Donor Services

Some of the ways we help donors:

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is pleased to offer a variety of services and tools to help you make the most of your charitable dollars and enjoy a meaningful giving experience.

Make your gift dollars go further

  • We offer maximum tax advantage for most gifts under federal law.

  • We provide a cost-effective alternative to establishing a private foundation.

  • We pool gifts and grants, minimizing your administration costs and maximizing your impact.

  • Through our careful stewardship and the power of endowment, we invest your gift so that it grows over time.

Understand the mechanics of giving

  • Our Board, Finance Committee, and Professional Investment Advisors work together to ensure you have clear and accurate information about your fund.

  • We respond to your inquiries and correspondence promptly.

Learn about community needs and opportunities

  • Our staff continually monitors the most pressing needs and greatest opportunities throughout Mendocino County.

  • We evaluate all aspects of community well-being: arts and culture, emergency response, youth, environment, parks and recreation, local history, human services, and more.

  • We also have deep relationships with local nonprofits that are making a difference in these areas.

  • We use this knowledge to make high-impact grants.

Work through your estate or financial planner

  • We share our philanthropic expertise with your professional advisor.

  • We help design the charitable giving solution that’s right for you.

Stay involved in your gift

  • When you establish a Field of Interest or Designated Fund, you determine the purpose of your gift from its inception. With a Donor Advised Fund, you can stay involved in recommending uses for your gift.

  • You can also choose to give to our Unrestricted Endowment, for a gift that lasts forever and adapts to changing needs.

Relax while we handle the paperwork

  • We handle all of the administrative responsibilities— including:

    • investment management

    • due diligence

    • tax reporting

    • grantmaking

  • You focus on the joy of giving.

Create your legacy

  • We can help you establish a fund to honor a loved one, a special organization or cause, or the name of your business or family. Grants may be issued in your fund’s chosen name or given anonymously.

Engage the next generation of philanthropists

  • We offer you the opportunity to name successors as fund advisors, continuing your legacy of giving far into the future.

Connect with others who share your passion

  • We connect people who care with causes that matter—and we also connect people to each other. As a donor, you’ll have opportunities to network with other community-focused individuals who share your interests and passions.

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