For Donors: Gift Planning: The Reservoir Challenge

Help fill the reservoir TODAY ~ to nourish our Community TOMORROW
The challenge is clear.

For every endowed dollar that we raise, this year, the Reservoir Challenge grant will match it, dollar for dollar, up to $500,000. This challenge is designed to strengthen Taos Community Foundation’s network of giving to our community.

Specifically, it is to deepen the pools of endowed funds by maximizing gifts. This means that contributors to Taos Community Foundation can double the impact of their gifts.

The goal is to reach 2 million dollars in long-term assets by July 2003. This amount will enable the Foundation to begin making grants from endowed funds. To reach our goal, we need to raise an additional 1.2 million dollars.

The range of giving opportunities can be confusing for prospective philanthropic partners. Of the dozens of questions that donors ask about charitable giving in general, or the Challenge in particular, the most common are:

Q. If I open my own endowed fund, will the Reservoir Challenge Grant match my gift?

A. YES. At least half of the funds that the Foundation raises this year in response to the Challenge must be specified for its Community Fund, which means the other half may be designated for restricted funds. All matching monies paid by the Reservoir Challenge Grant will be placed in an endowed fund.

Q. If I decide to donate to the Community Fund, will I know how my money is used?

A. Yes. You have a choice of contributing to the general Community Fund or setting up a Named Fund within the Community Fund. In either case you will receive ongoing communication that alerts you to local needs and how grants from the fund meet them. If you set up a Named Fund, the grants will be given in the name of the fund.

Q. I don’t have a specific organization that I want to support, but I‘d like to have some input into where my money goes. What are my options?

A. Field of Interest Funds allow you to support certain areas that appeal to you. You may want to designate a gift to the Foundation’s Building Resilient Communities grant-making initiative and designate the area in which you wish your fund to be used.

Creativity and Culture
Healthy Youth and Families
Sustainable Environment
Strengthening Community
Non-Profit Technical Assistance and Training Project
Taos Community Foundation Administrative Funds

Q. What are the tax benefits to donors?

A. Because a community foundation is a public charity, all donations earn the maximum IRS deduction available for charitable contributions.

Q. If I establish a fund, what are my responsibilities? Do I need to manage the money and issue the checks?

A. No. Skilled financial managers will oversee, monitor and administer the fund. You will remain part of the communication “loop” and will receive regular reports regarding your fund and grants made.