Gratitude and Impact

Article in Tompkins Weekly

As Thanksgiving approaches, it's a time to slow down and give thanks for the most meaningful things in our lives.

Community Foundation is featured in Tompkins Weekly. (READ the article on page 9.)

This Gratitude and Impact article highlights the meaningful impact of our grants, and serves as opportunity to extend our thanks to you for your dedication to our community.

Together we're making a difference in ensuring our communities receive the best support for a brighter future.

Thank You for Engaging in Community Foundation Week

As Community Foundation Week comes to a close, we send our gratitude to everyone who participated and engaged with us last week.

At its heart, the work we do is for the community, and it is only made possible through the collective efforts and active engagement of people like you.

This week has been a powerful reminder of how when we come together, we can address challenges, uplift one another, and create meaningful change.

You may have visited us and shared some hot cocoa, engaged in our Let's Talk program, shared our posts on Facebook, learned more about community foundations, had dinner to support us at Texas Roadhouse, joined us at our Site Visit to Family Reading Partnership, and/or listened to Gloria's talk on All things equal!

Community engagement is our cornerstone. It shapes our vision, drives our initiatives, and ensures that we are meeting the real needs of the people we serve. Your participation highlights the importance of this work AND reinforces that a strong, connected community is built by all of us.

While Community Foundation Week may be ending, our commitment to this mission continues. After a week of learning about the impact of community foundations, we invite you to make a difference right here in Tompkins County.

Every gift, big or small, supports a fund that aligns with your passions—from honoring loved ones and advancing social justice to supporting arts, education, and youth programs.

Click HERE to make a gift!

The Year-End Countdown Begins, Tips to wrap up 2024

As the giving season approaches, you maybe thinking about tax planning and your charitable goals by year-end. Here is some timely information as you make the most of your philanthropy in 2024.

Here’s what’s trending this season:

–Give stock. Evaluate your appreciated stock and use these assets to give to your Community Foundation. Call your tax or financial advisors to optimize your 2024 goals.

Appreciated assets generally are far better charitable gifts than cash because

you not only can take advantage of the income tax deduction, but also you can

avoid capital gains tax. 

–Create a donor-advised fund. Consider a “bundling” or “bunching” technique by making a gift to a donor-advised fund. This allows you to leverage itemized deductions and then give from your donor-advised fund over the next few years to support charities.

–Explore a QCD. If you are age 70 ½ or older, you will benefit from making a

Qualified Charitable Distribution (“QCD”) to a designated or field-of-interest fund at the Community Foundation.

You and your spouse each can give up to $105,000 in 2024, and the distributions will satisfy your RMDs.

--Planned Gifts. For couples with or without heirs, charitable plans are a powerful way to leave a legacy. Our team is here to help you create a plan that honors your charitable intentions, ensuring the community benefits for generations to come.

Contact the Community Foundation right away to put one of these powerful ideas into motion.

Wishing you and yours a safe, joyful, and meaningful Thanksgiving!

Let's Talk: The State of Family Literacy

Family Reading Partnership has been a cornerstone in fostering a love for reading and learning throughout our community. By promoting family literacy, they have helped make reading a shared experience that brings families closer together, laying a strong foundation for children’s academic and emotional growth.

The work of the Family Reading Partnership is more than just promoting reading; it’s about building a brighter future for our community, one book—and one family—at a time. In case you missed this important Let's Talk, you can view the recording HERE.

In case you missed it

Unity House held an event for donors with a panel of its Planned Giving Advisory Council. Above (left to right) Chris Iven, Unity House, Nancy Massicci, Community Foundation of Tompkins County, Nate Kopp, Coughlin Gerhart and Tim Carr, Pinnacle Investments.

Annually in October is National Estate Planning Awareness Week and is an ideal time for nonprofits to share planned gift ideas and to encourage everyone to make a will.

Started in 2008, the awareness week is meant to help people understand what estate planning is and why it's so important.

Is estate planning for the wealthy?

Although estate planning does impact the very wealthy, it can also dramatically impact those of moderate means. For example, if you own property or have someone who is dependent on you, an estate plan is needed. It helps you address how, when and to whom you want your assets to be distributed after your death.