The 'how' of your philanthropy

There is an old Greek proverb that says, “A society grows great when elders plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.”

Think about that for a second. You can plant a tree just once, and it bears fruit year after year. Allow it to grow, and it will offer shade for future generations. This is the power of giving for endowment.

When you make a gift through Ashland County Community Foundation, your gift is never spent. Rather, it is invested, creating income that is used to make grants or provide scholarships each year.

Whether you want to choose exactly how your dollars are distributed or you’d like us to direct your funds to the areas of greatest need, you’ll have the confidence of knowing your legacy is in good hands. We’ll manage your investments wisely and administer your funds with care.

We are a local organization with deep roots in the community, and our professional staff has broad expertise regarding community organizations, issues and needs.

We’ll work alongside you and your professional advisors to help you create a plan that maximizes tax advantages and makes the most of your charitable giving.

Why give through a community foundation?

The community foundation is like the community’s charitable savings account. We pool resources from community members, invest them and then use them to make grants for the betterment of the entire community.

We exist to serve donors, nonprofit organizations and the community as a whole.

Donors to ACCF enjoy tax advantages not available to private foundation donors. They also receive professional services without hiring staff.

Nonprofit organizations receive grants from community foundations to support their programs and projects. Many nonprofits also establish their own endowment funds with the foundation as a means of investing for the future.

We’re also engaged as a community leader. We help set the vision for Ashland County while ensuring charitable gifts are used effectively to meet the community’s present needs and to build a brighter future.

Since 1995, we’ve been connecting people who care with causes that matter. It’s an honor to manage donations, large and small, to enhance the quality of life in Ashland County. In our 25 year history, we’ve given more than $17 million back to our community, thanks to the generosity of more than 7,000 donors.

Joining our donor family

We can work with you and your professional advisors to find giving solutions that match your assets and your goals. Common types of gifts we receive include cash, stock, real estate, retirement plan assets, life insurance, bequests and life income gifts. You can make a one-time gift in any amount to any of our funds. Our Community Grants Fund and our Women’s Fund are common targets for these kinds of gifts.

If you want to make an even greater impact by starting your own fund, we offer several endowment fund types, allowing you varying levels of involvement in how grants are distributed from your fund.

• Donor advised funds: Choose each year which nonprofit agencies and causes will receive distributions from your fund.
• Donor designated funds: Provide ongoing support for a nonprofit with annual distributions to your chosen organization.
• Field of interest funds: Support a certain program area, such as arts or education, without designating a particular charity. This gives foundation leaders flexibility to meet changing needs or fund new opportunities.
• Scholarship funds: Help make higher education a reality for students who meet your chosen criteria.
• Unrestricted funds: Trust us to use your fund distributions to support the areas of greatest need in our community.

Any of our fund types can bear your name or the name of someone you wish to honor or remember. We can also offer anonymity if you prefer.

If you’re ready to explore your giving options, contact President/CEO Jim Cutright by phone at (419) 281-4733 or by email at cutty@ashlandforgood.org.