Advantages of Starting a Fund

There are many advantages of starting your charitable giving fund at the Montgomery County Community Foundation. Here are just a few:

Simplicity
Creating a charitable fund is an easy, low-cost alternative to forming and administering a private foundation, and requires minimal paperwork. We manage the investments, process the grants to charitable organizations, and there is no tax return required for your fund.

Tax Benefits
Since the Internal Revenue Service recognizes The Community Foundation as a public charity, your contributions are eligible for the maximum tax benefits allowed by law. Receive an immediate tax deduction for the year the gift is made without having to rush into decisions regarding the ultimate timing or beneficiary of your gifts.

Flexibility
The Community Foundation accepts a wide variety of gifts - including cash, stocks, real estate and other assets. We can help you create a fund that addresses virtually any charitable purpose. You can choose to receive public recognition or remain anonymous. You can make grants to a variety of organizations and add to any fund at any time.

Professional Management
Your fund can be invested with our Combined Investment Fund, or you can recommend a money manager to us to manage your fund’s assets. Our professional staff work with you -- in whatever way suits you best -- to assure that you are satisfied with your giving. If you like, staff are available to help you identify new issues or organizations for your charitable giving. We are also available to help with your questions, such as how to engage children in a family legacy of giving.

Community Impact
Our professional staff is here to help you gain a better understanding of current community needs, assess local nonprofit organizations and direct gift dollars to high-impact areas.

Stability
Community Foundations are professional organizations that meet published standards of performance for investment practices, donor services, and grantmaking practices. Yearly auditing, public disclosure of all grant activities and careful selection of board members assure continued use of funds in the public interest as donors have determined.

Perpetuity
The Community Foundation staff is available to help you build a permanent legacy through your giving. Endowed funds will serve your charitable interests now and for generations to come because the principal of the fund is never spent. An endowed fund lasts forever - a permanent testament to your compassion and a lasting resource for your community.

We’re at Your Service
We are here to help you with all aspects of your giving experience. If you have any questions about becoming a donor that have not been answered in this section, please contact MCCF’s Donor Services Associate, Anna Hargrave at 301-588-2544 x 14 or ahargrave@cfncr.org.