Impact
Greatest Impact
The Woodbury Community Foundation works with donors — individuals, families, businesses, and organizations — to create and sustain charitable funds that will make the greatest impact in our community.
Start a Fund
Through our donors, the Foundation has created a permanent endowment to benefit Woodbury and your legacy can begin here. You can create a named fund with a gift or bequest of $20,000 or more. Gifts under $20,000 will be placed in our general endowment or in one of our Field of Interest Funds. Other types of permanent funds including advised funds require a minimum of $50,000. An alternative approach is to build a permanent fund over time, starting with at least a $5,000 contribution.
Of Funds
Donor Advised Funds
With an WCF donor-advised fund, you can actively participate in grant-making to nonprofit organizations throughout the community. You can also name successor advisors, such as your children, to carry on your family’s legacy of giving. For more information on these types of funds, please click here: WCF – Legacy – Donor Advised Funds.
Agency and/or Endowment Partner Fund
Nonprofit organizations may establish an endowment partner fund that will provide efficient and effective stewardship of an organization’s endowment. For more information on these types of funds, please click here: WCF – Legacy – Agency Funds
Discretionary Fund
A discretionary fund supports WCF’s overall charitable mission of improving life in Woodbury through philanthropy. We make grants from discretionary funds to meet greatest current needs, including education, health, and human and cultural services.
Donor-Designated Funds
If you have a specific charitable organization in mind, you may name the group to receive distributions from the fund. If that group ceases to exist, or the purpose it serves becomes obsolete, the WCF board has the responsibility and authority to reapply the distributions to a similar charitable organization.
Field of Interest Funds
If you have a deeply held field of interest — such as disadvantaged children, the elderly, or the performing arts — we can help you direct grants to those causes. For more information on these types of funds, please click here: WCF – Legacy – Field of Interest Funds.
FAQs
What is a community foundation?
Why should I create a fund at WCF?
Creating a fund at WCF makes it easy and satisfying to fulfill your philanthropic wishes. Additional benefits include tax advantages, a professionally managed portfolio, and access to the support and expertise of our professional staff. Click here for more information on why you should choose the Woodbury Community Foundation: WCF - Legacy - Why a Community Foundation
Why should I create a fund at WCF instead of donating directly to an organization?
The WCF will perform due diligence on each organization, and our work with other donors and organizations often allows us to identify a need within the community that fits with your philanthropic goals. Also, you may, with our donor-advised funds, give directly to an organization when you make your own grant recommendations. For more information on leaving a legacy, click here: WCF - Legacy - Leaving a Legacy
What types of funds does WCF offer?
We offer advised, designated, discretionary, field of interest and endowment partner funds.
How much money do I need to start a fund?
You can enter into an agreement with OCF to create a step-up fund with an initial gift of $5,000 (or less), and gradually build assets toward a permanent fund. Permanent funds (including advised funds) start with an initial gift of at least $10,000.
What assets can I contribute to a fund?
We accept gifts of cash, real estate, securities and personal property. Bequests by will of cash or property, and life insurance or retirement plan assets that name WCF as the beneficiary, are other possible contributions.
How can I get my children involved?
If your children are of legal age, you can engage them as advisors on your advised fund. You can also name them as successors on the fund.
Is there a minimum amount for a grant?
Not really, but we recommend individual grants of at least $1,000, but $250 is the suggested minimum.
May I set up an anonymous fund?
Yes. Simply let us know when you submit your grant recommendations that you would like to remain anonymous.
What types of organizations may I recommend for grants?
You may recommend qualified nonprofit public charities, schools and government programs. This type of information can be found by consulting the most up to date information from the IRS.
Can I recommend a grant to an individual?
I want to make grants to a specific type of organization, but I am not familiar with any. Can the WCF help me identify some good candidates?
Yes. We can work with you to identify worthy nonprofit organizations that meet your charitable goals.
Can I use my fund to pay off a pledge I made to my another organization?
We accept gifts of cash, real estate, securities and personal property. Bequests by will of cash or property, and life insurance or retirement plan assets that name WCF as the beneficiary, are other possible contributions.
Advisors
The Woodbury Community Foundation (WCF) is ready to support your work with clients.
At no cost to you or your clients, we can:
- Consult with you and your clients on ways the Woodbury Community Foundation can help them meet their charitable and financial goals.
- Provide printed materials about giving through the Woodbury Community Foundation, including information on a variety of fund types and giving strategies.
- Offer strategies for discussing charitable giving with your clients.
- Handle the transfer of appreciated securities, life insurance and other complicated assets.
For more information on the value of contributing to a Community Foundation versus setting up a private foundation for your clients, please click HERE
To inquire about how the Foundation might be helpful to you or your clients, please feel free to give us a call at 651-788-6586 or send us an email at wcf@woodburyfoundation.org
Gift Opportunities
We invite you to join those donors who have stretched their dollars to help create an even greater impact in Woodbury. Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage you to contribute to organizations like Woodbury Community Foundation. Most of these programs match contributions dollar for dollar, and some also provide a match for your volunteer hours. Turn your $100 donation into a $200 donation, or your 20 hours of volunteer time into a $100 donation with the help of your employer.