To Better Meet the Donor's Goals:
Transfer of Donor Advised Fund from commercial sponsor to
Community Foundation
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After receiving a recommendation from her mother's professional advisor, estate planning attorney Anna Holmberg, Katherine Funk consulted with Community Foundation staff about our philanthropic services. Katherine supports the charitable giving goals of her mother, Maralyn Fleming. They had started a donor advised fund with a national financial institution on her behalf. Once Katherine learned about our local knowledge of needs and deep relationships with mission driven organizations she felt that transferring that donor advised fund to Community Foundation would better meet her and her mother's goals. Katherine shared:
"Our family has deep roots in Tompkins County and our mother, Maralyn Fleming was a committed volunteer with numerous community organizations.
We made the decision to move her DAF from a commercial investment firm to the Community Foundation in order to take advantage of their knowledge of community needs and opportunities.
Working through the Foundation will help us to insure that Mom’s local gifting will have the most impact in her areas of interest."
If you already have a donor advised fund held elsewhere or at a commercial sponsor, you can also transfer the fund to us and benefit from our awareness of local issues. Our ability to offer designated funds for specific organizations as well as field of interest funds adds additional options.
Contact Chief Philanthropic Services & Systems Officer Amy LeViere at aleviere@cftompkins.org to explore your choices and benefit from our knowledge and expertise.
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WADE PICKREN
Wade Pickren holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of Florida. During his career he has held leadership positions at the American Psychological Association (Washington, DC), at Toronto Metropolitan University, and Ithaca College. He is also a leading author and editor in the field of psychology with thirteen books published. Although retired from active academic employment, Wade continues to serve in leadership roles in psychology and related fields. His current scholarship and activist practice is focused on the current crises of climate, food security, social/income inequities, and biodiversity, with special emphases on their impacts in terms of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity. His current project, Living Earthwise, is intended to help humans develop effective earth-oriented interventions to counter these
impacts.
CLICK HERE for Board Biographies.
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Community Philanthropy
Business Sponsor
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First National
Bank of Groton
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Stephen Gobel, president, shares:
“At the First National Bank of Groton, we believe in the importance of making our community a better place for all of us. This belief is deeply engrained and is embodied in our active participation in the communities where we live and work.
We choose to support the Community Foundation of Tompkins County, because like you, we recognize that by giving back, we’re not just investing in the present, but also in the future prosperity and well-being of our communities.”
Learn about others who are making a difference, click HERE
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DEI Corner
Embracing Diversity: Celebrating Heritage in the Month of May
As we enter the month of May, we’re excited to continue our journey of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization and in our community. Celebrating the diversity within our staff, board members, and volunteers is a powerful affirmation of our commitment to inclusivity and equity. It signifies that we recognize and value the unique perspectives, talents, and experiences that each individual brings to the table.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Haitian American Heritage Month, and Jewish American Heritage Month. It’s a time for celebration, reflection, and action, as we recognize the importance of embracing our differences and working together towards a more inclusive future. There’s much to learn, honor, and appreciate as we come together as a community to honor the rich tapestry of traditions makes us who we are. We encompass many different cultures, different ancestries, and different identities that we are so very proud of!
We are committed to building bridges across divides, fostering understanding, and creating spaces where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to be their best selves every day. We want to celebrate, honor, and acknowledge Pamela Tan, Board Member, and Gloria Coicou, Chief Equity, Engagement, & Grants Officer.
Pamela Tan shares a bit about her Filipino heritage: “[I celebrate my heritage] primarily through cuisine, which is such an important touchstone for my Filipino family. My husband’s parents...READ MORE.
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Establish An Endowment for your Community | |
Every year, the team at Community Foundation connects people like you with our expertise in accounting, investment, and grantmaking to establish endowment funds that support the needs of our region in perpetuity (that means forever 😊).
As the hub of philanthropy in our community we serve you. We connect donors like you to community needs you care about. You can make a charitable gift, which can be added to gifts from others, that supports a range of community needs now and in the decades ahead. That’s the purpose of an endowment: to provide a steady stream of dollars, far into the future, to meet community needs as they arise.
“Endowment” refers to a designated pool of assets that we prudently invest so that a modest portion (usually based on a percentage) of the assets are distributed each year to charitable causes. The rest of the assets remain invested to grow in perpetuity. This growth, in turn, helps the endowment provide even more support each year to the causes for which it was established.
Continuing reading HERE
We look forward to working with you to support our community and your favorite charitable causes for generations to come!
Contact Chief Development Officer Nancy Massicci at nmassicci@cftompkins.org for more information.
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Library Grant Cycle Results
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The 2024 Library Grant Cycle is complete with a total of $160,500 granted to 22 libraries in the Finger Lakes Library System in Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga and Tompkins counties.
In the 15 years of this cycle, nearly $1.9M has been granted to promote genuine intellectual curiosity and a lifelong love of reading and learning for the region's youth.
Thanks to Community Foundation's prudent investment strategies the fund has grown by $1.4M in net earnings.
This is all made possible by the bequest of Dr. Bernard Rosen which created the Bernard Carl & Shirley Rosen Library Fund in 2009, an endowed fund at the Community Foundation.
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The Downtown Plan is the latest in a series of neighborhood plans pursued as the second phase to the adoption of the city’s overarching Comprehensive Plan.
The plan will be the City of Ithaca and Downtown Ithaca Alliance’s shared blueprint for the future of Downtown Ithaca as the sustainable, inclusive, and economically vibrant center of our community. Several key themes have emerged during the planning process so far, including ideas around livability, connectivity, and creativity.
They invite your participation by completing this survey.
Click HERE to take the survey.
| A World of Discovery for All: A Visit to Sciencenter | |
The Sciencenter embodies more than just a hub for scientific exploration; it’s a catalyst for community engagement and growth felt by so many. I was joined by our CEO, board members, community members, volunteers, Cornell MBA students, and staff-our biggest site visit yet-to visit the Sciencenter! WRFI’s Executive Director, Felix Tenenbaum even came out for the fun! Our visit provided a glimpse into the center’s diverse array of STEM initiatives and behind the scenes top-secret look into the ‘basement’…and we got to visit a few critters along the way.
We were welcomed by Michelle Kortenaar and Lauren Garnese who took us on a fantastic journey through space and time! Our hosts exemplified a deep passion for science education and community outreach, underscoring the Sciencenter’s commitment to serving as a beacon of learning and inspiration. They truly exhibited a collaborative spirit and their dedication to creating meaningful community connections in everything that they do.
As we navigated through the exhibits, our inner children came out and a sense of wonder surfaced among our group. We touched, we smelled, we saw…it was exhilarating. Additionally, having the opportunity to engage with the exhibits firsthand added an interactive dimension to our visit, reinforcing the center’s commitment to hands-on learning experiences. The Sciencenter transcends age barriers, making science accessible and enjoyable for all…even me and at this age (not that I’m old or anything).
The Sciencenter’s impact extends far beyond its walls, shaping the minds of our future innovators and fostering a sense of belonging within the community. As we reflect on our visit, it’s clear that institutions like the Sciencenter play a vital role in cultivating a culture of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration—a foundation for a thriving and prosperous community. We are so lucky that...READ MORE
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