28 Jul 21

How to talk with a financial advisor about donor-advised funds

Are you interested in opening a donor-advised fund, but don’t know where to begin? One of the best ways to understand all of the details that come with having a donor-advised fund is to talk to a professional advisor.

Talking with a professional advisor

Meeting with your trusted professional advisor, such as your CPA, attorney or estate-planning advisor, can help answer questions about how a donor-advised fund will fit in or impact your overall finances. These professionals will keep personal financial strategies in mind while also considering your current and future financial well-being.

Narrowing down fund options

Your professional advisor can provide numerous fund options that best suit your giving preferences. We cover a few of the different types of funds we offer on our blog.

Before meeting with your advisor, we recommend sitting down with your family and establishing your giving goals so that you make the best decision possible. At CCF, we refer to these goals as a stewardship philosophy. Check out our blog post to learn more about how to establish yours.

Asking questions

When preparing to meet with your advisor, one of the most beneficial things you can do is ask questions. If you show up with a list of prepared questions, the meeting will be much more helpful for you and the advisor. It can be intimidating to know where to begin, so we’ve listed some examples:

Is there a difference between establishing a donor-advised fund versus establishing a family foundation?
What’s the difference between giving through a donor-advised fund and writing checks directly to nonprofits?
How does a donor-advised fund fit within my family’s overall financial and estate plan?
When is the best time for me to start a donor-advised fund?
What type of assets can I contribute to the donor-advised fund?
How much should I contribute to my fund? How much should I give away each year?

Do you have additional questions about donor-advised funds? We’re happy to help! Give us a call at 901-682-6201.

The benefits of donating non-cash assets

At the Christian Community Foundation, we are here to help you start on the path toward generous giving by developing a plan that is right for you and your family. Donor-advised funds are a great way to give strategically, and they can be funded in a number of ways. While liquid-cash assets are a common source of funding, many donors also choose to donate appreciated non-cash assets.

Essentially, non-cash assets represent the value you’ve earned on an investment between the time of purchase and today’s market value. Donors can invest appreciated stock value, appreciated property value, appreciated intellectual property value, and a number of other non-cash assets associated with the appreciated value of many investments.

Why might a donor choose to invest appreciated non-cash assets? First, donating appreciated value from within your investment portfolio does not affect your cash flow. This allows families to donate to charitable organizations they love without impacting their daily operating budget. Second, there are tax benefits many donors experience when they choose to donate appreciated non-cash assets. The Christian Community Foundation always recommends you consult with a trusted financial advisor before making a donation decision with tax implications.

At the Christian Community Foundation, we accept assets of cash, stocks, bonds, real estate or other tangible property. Gifts of non-cash assets are valued and invested in your donor-advised fund, so you can then donate to an organization you love.

There are many options when starting your philanthropic journey, and CCF is here to help you answer God’s call to give. If you have any questions about assets or how you can get started, please contact us at (901) 682-6201.

Finding the best fund for you

At the Christian Community Foundation, we have many ways for you to easily invest in the community. While traditional donor-advised funds are the most popular option, there are several options that might better suit your unique giving desires. When you’re planning to start a new fund, our team can help you identify the fund-type that is best for you. Here are the two most popular options you can pursue through CCF:

Legacy Fund

A legacy fund through the Christian Community Foundation ensures that your charitable donations live on. Upon your death, your legacy fund will continue to make charitable donations on your behalf to the nonprofit organization(s) of your choice. This fund creates more than a lifetime worth of support – it creates a charitable legacy for your family, friends and loved ones to continue in your honor. If your account is designated as a donor-advised fund – don’t worry. The parameters you outlined at the onset of your relationship with CCF will apply in the event you should pass. If you’d like to update or revise plans related to your DAF, reach out to CCF.

Scholarship Fund

Investing charitable dollars into education is one of the greatest gifts you can leave to future generations. Many of our donors choose to develop a scholarship fund at the university, college or school of their choice. We can connect our donors to the appropriate school department to manage the scholarship development process directly with the university. If you choose to pursue this arrangement, you can make scholarship contributions directly out of your existing donor-advised fund account. However, you can also create a dedicated scholarship fund through the Christian Community Foundation if that is your wish. Contact our team to learn more about this account type.

While these are excellent options, there are many more funds to consider when you’re seeking to start your philanthropic journey. The Christian Community Foundation makes it easy for you to answer God’s call to give. If you have any questions about which fund is best for you or how you can get started, please contact us at (901) 682-6201.

15 Jan 20

How can you help others give?

When you do good for others, it makes you feel good! When we feel good about something, we like to share it with those around us. Leading others to do good will not only make us feel good but will help others feel good too. How can you help others start on their path to giving?

Spread God’s word.
God’s word commands us to give back to our communities and to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Through monetary donations or by giving our time, we are answering God’s calling.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” -Luke 6:38

Placing Christ at the center of your giving will not only help you remember the reason why you give back, but it will remind others of their calling to give. At the Christian Community Foundation, we believe in Biblical Stewardship, and honor families and individuals who choose to invest the gifts they’ve been entrusted through CCF.

Discuss the benefits of a donor-advised fund.
Sharing the benefits of donor-advised funds can change the way your friends and family think about giving. Donor-advised funds make giving easy, budget friendly, flexible and effective. They allow you the autonomy to support a nonprofit with regular monthly donations, meet an immediate need of an organization or grow your funds while you wait for an opportunity to give. You can also donate assets including cash, stocks, bonds or even real estate. The flexibility at CCF allows everyone to make an impact hassle free. Share the personal advantages you’ve had by using a donor-advised fund and help those around you do good.

Show others how giving has impacted you.
Kindness is contagious. People often model the attitudes and actions of those around them. When you share the impact you’re making on the community, the more likely those around you are to do the same. Talk about your favorite nonprofit and how it gave you a better sense of self and community. Spread kindness, and soon others will do the same!

Share Christian Community Foundation’s posts on social media.
You can find Christian Community Foundation’s pages on Facebook and Twitter. Stay up to date with CCF and share our latest updates!

There are many ways to help others give! CCF is here to help everyone start their personal journey to giving. If you need more resources or have questions about CCF, contact us at (901) 682-6201.

End-of-year giving – stop what you’re doing and plan ahead!

As the year-end approaches, gift giving is often at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Time and money is spent shopping for the perfect Christmas gifts for friends, family and loved ones. If you’re like many of us, mixed in with the holiday shopping deals are requests for support and donations from nonprofit partners in the community. End-of-year giving requests are an important piece of the nonprofit giving cycle as nonprofits hope to capitalize on last-minute efforts by donors to alleviate tax burdens. But strategic givers know that giving doesn’t have to happen at the end of the year – in fact, with a donor-advised fund, you can plan your giving strategically so end-of-year requests don’t have to break the bank.

So, why should a donor-advised fund be the answer to your end-of-year giving needs?

You can more easily field unexpected requests.
All of our resources are limited, and we know that money can be tight at the end of the year. While you may want to donate to a number of organizations, you might have already exceeded the amount you can donate for the year. A donor-advised fund allows you to earmark and budget funds specifically for philanthropy. This way, when end-of-year requests pour in, you have a pool of money in your fund that you can donate without impacting your cash flow. This gives you the freedom to plan and give more easily!

For tax purposes, you receive a tax benefit in the year you contribute to your donor-advised fund.
If you’re giving at the end of the year in a mad rush to alleviate your tax burdens – stop! Meet with a trusted financial advisor earlier in the year and create a giving plan that includes a donor-advised fund. You’ll receive a tax credit in the year that you contribute to your fund, and you won’t have to rush to find places to donate money at year-end. Trust us – strategic giving pays off!

We are called to give – and donor-advised funds help you give more freely.
God’s Word is clear that we are intended to give what we have to those who have less. As Christians, it’s a part of our calling!

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

– 1 John 3:16-18

As we enter into the giving season, search your heart for those organizations and missions that mean the most to you and your family. Letting children become involved in the giving process is a great way to encourage family bonding and instill the importance of giving at a young age.

If you have any questions about giving back or would like to create your own donor-advised fund to begin your own giving journey, feel free to give us a call at 901-682-6201.

Where to give in Memphis?

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Giving, Memphis, Ministry

Memphis has a heart for giving – and we also have causes worth supporting. With so many asks coming in on a daily basis, and with a number of worthy organizations tugging at our heartstrings, it can be hard to land on which organization you want to support through your Christian giving. But if you know how much you want to give in a year, then there is an easy solution – create a donor-advised fund.

Creating a donor-advised fund through the Christian Community Foundation affords you time and the opportunity to give strategically. Donor-advised funds allow you to budget, plan and execute your giving in one move without designating a nonprofit. So, when a need arises or your heart is touched, you can immediately make a grant to the nonprofit of your choice from the pool of money you’ve set aside for giving.

Donor-advised funds are a flexible, convenient way for you to donate money when you aren’t sure of where to give. With a donor-advised fund, you receive an income tax deduction in the year that a contribution was made to the account – and you no longer have to keep up with donation receipts for every nonprofit or charitable contribution you make. You also can easily make a grant request online, and we’ll write, mail and confirm donation for you. We do all the leg work! Through CCF, you can also donate assets including cash, stocks, bonds or even real estate. This flexibility allows you to contribute what you want when you want with no extra stress or inconvenience!

In our city, the opportunities to donate seem endless. And it’s amazing that we have a nonprofit landscape so committed to tackling our community’s most challenging issues. We want to empower you to use the gifts you’ve been entrusted with to impact the community. You can do this most effectively with a donor-advised fund.

We know that the giving process can be overwhelming at times, which is why we are here to help every step of the way. If you need assistance in setting up a donor-advised fund or with any donating needs, feel free to contact us at (901) 682-6201.

How to cultivate a giving spirit when donations are auto-drafted

In this digitally run world where donations are often auto-drafted, it can be hard to remember why you started donating in the first place. With almost 54% of donors giving online, forming real-life relationships with the organizations you support can be more difficult. At times, it can feel as if the giving spirit is lost in the transaction. With a few small reminders, and by trying some new things, you can cultivate a giving spirit, even if your actual donation requires little action on your part.

Volunteer with organizations you support financially
Most nonprofits need volunteers year-round. Volunteering can help you see and feel what your donation does. Getting some up-close-and-personal experience with your chosen organization could highlight the reason why you give and why your continued support is important. This experience can also be extremely meaningful to people in need. Physically serving people you support financially can create a personal bond that cannot be put into words or felt online – it’s a wholesome experience that is sure to rekindle your giving spirit.

Discuss results and impact with the organization’s director of donor relations
Directors of donor relations are equipped to support you in your giving journey. When contacting the organization’s point person, ask how your donations are affecting the cause. Was something done as a direct result of your donation? Were all of the needed materials provided for that health event? All of these questions can be answered when you contact the director. You can learn how your donation helped change someone’s life. When you see a plan come through and impact lives, the spirit of giving can be fulfilled, even if you don’t get to see the behind-the-scenes footage.

Meet up with other donors
Meeting up with those who are giving to the same cause is sure to bring excitement about the common good. When you bond with others who share your passion for helping a community, it creates a sense of commonality and affirms that others see the nonprofit’s work as valuable, too. These gatherings could also bring about other ways you could help the cause that you care for – like volunteering, hosting an event, visiting those in need and more.

There are multiple ways to revitalize the giving spirit for auto-drafted donors! If you just can’t grasp that feeling, contact us and we’d love to help you find meaningful ways to connect with your giving.

What does generational giving look like?

When you take a look at the breakdown of givers, the numbers tell an interesting story. Baby Boomers make up 43% of givers, while Generation X makes up 20% and Millennials 11%. It seems clear that age correlates with generosity, and younger givers appear to be behind. Undoubtedly, younger individuals and families have more expenses – from student loan debt to child care – and are also less established in their careers. Baby Boomers and Gen Xers are likely past most of these expenses, leaving them with more disposable income to give.

While it’s easy to attribute the generational drop-offs to age (and some can surely be attributed to age) there are additional factors, like lack of education on the matter. Younger generations may also be giving in other ways, such as giving their time to causes. No matter the reasoning, the best way to learn about giving is through demonstration. At Christian Community Foundation, our family of givers is comprised of people spanning a wide range of ages. And, we believe that giving isn’t about the amount of money you can contribute, it’s about establishing a practice of generosity. What we can say firmly is this – giving is a learned behavior, and our youngest givers do so because they learned the behavior from people they love.

As a foundation centered on helping others find ways to donate to causes they care about, we aim to provide all routes necessary to help you help others. These efforts are made to aid organizations right in our own backyard. And what better way to help following generations learn about helping our community than through the help of family? We want to bring that spark of helping others back to life – and strategic giving starts with education.

That’s why we’ve created the NexGen Fund. This donor-advised fund was created to start conversations on giving in your family. With the help of more established generations, younger people can learn the values of giving at any age. While most funds require a minimum investment to be established (which is intimidating to some younger donors), NexGen has no such requirement. You or a family member can create a fund in another’s name, and upon access to their own funds, the mentee can continue to give and distribute. Creating a trickle-down effect can help improve your family’s knowledge on giving to those in need. This is a plan of action waiting for family members following in your footsteps.

Creating this type of fund allows future generations to distribute it to organizations in need. Why is this important? Because at the center of Christian faith, giving is the ministry of God at work. We are called to keep hope alive, and we can’t do it without you!

How do I give money in someone’s name?

Have you ever searched for the perfect gift – one that keeps on giving long after the wrapping paper and gift bags have been discarded? Giving a gift in someone’s name is an amazing way to pay tribute to someone you love, and is a special way to give a gift that is more impactful than any physical item could ever be. A donor-advised fund through Christian Community Foundation is a prime example. A donor-advised fund is an amazing gift opportunity that will reap benefits for years to come.

Giving money in someone’s name is a simple process. Our funds are fully customizable, regarding how you would like to name them. A fund can be created in honor of a loved one, as a gift to a friend, as an example of charity for your children, or for any other purpose you see fit.

You might be asking, “Is giving money in someone’s name actually a good gift?” We believe so. When you create a donor-advised fund for someone, you’re not just making a donation in someone’s name. You’re empowering someone to dole out funds to an organization that’s close to his or her heart. It’s more than writing a check, it’s supplying the opportunity to practice generosity.

A charitable act of this magnitude will cause a positive rippling effect throughout the community, far beyond the person you choose to name the fund after. One of our primary goals at the Christian Community Foundation is to help guide our donors in the right direction, so they can be a blessing in our community.

So, if you ever notice yourself struggling to find a way to properly pay your respects to a special person in your life, consider creating a donor-advised fund in their name! Romans 12:10 states, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” There aren’t many better ways to abide by this word of Christ than by using a worthy individual’s name as a vessel to bless others!

How to be more generous

Memphis is no stranger to generosity and giving. In 2017, Business Insider named Memphis the most generous city in the United States, with citizens reportedly giving an average of 5.6 percent of their incomes to charity.

We encourage you to strive to be more generous: with your friends and family, with others, with your community, with yourself. But how?

Committing to monetary donations is an easy way to grow your generosity this year. When finding time to serve is challenging, and deciding where to give seems daunting, Christian Community Foundation is here to facilitate your desire to practice gratitude through generous giving. Creating a donor-advised fund through CCF affords you the opportunity to donate now and determine where you’d like to recommend grant disbursement later. In the meantime, we’ll grow your funds tax-free through wise investments.

If you don’t know where you’d like to give, that’s OK. The beauty of creating and contributing to a donor-advised fund is that your donation counts today as a charitable gift (a tax benefit), but doesn’t have to be distributed until you feel called to grant the funds. This process is perfect if you want to begin a new habit of giving but don’t feel called to support any one organization.

With that being said, if you’re looking for an organization to support now, we can help there as well. Our donors contribute to thousands of 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit organizations annually, each with unique and valuable missions that make our world a better place to live. At CCF, we divide them into three categories:

Giving for the Kingdom – giving to organizations whose mission facilitates the building of God’s kingdom.
Giving for Common Grace – giving to an organization whose mission provides essential services that positively impact lives and communities.
Giving Hope for Memphis – giving to organizations whose work is changing the landscape in Memphis.

Making the decision to give generously is challenging for many, and we recognize that giving requires sacrifice. But as a facilitator of generosity, we know that giving radically changes the lives of those who receive and those who give. We want you to experience the power of giving.

2019 is the perfect time to begin giving back to our city. Interested in learning more about what we do and how you can start giving back? Give us a call at 901-682-6201!