As this year comes to a close, we're excited. We know the last several years have been challenging, and while there is still more work ahead, it's refreshing to know we have so many incredible neighbors who work together during both good times and bad.

Looking back, we're grateful for all of the creativity and support that emerged in our community in 2022, including funding emergency relief in Ukraine, saying YES to kids, celebrating humanity, and supporting inspiring initiatives of Bainbridge High School graduates.

We can't say what next year holds, but we do know that a community like this gives us a lot to look forward to. Thank you!

When asked what motivates her to do her work, Samantha Zwicker said, “it’s hard to define one reason, but if I had to sum it up, I’d say we want to keep wilderness in the world.”

Samantha, who goes by Sam, is a Bainbridge High School graduate. She has already saved the lives of over 250 wild animals in the Peruvian Amazon and has employed almost a dozen local and international experts to help care for them through her nonprofit Hoja Nueva. Hoja Nueva has grown and matured to be a full Wildlife Rehabilitation Center as well as a research and conservation center located in Madre de Dios, Peru.

Sam’s drive for rescuing animals began at a young age on Bainbridge Island when her parents used to take in injured cats, ducks, owls, and other creatures to nurture them back to health before releasing them to the wild. In middle and high school, she volunteered at a local domestic animal rescue nonprofit called Furrytale Farm, and said she remembers regularly bringing animals to West Sound Wildlife Shelter. She participated in a locally-driven program called Lengau where Bainbridge High School students travel to South Africa, which sparked her interest in wildlife abroad.

Through a generous fund advisor who was inspired by her story, BCF was proud to award $50,000 to Hoja Nueva for an upcoming initiative to expand their scope. An additional $5,000 was awarded from a different BCF fund since the original article was written. To read the whole story of Sam's incredible journey, click here.

The City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) has partnered with a number of nonprofits and community organizers to initiate a community-wide conversation about race. These Living Room Conversations are guided discussions focused on communicating across differences while building understanding. To read more, check out a recent article in the Bainbridge Review "Can We Talk About Race? We Need To."

The book under discussion is Stamped, but organizers say that you don't have to have read the book to participate. To learn more, visit COBI's website here.

Ever think about how sea level rise will affect Bainbridge Island and what we might do about it? Take a brief survey!

EcoAdapt, through a grant from the Bainbridge Community Foundation, is undertaking a community survey and conversation to learn what concerns our friends and neighbors have with respect to sea level rise on Bainbridge Island and what they see for our future. Please take this survey, which should take no more than 10 minutes, to help get our community sea level rise conversation started! As an incentive, survey participants have a chance to receive one of three $15 gift certificates to the local business of their choice (some restrictions apply).

Take the survey here and learn more about the project here. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact [email protected].

FAQs on Qualified Charitable Distributions

It's that time of year! Qualified Charitable Distributions, or “QCDs,” are becoming a very popular financial and charitable planning tool and are particularly useful to understand as you're planning your year-end giving. At the same time, QCDs are growing as the source of more and more confusion.

Check out the five most frequently asked questions about QCDs from 2022 and their answers on BCF's website here.

So long, 2022: Charitable Tax Planning Reminders

Time is of the essence when it comes to year-end giving! Here are just a few reminder as you are wrapping up your planning:

Gifts of appreciated stock still shine: Giving in a roller coaster market may continue to be a real concern for many, but remember, not all stocks are down. Gifts of appreciated stock to a donor-advised fund or other type of fund at the community foundation is still one of the most tax-savvy ways to support favorite charitable causes because capital gains tax can be avoided. And of course, a stock market rally can present timely opportunities.

Donor advised funds help both the donor and the donor’s favorite nonprofits: Grantmaking from donor advised funds (DAFs) continues to rise, especially as donors and their advisors pay increasing attention to the ways a DAF can help with tax planning and, importantly, keep a donor’s giving levels consistent even in lower income years. “Bunching” at year-end can maximize tax benefits, and at the same time ensure that nonprofits are supported as demands continue to grow in choppy economic waters.

Year-end giving deadlines are firm: Watch the calendar closely! Year-end can sneak up on all of us, and it’s important not to miss key deadlines for accomplishing your charitable goals. For example, checks to a fund at the community foundation must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than December 31. Gifts of marketable securities also need to be fully transferred by December 31. If you are looking for opportunities to support BCF, consider joining the Leadership Circle which will connect you to other like-minded donors who also care about the many elements that make Bainbridge Island unique.

If you have further questions, your financial advisor can help you determine what's right for you!