Planning Your Giving is an Act of Love

While Valentine’s Day is in the rearview mirror, most of us know that our love for those we hold dear is not confined to one day. We express it regularly through gifts of time, connection and intentionality. Giving is an act of love.

Charity provides a meaningful way to honor our family and friends alongside the causes we care about. The Community Foundation can help. We partner with individuals and families to create giving plans that support donor passions and community needs. So, as we consider our loved ones, here are a few ways to ensure your charitable giving does the same.

1. Provide charitable guidance for your loved ones

The start of a new year is an excellent time to get organized, which includes providing your loved ones with any information needed to take care of your affairs. Professional advisors can help you gather the “must-haves” for proper estate planning, and the Community Foundation is happy to help document information to show your loved ones exactly how your charitable fund works. Here is a list of information we often provide for our fundholders:

• Copies of your fund agreement(s) outlining successor advisors
• Details about favorite charities you’ve supported over the years
• Login credentials to access your online donor portal
• Contact information for your relationship manager
• Other information about your charitable fund(s)
• How to involve family members in current giving decisions for continuity

2. Plan your estate and charitable legacy

Estate planning isn't just about distributing assets; it's about caring for your next of kin, and even your charitable passions. A well-organized plan provides a road map for loved ones, guiding them through important decisions and providing peace of mind as they cope with loss. Updating your estate plan also allows you to make arrangements to support your favorite charities.

The Community Foundation specializes in planned giving strategies and regularly partners with donors and their advisors to weave charitable goals into the estate planning process. Please reach out to our team as you work with your advisors on your estate plan. We can:

• Review the many tax benefits of naming your charitable fund at the Community Foundation as a beneficiary of your IRA or other tax-deferred retirement account
• Provide bequest language for your will or trust, properly describing your charitable fund using the correct legal terms
• Provide language for a beneficiary designation, again properly describing your fund using the correct legal terms
• Work with you to update the terms of your Donor Advised Fund or create a Letter of Intent, so your current wishes are carried out following your death, whether distributing grants to specific causes or charities or naming your children as successor advisors on your fund

3. Take Care of the Causes You Love

The beginning of the year is also a great time to reflect on your current giving to the causes that are close to your heart. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been deeply involved with a nonprofit for years, the Community Foundation offers an array of tools and expertise to elevate your giving in 2025 and beyond. We enjoy identifying local organizations that align with your values and exploring strategies for expanding your charitable impact. For example, we can help you:

• Identify opportunities to accomplish your charitable giving goals this year through gifts of appreciated stock
• Join forces with other fund holders to support larger initiatives
• Assess the impact of past grants to charities from your Donor Advised Fund to help inform future grantmaking
• Learn about local funding needs you may not know about and recommend nonprofit organizations and programs that align with your charitable interests.

Philanthropy is an expression of your values and passions

Many people are drawn to charitable giving because of personal experiences and decide to establish a fund at the Community Foundation The result is an expression of love and an impact that can span generations.

Former teachers Jeff and Lola Stark recently established a scholarship fund that encourages aspiring educators to continue the journey toward teaching. Paul Christensen transformed his business into a supporting organization that will continue providing for his employees and the local causes he loves. Keith Ross created the Betsy Ross Aquatic Trust to honor his wife’s commitment to making swimming accessible to everyone.

These are just a few examples of how the Community Foundation can help you express your values and passions through current and planned gifts. If you'd like to create a personal giving strategy or explore ways to maximize your impact, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're always ready to help you achieve your philanthropic goals and create lasting change in southwest Washington.