The Community Foundation approach to planned giving offers a number of important financial benefits to donors. Because community foundations manage a large number of unrestricted and discretionary funds, administrative costs and service fees for any one fund is minimized - meaning less overhead cost to the donor's fund. Another important advantage is that the Federal tax code provides significant incentives for contributions to a community foundation.

Gifts to community foundations during the donor's lifetime are deductible to the maximum extent permissible under current tax law. There is also a significant benefit for the deductibility of gifts of appreciated property to community foundations. The full fair market value of such gifts to community foundations (long-term capital gain property such as stocks and bonds, real estate or personal property) is deductible up to 30 percent of adjusted gross income.

Dade Community Foundation offers a variety of options for making donations. By combining your resources with those of others who share your interests, you can maximize the impact of modest contributions with minimal administrative costs.

Donors can create several types of funds within a community foundation. They can set up an unrestricted fund to help meet a variety of needs within the community, or can specify a purpose or area of concern for which income from the fund is best used. Donors can also name the fund that they endow for themselves, spouses, a family member, for a company, or valued friend. Funds may also be anonymous. Some funds have names that convey a specific goal or purpose, or hold special meaning for the donor. Gifts also may be contributed to an existing fund, or general or specific purpose fund, or one of Dade Community Foundation's special initiatives.

Cash of course. There are, however, many other ways, including securities and real estate. Gifts to the Dade Community Foundation may be made at a surprisingly low cost by giving real estate or securities that have appreciated in value. Were the donor to sell the property, a substantial tax would be levied on appreciation, whereas a gift to Dade Community Foundation not only incurs no tax, but entitles the donor to a tax deduction for the full value. Gifts to Dade Community Foundation may be made subject to life income agreements. Such an irrevocable gift may provide for an annual income paid to the donor for the remainder of his/her life. Through this sort of gift, depending on the individual circumstances, substantial income and inheritance tax benefits are created. A variety of instruments could be used including a Charitable Remainder Unitrust, or an Annuity Trust.

Community foundations combine the tax advantages of a public charity with the lasting quality of a private foundation. Gifts of cash and ordinary income property to a community foundation are deductible up to 50% of adjusted gross income versus 30% for a private foundation. Gifts of appreciated property can be credited for 30% versus 20% for a private foundation. There is no excise tax on community foundations as there is on private foundations, and community foundations do not have the payout requirements of private foundations. The most important quality may be flexibility, in design and in anticipating future needs.

Dade Community Foundation provides all IRS reporting, accounting and accountability. The Foundation does all grant review, site visits and works with the donor if the donor wishes to participate. The Foundation assures that all grant and scholarship recipients meet the tests to assure tax deductible status. Where appropriate, Dade Community Foundation helps the donor advise recipients of the intent to solicit proposals or funds certain categories of interest to the donor. Donors are kept apprised of special community needs. The donor is charged an annual fee which can be deducted from interest earnings on the fund.

There is no minimum amount required. Dade Community Foundation encourages giving at all levels.

Investments are recommended by the Finance Committee of the Board of Governors and decisions are made by the board.

Dade Community Foundation's goal is build a permanent endowment. The present endowment is more than $130,000,000.

Yes. These allow the donor to contribute in a specific interest area and maximize the contribution by joining others who share a common interest.