NEWS
Our latest Newsletter is here! Click here.
C. Keith Birkenfeld Humanitarian Award Nominations:
Who wants the opportunity to give away $25,000 to a few deserving local nonproftis? BCF is accepting nominations until July 23 for the C. Keith Birkenfeld Humanitarian Award, given to the Kitsap resident who shows the best in volunteer service and leadership in the community.
The award comes with a $25,000 grant making opportunity to the winner's charity of choice. Nominate your favorite volunteer today! Click here for more information.
RECENT PRESS
2010
• 2010 C. Keith Birkenfeld Humanitarian Award
2009
• 2009 BCF Newsletter
• 2009 C. Keith Birkenfeld Humanitarian Award
• 2009 Community Grants Announcement
• 2009 Birkenfeld Award Announcement
• Community Response Fund Letter to the Editor
• Community leaders Jim Chapel and Elaine VonRosenstiel join BCF’s Board of Trustees (April)
2008
• Bainbridge Community Foundation Celebrates $1 million in Grants (December)
• Steve and Harriet Davis Receive 2008 Community Philanthropy Award (September)
• Grant Awards 2008 Press Release (August)
• Birkenfeld Bequest grant awarded (July)
• Scholarship Press Release 2008 (June)
• 2008 New Board Members Press Release (March)
2007
• Grants Awards 2007 Press Release (June)
2006
• Bainbridge Community Foundation Press Release (October)
• Web Service Press Release 2006 (July)
• Grant Awards 2006 Press Release (June)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a community foundation?
Community foundations help local individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit agencies achieve their charitable and financial goals by providing tools and resources that make giving easy, flexible, and effective.
Why should I give to a community foundation?
1. Builds funds that grow and benefit the community forever.
2. Helps create an individual or family legacy.
3. Offers donor involvement in selecting charities.
4. Can closely monitor local issues, opportunities, and resources.
5. Offers a simple way to fulfill multiple charitable interests with low-cost administration.
6. Has personalized donor service.
7. Accepts a wide variety of assets.
8. Provides maximum tax advantages.
9. Preserves donor intent even when community needs and organizations change.
10. Provides prudent stewardship and investment practices.
What does Bainbridge Community Foundation do?
We focus on helping our donors fulfill philanthropic interests by supporting organizations within our island community. Our goal is to raise funds through significant gifts from donors and to make grants from these funds to support the long-term needs of Bainbridge Island. The Foundation has an in-depth understanding of our island’s unique challenges and the groups and individuals addressing them. The Foundation offers donors an efficient, collective process for their philanthropic actions.
What are the benefits of giving through Bainbridge Community Foundation?
The Foundation has an in-depth understanding of our island’s unique challenges and the groups and individuals addressing them. The Foundation offers donors an efficient, collective process for their philanthropic actions.
How long has Bainbridge Community Foundation been around?
Since 2001, Bainbridge Community Foundation and its donors have given over $800,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations, supporting every facet of community need.
What is the difference between One Call For All and Bainbridge Community Foundation?
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One Call For All
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Bainbridge Community Foundation
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Facilitates an annual giving campaign, does not hold or “grow” the money.
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Manages and invests assets that grow over the long term.
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Generally smaller donations that get sent to nonprofits.
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Establishes donor-advised funds that invest in long-term sustainability of BI.
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Pass through of money, but does not look strategically at long term issues for our community.
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Strategic grantmaking v. annual giving.
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Focuses on short term giving and how to make it easier for check-book givers to give to BI organizations
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Focuses on long-term Philanthropy and how it helps the community for generations to come.
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Why would I give to Bainbridge Community Foundation, when I can give directly to an organization?
- If you are giving substantial amounts to charitable organizations each year, a donor-advised fund offers you personal service, tax advantages and local knowledge that might be attractive to you.
- Due diligence on each organization
- Site visits as part of the Community Grants program
- No tax/IRS hassles that private or family foundations have
- We are the eyes and ears for many needs in the community; we have expertise and knowledge on key issues AND how to grant properly.
- Maybe you are interested in giving to a “community pool” that concentrates on giving to a wide range of organizations that sustain our neighbors and friends.
- With our donor-advised funds, you ARE giving directly to an organization as you make your own grants.
Can I give to any organization?
The organization must have a IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter.
What are my options for giving?
Area-of-Interest Funds allow donors to establish funds that support a specific interest. Donors may direct funding towards environmental causes, youth programs, the arts or other areas of interest. They can also give to an existing Bainbridge Community Foundation Area-of-Interest fund.
Designated Funds enable interested donors to support a specific need, provide endowment support to one or more specific local nonprofit organizations, or create a new program to support a specific local cause.
Donor-Advised Funds allow donors who want to get and stay involved in local philanthropy to do so in an easy, efficient, and affordable way. We keep our donor advisors informed of local giving opportunities while allowing them to recommend grants to specific organizations.
Memorial Funds are available to donors who wish to set up a fund to remember a family member, or to honor a particular event or issue. The Foundation will help manage contributions to a memorial fund as well as direct proceeds to reflect the original intent of the gift.
Scholarship Funds are custom designed to match specific goals, whether donors want to support graduates of a particular high school, students attending a certain college, or students pursuing a particular course of study.
Bequests can be for a certain dollar amount, or a gift of stock, bonds or real estate, or as a residual bequest leaving all or a portion of an estate after debts, taxes, expenses and other bequests have been paid.
Life Income Gifts allow donors to commit cash and other assets to a future philanthropic purpose, while assuring continued current income from those assets by creating a charitable remainder trust.
What’s a Donor-Advised Fund?
- For those who have reached a higher level of charitable giving, a donor-advised fund provides a flexible way to give year round; it’s like having your own foundation without all the IRS hassles and administrative bulk.
- A donor-advised fund is a personal grantmaking vehicle for people.
- Bainbridge Community Foundation offers other funds to serve our community:
- Scholarship
- Memorial
- Designated (i.e. for an arts organization specifically)
- Area of Interest (environmental, animal rights)
Who can give through Bainbridge Community Foundation?
Anyone can donate to the Bainbridge Community Foundation with an outright gift, including a donation of cash or other assets to the Bainbridge Fund. Donors can write a check, donate stocks or give a piece of real estate. All proceeds immediately go to work for the community.
We offer donors a variety of options for giving:
· Establish a fund that best fits your philanthropic goals.
· Give to the Bainbridge Fund, the pool for unrestricted funds and our community grant making.
· Include the Bainbridge Community Foundation in your estate plans.
How do I contact the Bainbridge Community Foundation?
The Bainbridge Community Foundation is here to help the community and to help donors do so as well. Please contact us with your questions and suggestions. Talk with your attorney, accountant or financial advisor about how you might help our community through the Bainbridge Community Foundation.
Mailing Address:
Bainbridge Community Foundation
Marge Williams Office Center, No. 305
221 Winslow Way West
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Email Address:
info@bainbridgecommunityfoundation.org
Telephone Numbers:
Grants and Donor Services, Jean Casey
206.842.0433
Development Director, Kassia Sing
206.842.0433
Is the Bainbridge Community Foundation associated in any way with the Seattle Foundation?
Yes. The Seattle Foundation provides BCF with professional investment management, administrative and accounting support, and technical expertise.
Where do I find a Donor-Advised Fund Grant Request form?
Please go the Current Donors page and under Donor Resources click on the link:
Donor-Advised Fund Grant Request Form.
How can I access my fund information?
Please go the Current Donors page and under Documents and Links click on the link: The Seattle Foundation.
How can I find out about current gifting opportunities within the community?
Please go the Gifting Opportunities page.
How can I post a gifting opportunity on your website?
Please fill out the Web Posting Form which is intended for use only by local nonprofit (IRS code 501(c)(3)) organizations to authorize Bainbridge Community Foundation (BCF) to post suggested information on its website, www.bainbridgecommunityfoundation.org.
Such postings may be viewed by any visitor to the website, and therefore, confidential information should not be submitted. BCF may edit submissions for length or appropriateness. Please email completed form to info@bainbridgecommunityfoundation.org
How do I find out about the Bainbridge Community Foundation grant cycle?
Please go the Non-Profits/Grants Information page. At the bottom of the page, you will find forms to download.
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