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 […]
Six for the summer: Mid-year reminders about charitable giving
Donate appreciated stock to your fund at the community foundation. Yes, yes, we absolutely understand how easy it is to write a check when you want to boost your donor-advised or other type of fund at the FM Area Foundation. If you can remember to pause before you pull out your pen, though, considering whether […]
Up in the air: Charitable planning in a shifting tax landscape
It’s an election year, so you may have more questions than answers as you work with your advisors to build your financial and estate plans. In particular, the looming sunset of key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 has created tremendous ambiguity. For many taxpayers, the potential sunset of the TCJA’s higher estate tax […]
Inclusive Playground Grant-City of Moorhead
The Inclusive Playground is an innovative addition to our community and offers a welcoming space where individuals of all abilities can come together for fun and recreation. The play area features a specially designed rubber surface, landscaping, and sidewalks, making it accessible for individuals using wheelchairs and those with mobility challenges. Additionally, the park boasts […]
Celebrate variety: Many assets make great gifts to charity
When your client is getting ready to contribute to a fund at the FM Area Foundation or other charity, remind them not to reach for the checkbook automatically! Here are different (and typically more tax-savvy) options to consider. Marketable securities Gifts of long-term appreciated stock to a donor-advised or other type of fund at the […]
Legal developments: We’re watching!
As your go-to resource for charitable giving techniques, the FM Area Foundation’s team pays close attention to best practices in addressing the broad range of your client’s charitable intentions to support both near-term and long-term community needs. This includes tracking legal developments that may broadly impact philanthropy, specific giving vehicles, and everything in between. For […]