A new resource for charitable giving
For years, the FM Area Foundation’s Caring Catalog helped connect generous people with local nonprofits serving Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota. Now, the Foundation is building on that tradition with a new resource designed to help people discover local organizations and give with purpose: the Giving Guide. A NEW CHAPTER FOR LOCAL […]
Year-end checklist: Repeat, repeat, repeat
It’s almost November! You are well aware of the calendar, of course, and so are your clients. You’ve also likely already begun reminding clients about year-end tax deadlines and important loose ends to tie up before 2027 hits. Remember, though, that memories are short, and just because you’ve already mentioned year-end deadlines doesn’t mean you […]
Rooted in Gratitude, Guided by Faith
After more than 40 years in the Fargo area, Jason and Nikki Loney chose to establish a fund with the FM Area Foundation as a way to turn gratitude into lasting impact. Their decision was shaped by a desire to partner with an organization that would understand their long-term vision for giving and help them […]
Philanthropy Education Webinar Set for October 20
**We’ve made a change to the event format. This session will now be held virtually only via Microsoft Teams. Register using the link below!** Charitable giving doesn’t always have to mean writing a check. For donors looking to make the most of their generosity, assets they already own, such as appreciated stock or funds held […]
All that and more: Your donor-advised fund may surprise you
You might initially think of a donor-advised fund as a simple charitable savings account: contribute assets, immediately receive a tax deduction, if eligible, and recommend grants to your favorite 501(c)(3) nonprofits over time. While that is certainly true, many people are surprised to learn just how flexible a donor-advised fund at the FM Area Foundation […]
Closer to home: Steps to move your donor-advised fund to the community foundation
At the FM Area Foundation, we work with a wide range of donors who want to support favorite charities and causes they care about. Sometimes we meet with individuals and families who have already begun their charitable giving journey by establishing a donor-advised fund at a national charitable sponsor or commercial provider. Over time, many […]
Charitable Funds Established in 2025
In 2025, we were pleased to welcome 36 new funds established by philanthropic individuals, families and businesses throughout our community. Charitable funds established in 2025: 650 Second Avenue Legacy Fund All American North Trail* Berg Legacy Fund Bethesda Lutheran Church Foundation Fund BIO Girls Permanent Endowment Fund Brittany Brandt Donor Advised Fund Darren and Andrea […]
Case study: Business owners exit with a family legacy
As an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor, you probably work with several clients who own a family business. You’ve likely also considered that there may be a role for strategic philanthropy in family business succession planning to help clients get ready for an eventual exit. But so what? How does strategic philanthropy actually play out […]
Rethinking legacy: Balancing gifts to heirs with the community’s future
Next time you meet with your estate planning attorney, it may be a good idea to check in on your long-term plans and ask yourself questions you might not yet have considered. Some planners, for example, report that more and more clients are reconsidering an automatic estate distribution to heirs. Instead, their clients are evaluating […]
Documentation is no joke and coffee is not milk: Two important tax rulings
At the FM Area Foundation, we value the role you play in helping individuals and families make the most of their charitable giving. That’s why we’re committed to providing regular updates on legal and policy developments that may impact your clients. In two recent rulings, the underlying message is consistent: Courts and the IRS continue […]