Make an Impact Now and Forever

March 2025 – Generosity CORNER – According to the 2023 Giving USA Report released in June 2024, charitable bequests, totaling nearly $43 billion, are up 4.8% over the previous year, keeping pace with inflation. This extraordinary generosity signals the possibility of tremendous impact in our community and communities across the country. 

We are grateful to many of you who have chosen to leave an estate gift to the DeKalb County Community Foundation. Whether your will or trust includes a bequest to your Fund at the Community Foundation or whether you’ve named the Foundation as the beneficiary of your IRA, your gift will help improve the quality of life for people in our region for years to come.

At the Community Foundation, we’re honored to work with donors who are not only interested in leaving a legacy but also want to maximize giving during their lifetimes. Indeed, many donors are interested in establishing a Donor Advised or other type of Fund at the Foundation for a variety of reasons:

• They want to experience the joy of seeing the results of their gifts. 
• In addition to providing financial support through their Community Foundation Fund, many donors enjoy getting involved, whether as volunteers, board members, or observers at site visits to charities they support. 
• They want to involve their children and grandchildren in supporting favorite charities, especially by working with the Foundation through a family Donor Advised Fund.
• They like the added perk that they may be eligible for an income tax deduction for lifetime charitable gifts and that the gifted assets are no longer subject to potential future estate taxes.

The Community Foundation is honored to work with you as you incorporate lifetime giving into your charitable giving plan, including generous and much-appreciated estate gifts to the Foundation. Thank you for partnering with us to enhance the quality of life throughout DeKalb County!

Philanthropy comes in many forms, and every act of generosity makes a difference. In these Generosity CORNER articles, we’ll share ideas for giving, smart strategies for maximizing your charitable impact, and tips on tax-wise giving, legacy planning, and family philanthropy. Whether you’re a charitable estate planning advisor, a longtime donor, or just beginning your giving journey, this space is for you. Inform and inspire!

Together, we can make a lasting difference—one generous act at a time!