Private Foundations

In many instances, converting a private foundation into a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation can alleviate administrative burdens and increase your philanthropic impact. You can maintain the identity of your private foundation and continue to support the organizations important to you. In addition, a donor-advised fund offers several advantages – including significantly higher tax deductions for new assets contributed to the fund, grantmaking support, professional investment management, and the option to give anonymously. Furthermore, by converting to a donor-advised fund, you will eliminate several of the burdens and requirements of a private foundation, including the annual distribution requirement, tax returns and audits, and excise taxes.

On occasion, the trustees of a private foundation may have difficulty meeting the annual 5% payout requirement.  We can assist by accepting contributions from a private foundation’s annual payout into a donor advised fund or a Community Impact Fund.

Several local family foundations, including the Bender Family Foundation, the B’nai B’rith Gideon Foundation, the McCarthy Charities, and the John D. Picotte Family Foundation, have chosen to partner with the Community Foundation to facilitate their grantmaking.

If your private foundation needs specific services, such as back-office support or grantmaking assistance, the Community Foundation team can help. Our staff can help your foundation’s trustees as they make decisions regarding grant requests. The Community Foundation staff can handle administrative tasks, such as collecting and screening grant applications, keeping records and preparing reports, and responding to requests for information from potential grantees.