Fostering trust and making a difference
Many people are not aware of the extent to which America’s charitable organizations help improve the quality of life in our communities. From social services to the arts, virtually every aspect of our lives is touched by the work of nonprofits. Indeed, the gifts Americans give to charity every year total more than $557 billion and provide critical support […]
FM Area Foundation Supports Fargo Rotary Club in Bringing Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Fargo, ND
The FM Area Foundation is pleased to partner with the Fargo Rotary Club to reintroduce the beloved Dolly Parton Imagination Library to the 58102 Fargo neighborhood, with hopes of expanding to other areas in the future. This initiative aims to provide free books to children from birth to age five, fostering a love for reading […]
Into the great unknown
Humans crave certainty, and that is certainly not what we have right now during election season, especially where taxes are concerned. Your clients who support charitable causes may be wondering how the election outcomes might impact their philanthropic plans. You’re probably wondering that, too! Of course, no one has a crystal ball. It is impossible […]
Event tickets: Beware of the split
Many of your philanthropy-minded clients certainly enjoy attending fundraising events for their favorite charities. Especially as community events start ramping up this fall, you’ll want to be aware of a little wrinkle in the IRS rules that may surprise your clients so much that they ask you about it. Here’s how this might go. Client: […]
At a loss for words? Tips for starting a charitable giving conversation
At a loss for words? Tips for starting a charitable giving conversationAttorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors certainly are not strangers to tough questions. Indeed, the mix of money, family, and mortality is a potent combination that almost always creates an emotionally charged planning environment, whether the matter at hand is tax planning, updating wills and […]
This may be your best move yet
If you’ve already established a donor-advised fund at the FM Area Foundation, you can understand why it’s become such a popular tool for organizing your family’s giving and serving as a springboard for so many other ways to make a difference in our region. Recently, we’ve talked with a lot of donors who work with the FM […]
Giving to others gives us lots of reasons to smile
The FM Area Foundation is honored to serve at the center of your philanthropy. Whether you’ve established a donor-advised or other type of fund, arranged for a bequest to a fund, the FM Area Foundation itself, or both, our team strives to help you organize your giving to make it easy and convenient. If you’ve […]
Less can be more: Charitable giving helps parents pass wealth to children
How much is too much? That’s a question many parents ask as they structure lifetime gifts and bequests to children in their financial and estate plans. Wealthy clients are sometimes concerned that leaving millions of dollars, or even hundreds of thousands, to their children could backfire and hinder their kids’ ability and motivation to achieve […]
Counting pennies: How to counsel frugal yet charitable clients
Over the years, you’ve no doubt experienced a wide range of what clients perceive as “wealthy.” You’ve likely also observed that clients have different assumptions about what it takes to be a “philanthropist.” The interplay between a client’s perception of personal wealth and charitable giving capacity presents interesting opportunities for client engagement. You may find yourself helping […]
Gifts of real estate: Watch every step
We’re hearing from more and more attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors that your clients are expressing interest in giving real estate to charity. This is wonderful news! You’re certainly aware that gifts of real estate to a fund at the community foundation, just like gifts of other long-term capital assets, can be extremely tax-efficient. That’s […]