We Are Here For You

The Gainesville Community Foundation is governed and administered by a volunteer Board of Directors, and is designed to accommodate the special concerns and interests of donors. Through a gift or bequest, donors may establish a permanent, named fund within the Community Foundation's endowment or contribute to an existing fund. A named fund established at the Community Foundation enjoys the most advantageous tax benefits, the greatest promise of permanence, and the widest flexibility of any philanthropic opportunity. Depending on the charitable goals of donors, grant distributions from the donors' funds may be for broad or specific purposes. Donors may actively participate with the Community Foundation in the selection of recipients.

While donors may choose to support organizations throughout the country, the Community Foundation primarily makes grants to nonprofit organizations in North Central Florida. Donors' funds can be continually recognized in the Foundation's annual report, and the charitable organizations that receive distributions from the fund can be identified. Should the original intended purpose of a gift become unnecessary or incapable of fulfillment, the Board of Directors can reapply the funds to purposes that closely parallel those first designated by donors.

Of major importance to both donors and legal & financial advisors, community foundations provide an attractive, cost-effective alternative for donors who want to establish a private foundation. Donors receive superior tax advantages and freedom from annual reporting requirements, but may retain the right to advise on grant recipients from their funds.

The Gainesville Community Foundation values its relationship with professional advisors in the community and works with them to provide their clients with the most current information on charitable giving options. This website serves as a guide in offering a straightforward approach about various ways to establish a fund at the Foundation. Whether donors wish to help disadvantaged children, assist the elderly, or fulfill some other purpose, the Community Foundation can be of service.

Individual donors, families, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and private foundations have discovered the benefits of using a community foundation to manage their gifts and achieve their philanthropic vision. If you are an estate planning professional, you are in a unique position not only to serve the charitable needs of your clients, but also to affect significantly the quality of life in our community. Funds established today at the Community Foundation will provide a critical stream of income to meet the challenges of the community in the decades to come.

This website is offered as a guide and is not intended to provide legal or financial planning advice. Donors are encouraged to contact their personal legal and financial advisors for information about specific situations.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at the Community Foundation if you would like more information about our services, or if you would like to discuss your charitable objectives.