1). WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION?
The Washington County Community Foundation, like its sister organizations throughout the world, is a collection of many different charitable funds from many different sources for many different purposes. Our goal is to promote and facilitate philanthropy by bringing good people and good causes together. We match generosity with need.
2). HOW DOES IT FUNCTION?
We are a public charity that receives contributions of all sizes, protects them through prudent investment management, and reinvests them in the form of grants to benefit our community. By providing low cost administrative services to a variety of donors from throughout Washington County, we are building a permanent collection of endowed funds.
3.) DO YOU HAVE TO BE WEALTHY TO PARTICIPATE?
NO. This is a Foundation of the people and for the people. Many of our funds have been created by combining very modest contributions from multiple donors wishing to support a common cause.
4.) HOW IS THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DIFFERENT FROM UNITED WAY?
United Way plays a vital role in annually raising the essential operating dollars for those agencies we count on for needed health and human services. It is the collective fund drive that community agencies count on to sustain their operations.
In contrast, the Washington County Community Foundation does not conduct an annual fundraising drive and has as part of its mission the building of a permanent community endowment—a “savings account.” Our goal is to create substantial endowment funds to enable grantmaking to address pressing community problems. Our focus includes not only health and human services but also education, the arts, the environment and religion.
5.) WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF USING THE WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RATHER THAN A PRIVATE FOUNDATION?
Our version of a private foundation for an individual, family or corporation is called a Donor-Advised Fund. It,
• Is easier and less expensive to establish
• Can provide a greater annual tax deduction
• Enhances your easy access to information about non-profits seeking support
• Lowers the administrative cost thereby increasing grantmaking capacity
• Enables you to make gifts of stock, insurance policies, real estate, etc. with ease
• Permits you to time gifts without an IRS-mandated payout schedule
• Allows the avoidance of the excise tax on investment income
• Creates the opportunity to make gifts anonymously
6.) WHY SHOULD I GIVE THROUGH THE WCCF INSTEAD OF DIRECTLY TO THE CHARITY OF MY CHOICE?
Your charitable priorities may shift. Certain problems disappear over time and frequently agencies “go out of business.” A permanent fund at the WCCF is a safeguard designed to carry out your charitable objectives in perpetuity—dedicated to making sure the spirit of your gift remains intact through changing times and circumstances.
7.) I AM INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING A FUND, BUT SOME OF MY INTERESTS LIE OUT OF TOWN. CAN I RECOMMEND AGENCIES BEYOND WASHINGTON COUNTY?
YES. While we hope most of the grants will go to support community endeavors we recognize that some of our donor’s charitable interests reach beyond the county borders. Also we realize that the work of many national organizations will ultimately benefit our local community.