Balancing Immediate and Long-Term Support for Your Favorite Delaware County Causes

When our team sits down with a donor to discuss their charitable giving plan and corresponding fund structure, below are seven questions we explore together:

• Do the causes and issues that matter most to you address immediate community needs, or challenges that will persist for generations in Delaware County?
• Would you like your children, grandchildren, or other loved ones to help steward your charitable fund in the future?
• Would you prefer to witness the results of your giving during your lifetime, or are you focused on creating a lasting legacy beyond it?
• Do tax savings, estate planning objectives, or retirement income considerations factor into your charitable planning?
• How long would you like your charitable dollars to work? If you’re interested in both immediate impact and enduring legacy, what portion of your charitable fund would you like distributed now versus preserved in perpetuity?
• When you envision your charitable impact, whether in five years or fifty, what would success look like?

For many donors who work with the Foundation, a diversified portfolio of charitable giving vehicles addressing all dimensions of their philanthropic vision is the right fit. Here’s one example:

• A donor-advised fund to organize annual giving to favorite charities, including utilizing “bunching” strategies to maximize itemized charitable deductions.
• A designated fund to support a specific beloved charity in perpetuity, ensuring sustained funding even during challenging times for the organization.
• Annual gifts to the Foundation’s community endowment fund so that evolving critical needs in Delaware County can be addressed in perpetuity.
• Beneficiary designations on traditional IRAs and other qualified retirement plans naming your giving fund at the Foundation as the recipient.

At The Foundation, we’re committed to partnering with individuals, families, and businesses to create meaningful impact on the causes that matter to you. We stand ready as a resource to help you understand the benefits of different fund structures, or a combination approach.