Reasons to Give

You can give in any amount to any existing fund supporting community needs or to a scholarship fund supporting local students. 

Can anyone donate to a community foundation?  Yes, all you need to know is what organization or what area of interest you want to donate to.  All donations are welcome and help charities with long-term resources.  You can give to several charities at one time or you can give to the unrestricted fund which assists the foundation administration.

Or you can establish your own named grantmaking fund, a simple process which can be done with a minimum gift of $2,500. 

What types of funds does a community foundation offer?  A community foundation has several types of funds; the most common funds are Designated, Scholarship and Field of Interest.

• A Designated fund is established for a “designated” purpose.  Most of our designated funds are established by charities.  The fund is designated for their benefit.
• There are many types of Scholarship funds.  Scholarships can be established to help students in a particular field of study, assist students at various levels of their education, state selected universities and so on.  Scholarship requirements vary because the guidelines are established by the donor who creates the fund.  Scholarship funds are established to encourage post secondary education.
• Field of Interest funds are established by donors that have a particular area of interest (example: arts, environment, animal protection) but not one particular organization they want the grant to go to each year.  Field of Interest funds allow a contributor to give to the “field” they are interested in without naming an organization.

Becoming a member of our donor family offers an easy way for you to accomplish your charitable dreams.  As our partner in giving, you receive the simplicity and tax advantages of a public charity combined with the personal recognition, involvement and flexibility of a public community foundation.  You also gain access to the highest level of strategic thinking on ways to meet community challenges to help make your contributions as effective as possible.  You can be assured that there will be a permanent source of funds available for issues you care about as we plan to be here serving this community for a long time. 

Why Use Us for Your Charitable Giving?  Here are some of the special benefits of creating a fund with the Harrison County Community Foundation.

Flexibility:  The flexibility of the community foundation provides a wide spectrum of charitable options that match your interests and priorities. 

Recognition:  Funds established in the names of donors or loved ones forge permanent connections with the community.  Donors may also request anonymity and be assured that their wishes will be respected.

Permanence:  The Community Foundation oversees donors’ funds in perpetuity, making sure that they are used exactly as intended. 

Cost-Effectiveness:  Thanks to the pooling of numerous funds, donors benefit from economies of scale for investment and administration.

Tax Benefits:  The Community Foundation is a public charity under Federal tax law; gifts made during a donor’s lifetime may result in important tax advantages.   

Professional Management:  In addition to an experienced staff, the Community Foundation’s assets are invested by an outstanding financial management firm.  Investments are overseen by the Finance and Investment Committee made up of foundation board of directors.

All donors merit our respect and trust as outlined in our Donor Bill of Rights.

Contact Vicky Elmore, vickye@hccfindiana.org, for more information.

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