It's easy to start your own fund at the Delaware County Community Foundation. You can create your own fund now, establish it in your will, or create it through a planned giving trust arrangement that will benefit both your family and your favorite charities. You can give to existing funds in honor of someone or an event such as a wedding anniversary or special birthday, or to memorialize a loved one.

Donors enjoy the most advantageous tax treatment, the widest flexibility in structure and distribution, and the greatest degree of permanence and stability available in the field of philanthropy.

DCCF encourages donors to make unrestricted gifts in order to build a flexible, permanent endowment that will grow and benefit the community now and forever. In addition, the foundation works with donors to establish and “tailor” other types of gifts that address their specific financial circumstances and goals, including field-of-interest, designated, donor-advised, special project, and other restricted funds. With as little as $3,000, you can start and name your own fund. Your fund must, however, reach $10,000 before initiating grantmaking.

The foundation can receive gifts of many types, such as cash, stocks, assets that have appreciated over time, insurance, real estate, and even existing businesses. Foundation staff will handle all the detail of grant making, tax fillings, registrations, and investing and will respond to requests for support on behalf of donors.

You may know which charitable organizations you want to support or you may not. In either case, the Foundation’s staff can help you shape a grant-making program that fits your current circumstances and that carries on your charitable intent forever.

DCCF board members and staff readily make themselves available to meet with potential donors and their advisors to help determine the best way for you to leave a legacy to Delaware County. DCCF does not market products nor engage in any sales activity. All meetings are confidential and informational in nature.

Call Margaret Hendricks, DCCF's Executive Director, at 610-565-8353 or email us at delcocf@comcast.net to set up an appointment or obtain further information.