The Decatur County Community Foundation is committed to serving donors whose philanthropic goals focus on enhancing the quality of life in the local community. Donors who choose to carry out their charitable intent through the Foundation are truly building the future of our community. Because the Foundation is a permanent endowment for Decatur County , the principle of a donor’s gift is preserved, and each year the income provides on-going support for charitable purposes.      There are a variety of flexible ways in which donors may make contributions to the Foundation to accomplish their charitable goals. Gifts may be designated for specific needs or unrestricted for broader use. Donors may create new endowment funds with a minimum of $5,000 or contribute to existing funds. Endowments may be established with a single current gift, a series of gifts over time, or funded at a later time through a deferred gift.
 

Gifts of Cash-memorial, in honor of gifts and thank a teacher gifts
An outright gift of cash is simple and convenient for donors who wish to see their gift at work during their lifetime. Gifts of cash are deductible for income tax purposes. Cash is especially popular among donors making smaller gifts and are typically:
    a. In honor of gifts. Recognize Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, retirements or any other special occasion with a gift to the Foundation. The individual receives acknowledgement of the gift and the persons favorite charity or community receives a gift that will live forever. 
    b. Memorial gifts- Recognize a person’s life with a gift that will live on forever. The family will receive notification of the gift made in their memory.
    c. Thank a Teacher gifts – At Christmas or the end of the school year, recognize that teacher who has touched you or your child. The gift will become a part of the endowment which makes classroom grants back to local teachers.

Charitable Remainder Trust
Donors may choose to place specific assets in a trust to provide annuity income for themselves and/or a spouse during their lifetime. The balance in the trust after the annuity is no longer paid goes to the Foundation. A current income tax deduction is allowed for the remainder value as determined in accordance with IRS regulations.

Appreciated Securities
Contributions of securities are especially attractive for donors who have held stocks or other securities for a long period of time and their value has increased substantially. Donors enjoy a charitable tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the securities and avoid capital gains tax.

Bequests
Donors may incorporate a gift to the Foundation in their will. In order to provide for loved ones while at the same time giving back to the community, donors may choose to describe a specific amount or percentage bequest, a residual bequest, or a contingent bequest.

Charitable Lead Trust
A charitable lead trust is similar to a remainder trust, but the periodic payments are made to the Foundation first for a set term of years. What remains in the trust at the end of the term reverts to the donor and/or other beneficiaries. For some donors, this is an effective means of fulfilling philanthropic goals while reducing or eliminating certain types of taxes.

Family Fund
A family can create an unrestricted family endowment with $10,000. When the income from the endowment is used to make a grant, the family fund will be recognized to the grant recipient.