The Cass County Community Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with the following mission:

“The Cass County Community Foundation honors the spirit of giving and assists donors in building enduring sources of charitable assets to promote education, enhance humanity and advance community development throughout Cass County.”

The current assets of CCCF are over $8 million. As the foundation continues to grow, we will continue to positively impact the charitable sector and the quality of life in Cass County, now and for future generations.

– What are the benefits of utilizing the services of a community foundation?
– What type of gifts can be made to the Foundation?
– If I prefer to create a fund, what options are available?
– How do I get started?
– How do I apply for a grant?
– How do I apply for a SCHOLARSHIP?
– What if I want to make an impact beyond my lifetime?
– How is my gift invested and who oversees it?

President	Randy Head	Treasurer	Tom Heckard
Vice President	Kevin Crook	Secretary	Joyce Eshelman
	Elizabeth Billman		Dan Layman
	Dick Rusk		Jesse Robinson
	Barrie McClain		Sue Ridlen
	Carol Sue Hayworth		Herb Price
	Alan Biggs		Paul Kroeger
	Keith Cole		Susan Platt

What are the benefits of utilizing the services of a community foundation?

Community foundations are rapidly becoming the philanthropic method of choice for their ease, flexibility, maximum tax advantages, and knowledge of community needs. As a depository for charitable funds, a community foundation manages charitable gifts from individuals, groups, corporations and other foundations. As the steward of endowed funds, a community foundation either acts on your behalf to place funds where community needs are greatest or considers your distribution recommendations. Working with a community foundation allows you full access to its extensive grantmaking resources and knowledge.

As a grantmaker, a community foundation serves as a catalyst for charitable activity. By granting funds where the needs are greatest, a variety of different organizations and initiatives are greatly enhanced.

The Staff of the Cass County Community Foundation is available to assist donors and professional advisors with a variety of services. Essentially, our staff is your staff. These services are provided on a confidential basis at no cost:

• Assistance clarifying personal and philanthropic goals
• Information and guidance on the communities’ charitable needs
• Research to identify worthy charities that reflect your interests
• Counsel on giving instruments and funding alternatives
• Illustrations and multi-year projections of tax implications

back to top

What type of gifts can be made to the Foundation?

The foundation understands that contemporary philanthropists want to make their giving as simple and effective as possible. Joining forces with the CCCF offers the donor simplicity, flexibility and maximum tax advantages. Your investment will benefit from the Foundation’s staff, experience, knowledge and resources. Our primary goal is to enable your gift to reach its potential ----today and well beyond your lifetime.

The foundation welcomes inquiries and will gladly work with attorneys, accountants and financial advisors to meet your charitable goals. The following are the types of gift options to consider:

 Cash Gifts –This option is simple, fast and flexible. You can set up a fund in your name with the Foundation and add to it whenever you choose. It can be an effective vehicle when you want your donation to make an impact on a specific cause during your lifetime. All cash contributions offer immediate tax deductions and may be deducted up to 50% of your adjusted gross income with any unused amount carried over for up to an additional five years. (Consult your tax advisor.)

Appreciated Property – When designated as a gift, the donation of securities or real property can often provide important tax advantages. The full market value of your gift can generally be deducted without recognizing income on the gain from your real cost. Contributions of appreciated property owned more than one year may be deducted up to 30% of your adjusted gross income with any unused amount carried over up to an additional five years. (Consult your tax advisor.)

Bequests – This gift alternative takes a variety of different forms. As an enduring symbol of your generosity, a bequest supports the changing needs of our community for generations. A bequest can be a specific lump sum of money willed to one of the Foundation’s endowment funds or your own named endowment fund. It can also take the form of a percentage of your estate or a piece of property. In addition, the Foundation can be identified as the residual beneficiary of your estate, as the recipient of a specified gift, a contingent beneficiary or as the ultimate recipient of the assets of a charitable remainder trust. (Consult your tax advisor.)

Charitable Remainder Trusts – This planned giving strategy is ideal for donors who want to provide a life income for themselves, their spouse or children. The tax benefits for this type of trust are substantial. Upon the donor’s death, the assets go to the Foundation and benefit the community for years to come. (Consult your tax advisor.)

Charitable Lead Trusts – Your estate can take care of you, your children and grandchildren when you establish a Charitable Lead Trust. A portion of your estate is entrusted now with the income going to your fund for a specified number of years. This avenue is an effective way to reduce estate taxes. When the income is needed by your family members, the trust is terminated and the assets are directed toward their benefit. The community has reaped the reward of your gift for the years that the trust was in effect. (Consult your tax advisor.)

Life Insurance – Many overlook the value of a life insurance policy later in life. It is actually a creative avenue for charitable giving and can be an inexpensive way to make a substantial contribution to the Foundation. Name the Foundation as the owner and beneficiary and you are entitled to a tax deduction equal to the value of the policy. (Consult your tax advisor.)

Any future insurance premiums are also deductible as charitable gifts. The Foundation has a special life insurance program called Endow Your Legacy. (Consult your tax advisor.)

Private Foundations –Your private foundation can transfer all or part of its assets to the Community Foundation. Our staff will manage your funds and carry out your philanthropic vision. Your funds will benefit from our size and scope and you will enjoy reduced administrative costs, maximized giving and the knowledge that your foundation’s work will be recognized by future generations. (Consult your tax advisor.)

Retirement Plans – If you give to charities on an annual basis and are in the process of planning for your retirement, consider the many benefits of planned giving. A charitable bequest or IRA often turns out to be the best opportunity to give to worthy causes. A bequest on your behalf can prevent your IRA or qualified plan from becoming a liability to your estate, and the gift is made with pre-tax dollars. A careful plan could spare your family considerable estate and income taxes. (Consult your tax advisor.)

 

back to top

If I prefer to create a fund, what options are available?

As a donor, a host of options are available to help you realize your philanthropic goals – and the future philanthropic goals of your family. Your fund can be as general or as specific as you like. Whether you want to focus your contributions on a specific charity or would rather help several different causes, the community foundation has a fund to meet your needs. You can name your fund after yourself, your spouse, a family member or company. It’s even possible to give anonymously – the Foundation will simply act on your behalf.

Creating a fund is easy and the experienced staff of the CCCF is available to guide you through every step of the process. The size of your fund, whether large or small, doesn’t matter. Funds are combined and invested for the best possible investment return.

Unrestricted – To make a lasting impact on your community, consider an unrestricted endowment fund. With a watchful eye on the community, the Foundation grants funds to a range of charitable organizations. This fund is also ideal for those who wish to create a perpetual named fund to honor or memorialize an individual, family or business. An unrestricted fund can be named for a person or a cause, allowing others to contribute to it.

Donor-Advised – For donors who want to remain active in the giving process, there are donor-advised funds. As a donor, you reserve the right to make grant recommendations to specific charitable organizations that have meaning for you. The flexibility of this fund allows you to vary charitable contributions from year to year, and encourages philanthropy of future generations.

Scholarship – Many find no greater reward exists than bridging the gap between a deserving student and his or her education. Scholarship funds can be established with broad criteria (available to students in a geographic region), or more specific criteria (available only to students from a particular school, subject area or achievement level). Scholarships can be named for an individual, family or organization and are a thoughtful way to memorialize a friend or loved one.

Designated – A designated fund is established for donors who want to contribute to one or more charitable organizations. This fund is a good option for individuals, businesses or families who want to create a perpetual fund that will reflect their values for years to come. The Foundation conducts reviews of designated fund charities to assure that the resources are used as the donor intended.

Field of Interest – By establishing a field of interest fund, you can show your support for organizations that focus on issues that concern you – like the arts, education, environment or social services. Those who share your concerns can also contribute to your fund. The Foundation will distribute grants with your specific interests in mind.

back to top

How do I get started?

The process to establish a fund is quite easy. The gift planning services staff at the CCCF will work closely with you to guide you through the philanthropic process. Here are some of the decisions you will need to make regarding your gift:>

1. The focus of the fund – here are a few examples: arts, culture and humanities, health and human services, education, civic and community development, community information systems, etc.
2. The region your fund is to benefit:
1. Cass County
2. State of Indiana
3. The type of fund you want to establish: unrestricted, donor-advised, scholarship, designated or field of interest
4. The type of gift you want to contribute to your fund: cash, securities, real property, insurance, retirement assets, or other deferred gift vehicles

back to top

How do I apply for a grant?

See the page entitled "Applying for a Grant".

back to top

How do I apply for a scholarship?

See the page entitled "Applying for a SCHOLARSHIP".

back to top

What if I want to make an impact beyond my lifetime?

The power of an endowment is unique – a gift endowed today will continue to grow and benefit the community long after you are gone. Making your philanthropic interests known through a planned gift to the Cass County Community Foundation will allow you to leave a charitable legacy far into the future. The charities you designate will receive grants in your name and prosper for generations.

Consider the many options available when you are ready to plan your estate:

Name the CCCF:

• as a contingent beneficiary
• as the recipient for all or part of your estate
• to receive all or part of the balance in a pension or retirement account

back to top

How is my gift invested and who oversees it?

Every gift, whether small or large, matters to the CCCF. Your funds are combined with those from countless others to form a pool. Once pooled with other gifts, your gift takes on greater weight, thus creating a greater impact. The earnings generated from investing the principal of the pooled funds creates the income that we distribute to charitable programs and services throughout the communities we serve.

The community foundation manages the funds with help from an investment committee. This committee, composed of Foundation staff and expert volunteers from the community, develops investment policies and strategies and evaluates the performance of trustees, managers and advisors.

Our primary investment goal is to grow the principal and income without undue exposure to risk with a focus on long-term capital appreciation. We strive for total returns that are better than the relevant market averages.

back to top