Ways to Give

Exterior view of Monumental building

The Community Foundation of Shelby County accepts many different types of gifts that help you fulfill your dreams and receive the best tax advantages.

Our staff can work with you and your legal, financial and tax advisors on simple or complex gifting strategies. As a 501(c)(3) public charitable organization, gifts to the Community Foundation of Shelby County are deductible to the highest levels allowed by law. We strongly encourage you to consult your tax advisor before making a sizable gift to ensure the contribution is made in a way most advantageous to your personal situation.

Some people use a ‘bunching’ strategy for charitable giving to take advantage of today’s tax law. Bunching refers to giving more in one year to a donor advised fund or Gift Account at the Community Foundation of Shelby County in order to exceed the Standard Deduction and then, awarding grants out to charities over the two years. In the second year, no new charitable gifts are added, so the donor takes the Standard Deduction. Click here for an illustration and more details.

Donate Now

Ways to Give Now

Checks should be made payable to ‘Community Foundation of Shelby County.’ Please identify the charitable fund to receive the gift by adding the fund name on the check’s memo line or in an accompanying note. If you wish to use ACH, please contact our office.

Use a major credit card or your PayPal account to make a gift to any Community Foundation charitable fund. See the ‘Donate’ button at the top right corner and follow the instructions.

There are tax advantages when you gift shares of a mutual fund or stock directly to the Community Foundation instead of personally selling shares and donating the proceeds. Contact the Community Foundation office for the information needed to make a mutual fund or stock gift transfer.

Donors age 70 ½ with a traditional IRA can make a direct transfer that counts toward their required minimum distribution (RMD). Under current law, scholarship, designated-use and community granting are eligible to receive IRA Charitable Rollover gifts, but donor advised funds, including Gift Accounts, are not eligible. Contact Marian Spicer at mspicer@commfoun.com for additional information.

To make a donation using a donor advised fund held at another institution or community foundation, please provide the following information:

Gifts of farmland, homes, building lots and commercial buildings may provide a deduction for the Fair Market Value of the property. Before being accepted, real property gifts must meet the requirements of our Policy and Procedures for Potential Gifts of Real Estate.

Gifts of grain provide a tax-saving agricultural connection to giving. The Community Foundation must have an account at the elevator where grain is delivered, so please contact us in advance for additional information. See our gift of grain flyer for more details.

For details about gifts, please refer to our General Gift Acceptance Policy.

Planned Giving

Planned giving means that you are taking action today to make a gift that is given at some future date or at death. In most cases, planned gifts are written into your will or other estate instrument such as a trust, life insurance policy, or retirement plan.

Choosing the right planned gift depends on your personal circumstances and financial objectives. Here are a few options to consider.

Disclaimer: Nothing within this website should be construed as legal advice. The following wording is for information only and should be discussed with your attorney.

Glass jar with coins and a heart shaped flower and another image of a Tawana Park sign near a body of water and trees

Ways to Give in the Future

By Will or Trust

Bequests are statements in your Last Will and Testament or a Trust directing portions of your assets to loved ones and charitable organizations, such as the Community Foundation of Shelby County. Depending upon the kinds of assets you hold, giving may help reduce estate taxes.

Note: The legal name to include the CFSC as a beneficiary or in a bequest of any kind is: The Community Foundation of Shelby County, an Ohio nonprofit corporation (FEIN 34-6565194).

Click here for downloadable bequest language.

IRA or Retirement Plan

At death, IRAs and retirement plan balances may be taxed, reducing the amount your beneficiaries may receive. When given to the Community Foundation, no taxes are due and the gift is preserved to benefit the community.

Life Insurance

Naming the Community Foundation as a primary or secondary beneficiary of a life insurance policy is a great way to fund a gift to support the future of our community. If ownership of the policy is transferred, a current income tax deduction is possible. Some have even purchased a new policy that will later benefit their preferred cause. Annual policy premiums paid to the Community Foundation keep the policy in force and are tax deductible. Contact us for our Life Insurance Gift Acceptance Policy.

Ways to Give in the Future

By Will or Trust

Bequests are statements in your Last Will and Testament or a Trust directing portions of your assets to loved ones and charitable organizations, such as the Community Foundation of Shelby County. Depending upon the kinds of assets you hold, giving may help reduce estate taxes.
When we receive a gift from your estate, we put it to work to benefit the greater community or any aspect of it that you request. Bequests may be written into a new Will or added as a codicil to an existing Will.
Note: The legal name to include the CFSC as a beneficiary or in a bequest of any kind is: The Community Foundation of Shelby County, an Ohio nonprofit corporation (FEIN 34-6565194).

Click here for downloadable bequest language.

IRA or Retirement Plan

At death, IRAs and retirement plan balances may be taxed, reducing the amount your beneficiaries may receive. When given to the Community Foundation, no taxes are due and the gift is preserved to benefit the community.

Life Insurance

Naming the Community Foundation as a primary or secondary beneficiary of a life insurance policy is a great way to fund a gift to support the future of our community. If ownership of the policy is transferred, a current income tax deduction is possible. Some have even purchased a new policy that will later benefit their preferred cause. Annual policy premiums paid to the Community Foundation keep the policy in force and are tax deductible. Contact us for our Life Insurance Gift Acceptance Policy.

Gifts that Produce Income

Certain gifts are structured for an immediate tax deduction and the ability to provide income to the donor or a person they designate.

Charitable Gift Annuity

Income is guaranteed for life and the fixed payment amount is based on the age of the payment recipient. The remainder after death is placed in a new or existing charitable fund.

For details about gifts, please refer to our General Gift Acceptance Policy.

Charitable Remainder Trust

Another payment arrangement, a CRT provides income for life or for a fixed term. You work with your attorney to create the CRT document and fund the trust with a gift. At the end of the donor’s life or the fixed term, the remaining assets are placed in a charitable fund at the Community Foundation.

For details about gifts, please refer to our General Gift Acceptance Policy.

Charitable Lead Trust

A CLT is the opposite of a Charitable Remainder Trust, in that the CLT’s income is gifted during a donor’s life or a fixed term to a charitable fund at the Community Foundation. At the end of the donor’s life or term of the trust, the remaining principal is then returned to a beneficiary.

For details about gifts, please refer to our General Gift Acceptance Policy.

Have you included the Community Foundation of Shelby County in a deferred gift or your estate plan?

Please contact us so we have an understanding of your plans for the gift. You may also be listed as a named or anonymous member of our Legacy Society.
You need not disclose the amount or type of gift you are planning, but it is helpful if we can discuss how your gift is to be used in the future.

Contact Marian Spicer, Executive Director, at mspicer@commfoun.com for information and questions.

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