Legacy giving: A conversation that’s full of opportunity August is National Make-A-Will Month. This means your clients may be reading articles and hearing about estate planning more this month than usual, which makes the next few weeks an especially good time to prompt your clients to review their estate plans–or get their wills and trusts […]
Making it fun: Tips for teaching children about philanthropy Over the years, you’ve probably taught your young children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews lessons along the lines of “share and share alike” and “better to give than to receive.” But how do you transition these lessons into more concrete instruction about charitable giving, without risking the […]
Unlock the unexpected power of regret to grow your charitable giving Not surprisingly, financial regrets are common, with those related to personal finances among the most frequent. Of recently surveyed American retirees, 75% wish they’d started saving earlier, and 62% wished they’d saved more money for their golden years. On the personal side of the […]
Recognition or anonymity: Which one’s for you? The Community Foundation is committed to working with you and your family to fulfill your charitable goals, whether those goals relate to making an impact, leaving a legacy, saving money on taxes, expressing gratitude, or a combination of objectives. If you have not yet established a fund at […]
Bridging the gaps in multi-generational family philanthropy Differing views within families is nothing new; differing views about nearly anything and everything is centuries old. For generations and generations, common topics of disagreement have included popular culture, politics, religion and parenting, just to name a few. Frequently outranking all is money—how it’s made, spent or saved—or […]
QCDs: Clearing up confusion If you’ve been involved with The Community Foundation for a while, you’ve likely heard of the Qualified Charitable Distribution (“QCD”) because we mention it a lot. And with good reason! If you are aged 70 ½ or older, it is well worth your time to investigate whether a QCD might be […]
Have your cake and eat it too: A dual approach to charitable giving The change of seasons is often an opportunity to catch our breath and reassess. We’re done with taxes, really done with cold weather (hopefully), and feel a sense of renewal as our attention turns to gardening and other growth-oriented, warm weather pursuits. […]
GREAT COMMUNITY GIVE DAY 2023: TWO MILLION RAISED Harrisonburg, VA – The 6TH annual GREAT COMMUNITY GIVE was held today, Wednesday, April 19, 6:30am-8pm. As Harrisonburg and Rockingham County’s community-wide day of “Giving”, GREAT COMMUNITY GIVE wants nonprofits to have the resources they need to succeed in their missions. Their totals for all six […]
Turmoil in banking and technology: Optimism for charitable giving? And, the wild ride continues! It’s been three years since the Covid-19 pandemic swept the globe and wreaked wide-ranging havoc on so many areas of the economy. Then came inflation, rising interest rates, and a volatile stock market. Now, in early 2023, advisors and clients are […]
Boiling down the alphabet soup: What actually are RMDs and how do they relate to QCDs? If you get cross-eyed when you start reading about Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), you are not alone! And, given the December 2022 passage of SECURE 2.0 legislation, changes to RMD rules are especially important […]
Estate planning: Your kids … and your community As you contemplate your legacy and adjust your estate plan over the years, it’s natural to focus on your children and family as the primary beneficiaries in your will and trust. If you’re like an increasing number of charitably-minded individuals, though, you might find that your perspectives […]
Four FAQs to help you establish an endowment or Forever Fund Many community-minded individuals have served on the boards of directors of charitable organizations in our region. If you’ve served on a charity’s board (or several!), you are no doubt familiar with the concept of an endowment. Many charities establish endowment funds and reserve funds […]
