provide administrative support for a fledgling charitable organization that will benefit our community.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUNDS
A way to manage funds for capital projects with administrative help

On a case-by-case basis, the Foundation will consider holding capital funds for agencies in the Valley with active building campaigns.

Whatever type of fund a donor chooses to begin, funds remain in the name of the donor permanently, and the Community Foundation provides all the administrative support to honor the donors’ philanthropic intent. Of course, any donor who wishes to remain anonymous may do so.

The IRA rollover became permanent on December 18, 2015

The IRA charitable rollover allows tax-free distributions of up to $100,000 per taxpayer, per taxable year to an eligible charitable organization such as the Community of the Gunnison Valley from an IRA held by individuals age 70 1/2 or older.  Because the distribution goes directly to a qualified charity, the amount will not be counted as income and will not be subject to income tax. Transfers must go directly from your IRA to a qualified charity. At this time, distributions to Donor Advised Funds and Supporting Organizations are prohibited.

Giving Options: Gift of a Lifetime

Having more retirement money than you need is a great problem to have, and one that’s now easier to solve.  Generous IRA donors have multiple options for their gifts: Support the entire community? Underwrite a special cause? Give to a favorite charity? Here are our top charitable fund picks at the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley.

• Support the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley’s Forever Fund: a community endowment – and live in the valley forever! Your support of the Forever Fund prepares CFGV for tomorrow and for many generations to come. All of CFGV’s funds and programs rely on solid operational funding. It is the engine that makes the Foundation run, the driving force behind all our efforts. Endowment gifts support our infrastructure, secure our future, and make new programs possible. Gifts given today help sustain the Community Foundation, giving us the power to make a difference tomorrow, and beyond. You’re Here for Good with a gift to the Forever Fund.  A robust endowment lets CFGV serve the community far into the future — meeting existing and new needs.

• Support CFGV’s Community Grants for the current year or the Charter Endowment for years to come! Meeting ever-changing community needs — IRA transfers to Community Grants (the endowed fund or the current year fund) address a broad range of current and future needs. The Community Foundation evaluates all aspects of community well-being—arts and culture, education and scholarships, environment, general community improvements, health and wellness and youth initiatives—and awards strategic grants to select projects and programs. For people who care deeply about this Valley and its people, either grant fund is an excellent way to address our most pressing needs, today and tomorrow.

• Designated Fund – Helping local organizations sustain and grow IRA transfers to existing or new Designated Funds allow donors to support the good work of a specific nonprofit organization – whatever you are passionate about – or any qualifying nonprofit charitable organization. For people who want to help secure the future of their favorite charities, our endowed Designated Funds give nonprofits a steady stream of income, plus planned giving and investment management services.

What Does NOT Qualify for an IRA Charitable Rollover

• Donor Advised Funds
• Private Foundations
• Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, etc.

How to Begin the Rollover Process

We recommend that you contact your IRA administrator and ask about that particular provider’s procedure to execute an IRA Charitable Rollover. Call us at 970-641-8837 or email Lauren if your advisor needs information from us. Click here for more information from the Council on Foundations.

​

Bequests

Charitable giving is part of the American way of life. We all give to make a difference in a life, in a community.  Legacy gifts shape solutions for tomorrow’s issues and allow you to live forever and to make a difference far into the future! Your legacy is shaped by the life you lead . . . and the legacy you choose to leave can have an important philanthropic component.  Making a charitable contribution to the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley through your will can allow you to live forever in the Valley while reducing or even eliminating estate taxes.  Maximize tax benefits and create a legacy that supports the Valley that has given you so much! Through a bequest, you demonstrate an enduring commitment to the community.  You will receive recognition now and in the future – and your gift will encourage others to think of bequests as an option for themselves.  Or you may choose to stay anonymous forever or until your gift is realized.

The choices are yours.

You can make a bequest to the Foundation by creating a new will, adding a codicil to your existing will or even naming the Foundation in your living trust. You can also designate the Foundation as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or a qualified retirement plan.

How does it work? 

With a gift in your will or living trust, you can choose to give a percentage of your estate, or a specific amount of cash, securities or even property.  You live on through the work the Foundation carries on in the community in your name. Your attorney can help you create your bequest to meet your personal financial and charitable goals. Since most folks don’t know the exact size their estate will be, using a percentage amount may be a wise way to divide your assets.  It allows you to provide benefit to loved ones and to the community in your choice of relative proportion.  You might even consider the Foundation as a beneficiary in a life insurance policy. Remember, it is your choice to let the Foundation know that we are to be a recipient or to let it be known only after you are gone.  If we know now, it would be our pleasure to honor you during your lifetime.  If you prefer to let us know but keep it anonymous beyond Foundation walls, we’re happy to do that, too!

Download examples of designating the Foundation as a beneficiary that you can share with your attorney.

We are here for good and to help.

We encourage you to review your proposed bequest language with your attorney and with the Foundation staff to ensure that your charitable intent can be fulfilled. Please contact us if we can be of help. We look forward to hearing from you.

Current CFGV Legacy Heroes

Anyone can be a hero! Those listed below have left CFGV in their will or estate plans. Our Heroes are Here for Good – today, tomorrow and forever.

Anonymous (3)

Sue & Fred Berry

Lenni & Bill Burke

Sandy & Roger Dorf

Maryo Gard Ewell

Christe & Tim Fretthold

Noelle & Richard Hagan

Anne B. Hausler

Dot & Roger Hemminghaus

Stephanie Juneau

Cora & Bill LaGrange

Pam & Pat Montgomery

Nancy Ruehle

Rose Zealand