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Last month the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that 12 million baby boomers want to start their own nonprofit or socially-oriented business during the next decade. The article noted, however, that more than a million nonprofit groups already exist, and plenty of for-profit ventures are dedicated in part to providing some social benefit. The author challenges baby boomers to help existing nonprofits create new programs and improve existing ones rather than starting millions of new nonprofits in an effort to contribute to society. To read the complete article, click here.  

We invite you to meet the 2012 Leadership Northern Colorado class and hear Ted Abernathy of the Southern Growth Policies Board speak on “The American Dream: Alive, Dead or Just Comatose?”. The event will take place at the Best Western Crossroads Inn & Conference Center (5542 E. US Highway 34, Loveland) on Wed., Dec. 14 from 3:00 – 5:15 p.m. A reception will follow Abernathy's address. Click here to RSVP for this opportunity to learn more about regionalism and the economy. The Community Foundation serves as a unifying force in Northern Colorado by promoting regional cooperation through our support of Leadership Northern Colorado and their events. 

Local donors have inquired about the impact of proposed federal legislation that would threaten the deductibility of charitable contributions. Brent Christopher, the president and CEO of the Communities Foundation of Texas, recently published an article on the topic, noting that “while people don’t give solely because of a tax deduction, the tax laws often do have a significant effect on the timing and amount of a charitable gift.” Christopher points to recent studies that estimate a nearly $6 billion decrease in charitable giving across the country each year if the proposal is passed. He states that it is “hard to find the public benefit in a policy that shifts the role of addressing many of our community’s needs away from private donors and puts it squarely back in the over-burdened government’s lap.” To share your thoughts on this proposed legislation, click here to send a message to Congressman Cory Gardner. 

As part of our efforts to build a more engaged, philanthropic and visionary community, we encourage you to learn more about the Give 10 program. Donors who contribute a total of $10,000 or more to any combination of Larimer County 501(c)3 organizations during a calendar year are invited to participate in Give 10 and receive an invitation to the Give 10 Grand Gala --- a celebration of food, fun, and philanthropy. Give 10 also offers an Emerging Leaders program, which helps donors who are new to giving "grow" into a $10,000-per-year level of giving over the course of three years. After completing the Give 10 Emerging Leaders program, a donor can dedicate a one-time Bohemian Foundation matching grant of $10,000 to an eligible Larimer County nonprofit organization of the donor's choosing. 

Individuals and businesses that have a fund at the Community Foundation have an easy way to address requests for gifts that nonprofit agencies share at the end of the year. If you have not yet established a fund, this is the perfect time to take the first step in developing a more strategic approach to your charitable giving. A fund at the Community Foundation can typically be established in less than an hour, and contributions may be in the form of cash, stock, IRA roll-overs, real estate, and more. To learn more, call Ray Caraway at 488-1990 or Roxanne Fry at 488-1989.          

  Year End Giving: Submit Grant Recommendations by Dec. 9  

 We encourage those who have Donor Advised funds to submit their end-of-year grant recommendations by Friday, Dec. 9. Grant requests received by Dec. 9 will be processed and mailed by Dec. 30. Grant requests received after Dec. 9 may take longer than the standard 7-10 day processing time due to increased grantmaking activity and holiday closures. We encourage fund advisors to submit grant recommendations via DonorCentral, our secure online donor portal. To learn more, contact Roxanne Fry.      

 The Community Foundation stays in close communication with charitable agencies in our region to strategically connect donors with the causes they care about most. These giving opportunities recently came to our attention:

House of Neighborly Service alleviates the effects of poverty through supportive services, referrals and education opportunities that assist those in need back to a place of self-sufficiency. Local residents are encouraged to sign up for Loveland’s City-Wide Adopt-a-Family Christmas Program, through which the House of Neighborly Service matches donors with R2J School District families that have children or seniors. Donors shop for food items and deliver those items directly to the recipients’ homes. To learn more, click here.

In an effort to make our donors and friends aware of these types of funding needs and program announcements, our website features new submissions from area nonprofit agencies. Click here to review this month's submissions, and click here if you would like to have your nonprofit agency featured on our website. 

 The Community Foundation provides a trusted, local platform that enables people to give more effectively and to think strategically and creatively about the future of our community. Click here to learn more about the ways our staff can help you achieve your charitable goals.