THE FOUNDATION is a tax-exempt public charity created in 2005 to help Tri-State area residents make their charitable giving as effective as possible.

The foundation provides local donors with ways to give back to their community for years to come, primarily through the establishment of endowed funds. An endowment is a means of providing long-term support to nonprofit organizations and the people they serve.

The foundation will administer the donations by awarding grants to support local, noneprofit organizations, in accordance with the donor's interests. Donors can designate where they would like their donations to go or they can leave the details to the discretion of the foundation.

The foundation invests the donations so they can grow and provide even greater support than the original donation. By pooling many donations, the investments will realize greater yields.

The foundation is guided by a local, volunteer board of directors, but the board makes use of professional investment management. KACF is an affiliate of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, which provides organizational and financial management assistance.

What Can I donate, and how can I direct the funds?

THERE ARE MANY ways to donate, but the most common forms of donations are:

• Cash
  
• Stocks or bonds
  
• Real estate
  
• Life insurance
  
• Bequests as part of the donor's estate plans
  

AND THERE ARE seven types of funds to meet our donors' charitable interests:

• Unrestricted funds offer the broadest giving options, allowing the foundation board to direct funds to meet the community's ever-changing needs.
  
• Field of interest funds create grants that meet needs in a particular area of interest to you.
  
• Designated funds let you support specific charitable organizations.
  
• Donor-advised funds allow you to retain the right to recommend recipient charities.
  
• Scholarships help students pursue academic goals.
  
• Agency endowments provide income to charitable organizations in perpetuity.
  
• Special purpose funds may be established within the foundation from time to time to meet unique needs.

Why should I consider charitable giving?

YOU'VE WORKED HARD to achieve your goals and to support the causes and institutions you believe in. A charitable gift is a way to continue that hard work in perpetuity. It is a way to leave a lasting legacy. As someone who knows the value of giving, you want to be assured that your gifts will meet vital needs and improve our community. You want to know that your gifts will achieve positive results, and, of course, maximize your tax savings.

You may want to involve your family in your giving. You want a tasteful level of recognition - or perhaps you want anonymity. But most of all, you want an easy and flexible way to  accomplish your objectives. There is a simple way for you to make a difference and leave a legacy in our community-and that's by establishing a fund with us.