Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, a JCCF 2008 grant recipient
FAQs
- Why should I become a donor?
- How can I give to JCCF?
- What is the Founding 100 Investors Circle?
- What is the JCCF Community Endowment?
- What are the ways to give?
- What are the benefits of giving to JCCF versus giving directly to an organization that I support?
- Why should I choose JCCF over an investment company?
- What is a community foundation?
- How is a community foundation governed?
- How is a community foundation different from a private foundation?
- How is a community foundation different from other nonprofits?
- How do community foundations differ from United Way organizations like United Good Neighbors?
- How are community foundations funded?
- What is the difference between an endowed and nonendowed fund?
- How are JCCF funds managed?
- How does a nonprofit apply for a grant?
- Are all grants made in Jefferson County?
By investing in JCCF, you make a tangible difference close to home. The Foundation strives to acquire and share a deep understanding of the challenges facing our region, and then to engage the creative talents of our community in collaborative planning to meet those challenges through philanthropy and grantmaking.
By becoming a donor, you:
- Manifest your passion for your community by funding the projects you care about.
- Receive maximum allowable tax deductions for your contributions.
- Realize savings on capital gains.
- Leave a legacy for future generations
You can give to an existing fund, you can create a unique charitable fund that reflects your interests and passions, and you can also leave a legacy gift. Whatever you choose, you make a difference close to home:
- Founding 100 Investors Circle — Become a Founding Investor and ensure JCCF’s future.
- Community Endowment Fund — Help meet the needs of Jefferson County, today and tomorrow.
- Area of Interest Funds — Support a broad charitable interest of your choosing.
- Designated Funds — Support one or more specific nonprofits.
- Agency Endowment Funds — If you’re a nonprofit, use this fund type to build organizational capacity.
- Donor Advised Funds — Become actively involved in grantmaking.
- Scholarship Funds — Support targeted education opportunities.
- Giving Circles — Become engaged in collaborative grantmaking.
- Legacy Giving — Make a gift that carries into the future.
What is the Founding 100 Investors Circle?
Founding Investors pledge $10,000 over five years to the JCCF’s Administrative Operating Fund, which builds the Foundation’s infrastructure and ensures its longevity. The operating fund pays for staff, office space, professional consultants, and financial advisors — all the ingredients necessary to run a successful organization that benefits Jefferson County residents today and into the future.
Each JCCF board member is a Founding Investor. We invite you to join us.
What is the JCCF Community Endowment?
The Community Endowment is the central fund of JCCF, opened in 2005 with two large anonymous gifts . The interest earned on this fund’s principle is distributed to worthy projects and organizations in the county through JCCF’s grantmaking program. Grantmaking decisions are made by JCCF, with participation from community members.
The Community Endowment spending rate is set at 4.7% of the annual interest earned on the fund. JCCF invests the balance of the Community Endowment so that it earns income, which is then available to support charitable activities in future years.
The Community Endowment reflects the passion of donors for our community. Through the generosity of you and your neighbors, Jefferson County reaps benefits today and far into the future.
Anyone can make a gift of any size to JCCF, whether to an existing fund or to a new fund that you establish.
Contributions can be cash, real estate, closely held stock, bequests made in your will, and other items of value. There are many ways to give, which makes giving easy.
What are the benefits of giving to JCCF versus giving directly to an organization that I support?
Individual organizations in our area are doing amazing work. We honor the people who support those organizations with their gifts.
But all too often a nonprofit’s budget is based on meeting expenses for a single year. Few local nonprofits have been able to establish long-term, invested reserve funds or endowments.
This is where JCCF comes in. Through a JCCF fund you can plan your giving, supporting the organizations you care about over a longer period of time. We help nonprofits build capacity, and we pool the community’s resources in a combined portfolio of funds to produce a substantial return that can then be reinvested right here at home — including in your favorite nonprofit.
Why should I choose JCCF over an investment company?
Some investment firms may charge less to manage your fund, but no part of their fee is returned to benefit our local community. Not so with JCCF. Half of the Foundation’s standard 1.75% fee charged on most of our fund types enables us to support our operations and fulfill our charitable mission, making a tangible difference close to home and benefiting the community you live in.
What is a community foundation?
A community foundation is a tax-exempt, nonprofit philanthropic organization with the long-term goal of building permanent funds for the charitable benefit of a region’s residents. Donors large and small — individuals, families, businesses, organizations — invest in the foundation, which then administers funds to improve quality of life in the local community, now and into the future.
Community foundations offer ways to give that are easy to set up and that provide tax benefits. A foundation’s assets are held in funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations, and each fund typically has a special purpose designated by the donor.
The community foundation board of directors oversees and administers these funds. The tax-exempt status granted to community foundations by the IRS derives from a foundation’s role as a public charity, supported by the general public and with a board representing the local community and areas served.
JCCF promotes philanthropy throughout Jefferson County, managing a variety of funds as well as building a permanent endowment, a portion of whose annual income supports local nonprofits through grants and special projects.
How is a community foundation governed?
A community foundation is overseen by a board of directors representing the community’s interests. The JCCF board is comprised of business leaders and community members who bring their unique skills and experience. The board is bound by the laws of Washington State and adheres to the governance structure established in the Foundation’s articles of incorporation and bylaws.
How is a community foundation different from a private foundation?
Various types of foundations — private foundations, family foundations, community foundations, and others — are governed by different kinds of regulations.
A community foundation is a public charity with a broad base of support and the IRS grants these foundations special tax advantages. A community foundation is also allowed to manage its funds as part of a single corporation, which gives administrative benefits.
A community foundation brings together people who want to contribute to the health and vitality of their local community. People who give to a community foundation may not know each other well or at all, but they share a concern for the well-being of the place where they live.
How is a community foundation different from other nonprofits?
While a community foundation is also a nonprofit, the mission of a community foundation is broader than that of a traditional nonprofit. The JCCF mission, for example, involves encouraging local philanthropy for the benefit of Jefferson County residents.
This broad scope allows JCCF to connect people who want to give with nonprofit organizations that need their support. The Foundation makes grants that serve a wide range of interest areas as long as there is charitable benefit to the local community.
How do community foundations differ from United Way organizations like United Good Neighbors?
Like United Way organizations, community foundations have broad missions to serve a range of charitable activity in a given locale.
United Way organizations generally focus on social services and basic human needs. Community foundations may serve those same needs, but also support arts and culture, education, recreation, and other special interest areas or projects.
Unlike United Way organizations, community foundations focus on attracting and managing endowments. United Way organizations can be thought of as the community checkbook, while a community foundation is the long-term savings account.
How are community foundations funded?
Community foundations receive contributions from individuals, families, businesses, and organizations in the form of cash, real estate, closely held stock, bequests made in wills, and other items of value. There are many ways to give, which makes giving easy.
What is the difference between an endowed and nonendowed fund?
An endowed fund distributes interest earned on principle, while a nonendowed fund distributes the principle until it is expended. An endowed fund is a promise without end, intended to provide long-term support to the charitable causes you care about.
JCCF is organized as a tax-exempt nonprofit. The Foundation’s funds are held and managed by the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and are overseen by the JCCF Investment Committee.
How does a nonprofit apply for a grant?
JCCF solicits grant proposals, which are then reviewed by a panel of grantmakers. Sunfield Farm and School, Working Image, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters have all received grants from the Foundation’s Community Endowment. JCCF does not currently accept unsolicited grant applications.
Are all grants made in Jefferson County?
Most grants are made in Jefferson County. But Donor Advised Funds carry out the wishes of the donors who created them, and sometimes that means money is distributed in other geographical areas.
How do I get involved?
Anyone can make a gift of any size to JCCF, whether to an existing fund, to a new fund that you establish, or by leaving a legacy after you're gone. Part of our mission is to promote philanthropy — to make giving easy and accessible to everyone.
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