(If you are an organization, click here!)
FUNDS FOR INDIVIDUALS
Here are different ways to give as an individual:
Scholarship funds
The donor earmarks the revenue from their funds to be put towards scholarships to help students meet their academic goals. The donor decides upon specific criteria for eligibility.
Community funds
The donor gives the foundation the onus to determine which issues are most important to the community and to follow the evolution of the needs in each sector. The donor can rest assured that their contribution will benefit the community as a whole.
Designated funds
This type of fund allows donors to identify the charities which will automatically and in perpetuity, benefit from the funds established by their donations. Should one of the designated charities cease operations, the funds will be reallocated to an organization with a similar mission.
Donor-Advised Funds
Donors can recommend which charitable organizations should receive what amount from their funds, leaving the burden of financial and administrative management to Outaouais Philanthropy. The donor can make the recommendation themselves or name a proxy to do so.
Field-of-interest Funds
By choosing this option, donors can direct the funds to a field of particular interest to them, for example, social services, arts or environment.
Share donations or donations of titles to accrue value
By donating shares or titles that will accrue value, the donor avoids paying taxes on capital gains and immediately receives an official receipt with the market value of the shares or titles donated.
Bequests
In their will and testament, the donor can plan a donation or bequest part of their estate to the Outaouais Philanthropy, and in some cases, benefit from a substantial reduction in inheritance tax.
Life insurance
The donor can designate Outaouais Philanthropy as the beneficiary of part or all of the proceeds of a life insurance, thus reducing inheritance tax, or even make Outaouais Philanthropy the holder of the policy and immediately receive an official receipt for tax purposes equivalent to the cash value of the policy.
With one notable exception, any gift, including gifts of real estate, can be used to establish a fund with Outaouais Philanthropy. The only exception: annuities because they constitute a debt. In Canada, public foundations are not permitted to accept such debt obligations.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to further explore which option would be most advantageous for you and for the community as a whole.
FUNDS FOR ORGANIZATIONS
If you’re considering opening an organizational fund, here is a bit more information to guide you:
How this could benefit your organization:
- The Community Foundation takes care of all the administrative requirements of managing your endowment fund, freeing you from the usual risk and administrative burden. Your role may be limited to receiving, once a year, the payment and the fund report.
- The Community Foundation, as the holder of an endowment fund, pools your capital with all the funds in our varied portfolios, which are managed and placed by professionals and supervised by our expert investment committee.
- Your organization can take advantage of flexible options, e.g. a fixed-term endowment fund under which it can, at the end of an agreed period, access the principal to meet capital needs.
- The Community Foundation’s service fee for administering agency endowment funds is low and decreases as your fund’s capital increases.
When should you consider an endowment fund for your organization?
- When a major event occurs: unexpected bequest, sale of property or other liquidity-generating event.
- When your organization has had considerable surpluses for several years.
- When the idea of launching a fundraising campaign to ensure the long-term financial health and sustainability of your organization becomes of interest.
How to know if you’re ready for an endowment fund:
- The break-even point has been reached for several years and your budget is balanced
- Your organization has a good nest-egg to deal with unforeseen expenses, an economic slowdown, major maintenance work, etc.
- Staff and board members know the importance of an endowment fund.
- A long-term need exists in your community for your agency’s services, and you demonstrate a strong commitment to your strategic plan and mission.