August is National Make-A-Will Month, making it the perfect time to think not only about protecting your loved ones, but also about the legacy you want to leave in your community.
You may be surprised to learn that you can plan your charitable legacy today without making a gift during your lifetime.
At the Carbon County Community Foundation, we can work with you now to establish a charitable fund that reflects your values and long-term goals. You can then name that fund in your will or estate plan, allowing your charitable giving to take place in the future. Your charitable legacy is thoughtfully planned today but funded later through your estate.
That means you can take the time now to ensure your wishes are clearly documented, your charitable goals are carefully considered, and your family and professional advisors understand exactly what you want to accomplish—all without affecting your finances today.
How the Carbon County Community Foundation Can Help
Many people assume they need to name each nonprofit organization directly in their will. While that’s certainly an option, including the Carbon County Community Foundation in your estate plan offers added flexibility and peace of mind.
When you establish a fund through the Community Foundation, we work with you to design it around your charitable vision. Then, when your estate gift is received, the fund is already in place and ready to carry out your wishes exactly as you intended.
Through the Community Foundation, you can:
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- Support the nonprofit organizations or charitable causes you care about.
Whether you want to provide ongoing support to specific nonprofits or invest in the causes important to you like education or the arts, we can help create a fund that reflects your charitable vision. - Establish a scholarship fund.
Honor a loved one or recognize a profession, and invest in the next generation by helping students pursue higher education, career training, or other educational opportunities. - Create a donor advised fund.
Leave a legacy of generosity by allowing your children or other advisors to recommend grants to charitable organizations in the future, continuing your family’s tradition of giving. - Support the community’s greatest needs.
An unrestricted fund allows the Community Foundation to address the changing needs and emerging opportunities facing Carbon County, both now and in the future.
- Support the nonprofit organizations or charitable causes you care about.
Planning for the Future
One of the greatest advantages of working with a Community Foundation like ours is permanence.
Community needs change over time, and organizations may merge, change their mission, or even close their doors. Because the Carbon County Community Foundation exists to serve Carbon County forever, we can help ensure your charitable wishes continue to be honored while adapting to changing circumstances.
Our role is to steward your charitable legacy responsibly, ensuring your gift is used in accordance with your wishes while remaining flexible enough to respond to the future.
Whether your passion is education, the arts, historic preservation, parks, first responders, food security, the environment, or another charitable cause, we can help you create a plan that reflects what matters most to you.
A Lasting Impact
You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a meaningful charitable gift through your estate plan. Many legacy gifts come from individuals and families who simply want to leave Carbon County a little better than they found it.
This National Make-A-Will Month, consider not only who you want to provide for, but also the legacy you want to leave. With thoughtful planning, you can create a charitable legacy that reflects your values and continues making a difference in Carbon County for generations to come.
Let’s Talk!
Thinking about including charitable giving in your will or estate plan? We’re happy to talk with you about your goals and explore how the Carbon County Community Foundation can help you create a charitable legacy that reflects what matters most to you. You can start planning now, even if your charitable gift won’t be made until the future.
Contact us at director@cccfoundpa.org or 610-730-2526 or schedule an appointment online. We’re happy to start the conversation and, when appropriate, work alongside your attorney, financial advisor, or other professional advisors as you put your plans in place.