Omaha Community Foundation

Sally Kaplan, a fundholder at the Omaha Community Foundation, is a great example of working with an advisor at OCF to support the organizations and causes that move you. This story offers insight into the motivations for giving to local philanthropists. https://lnkd.in/gENxQnQZ

While charitable giving historically has been resilient in the midst of elections, it’s worth bearing in mind that some sources predict that political donations will eat into your clients’ budgets for charitable gifts. As you talk with clients about their philanthropy plans for 2024, you might pass along these trends so your clients can factor into their target gift amounts the potentially greater demand for funding community organizations. This is also a good time to remind clients that political donations are not tax deductible. This may seem elementary, but it still trips up some people who don’t track the rules closely. Here are some articles we are reading: https://lnkd.in/eS35pJYg https://lnkd.in/gtzEMaiB https://lnkd.in/ggbG9K45

Advisors frequently comment that they’re surprised to discover the many ways the Omaha Community Foundation can help their clients, especially compared with national Donor Advised Fund programs. Here are three examples of the types of comments community foundations have heard from professional advisors: “I didn’t realize that the community foundation’s Donor Advised Fund offering was so much more than just an online account. My clients have loved getting to know other donors, accessing first-hand knowledge about what’s going on in the community, and being able to involve their children in philanthropic events and activities.” “I’m amazed at the variety of funds the community foundation can administer. Many of my clients have established Donor Advised Funds and have also augmented their philanthropic planning with a specialized fund such as a Designated Fund or Field-Of-Interest Fund. A big bonus for my retirement-age clients is that the community foundation can receive a Qualified Charitable Distribution from a client’s IRA into some of these specialized funds.” “My clients who sit on nonprofit boards have been so happy that grants from Donor Advised Funds–their own and others’–count toward the IRS’s public support test. That’s really helped new organizations in our community get off the ground.” https://lnkd.in/gFVriH4y

Companies can work with the Omaha Community Foundation to offer Donor Advised Funds to their employees as an added benefit. The employees can fund their DAFs using a wide range of assets, including stock received as a company stock gift. https://lnkd.in/guUQmrg4

As you counsel your clients who are on the boards of nonprofit organizations or perhaps even lead them, be aware of a handful of legal issues that are surfacing as areas of concern. These include the always-relevant topics of employees versus independent contractors and unrelated business activities, as well as emerging issues related to artificial intelligence. Your Donor Services team at OCF is a resource and sounding board as you serve your philanthropic clients. We understand the charitable side of the equation and are happy to serve as a secondary source as you manage the primary relationship with your clients. https://lnkd.in/gGvs-dAv

Today is World Refugee Day, an annual recognition by the United Nations to honor refugees and celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. This month, the Refugee Community Grant Fund advisory committee awarded $165,000 to 16 refugee-led or refugee-serving organizations. The Omaha Community Foundation received 50 applications with grant requests totaling $817,622. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gy9Knqbw

Happy Juneteenth! Take a moment today to learn about local organizations serving people in the African American community. The African American Unity Fund committee awarded $225,000 to 20 organizations supporting initiatives for the African American community in the Omaha metro. The Omaha Community Foundation received 85 applications with grant requests totaling $1,745,350. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gXwuxY9X

We had a blast walking in the Juneteenth parade yesterday! Perfect weather, fun atmosphere, and lots of new friends. Note for next year: 60 pounds of candy isn’t enough!

Although the majority of your clients’ charitable giving is likely strategic, including giving through a Donor Advised Fund or other type of fund at the community foundation, there are definitely exceptions in any household. One of those exceptions for many of your clients may be a form of giving called “checkout charity.” The spare change really does add up–to the tune of $749 million nationwide in 2022 alone! https://lnkd.in/gAnv2dpc

We had a blast walking in the Juneteenth parade yesterday! Perfect weather, fun atmosphere, and lots of new friends. Note for next year: 60 pounds of candy isn’t enough!