Money, mortality, and family relationships can be hard topics to face. That’s why many people postpone updating their wills or estate plans. Yet getting your affairs in order—long before illness or age forces the issue—is one of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones. A clear, current estate plan spares them the stress of uncertainty while ensuring your assets, and your charitable values, are handled exactly as you wish.
One of the simplest and most meaningful ways to support the causes you love is through a beneficiary designation. When reviewing insurance policies, IRAs, or 401(k)s with your attorney or advisor, consider naming your fund at the Community Foundation as a beneficiary. This can be a highly tax-efficient way to make a lasting impact—often avoiding both estate and income taxes on those retirement assets.
The team at the Community Foundation for the CSRA is here to make this process smooth. We can help you:
- Review the tax benefits of naming your fund as a beneficiary.
- Provide the correct language for wills, trusts, and beneficiary forms.
- Ensure your donor-advised fund reflects your long-term wishes—whether that means naming charities to receive future gifts or designating your children as successor advisors.
We’ve all heard stories of the confusion and conflict that can follow when someone dies without a plan. A thoughtful estate plan brings peace of mind, clarity, and the opportunity to express care for both people and causes that matter most.
Every Gift Makes a Difference
Whether large or small, every gift through the Community Foundation helps strengthen our region. Many donors transfer appreciated stock or other assets to their donor-advised fund early in the year, allowing them to respond quickly to needs as they arise. The beauty of working with the foundation is flexibility—you can give at the level that fits your means while maximizing your impact.
A $250 gift to a food bank, a $2,500 scholarship contribution, or a $25,000 endowment gift—all make a real difference. Together, these acts of generosity create the “margin of excellence” that helps our community thrive.
What Happens When You Leave a Bequest
Many fund holders have chosen to leave a bequest to their fund at the Community Foundation. Some designate a specific amount, such as:
“I bequeath $15,000 to The Community Foundation for the CSRA to be added to the Community Grants Fund, a component fund of the Foundation.”
Others leave a residuary bequest, giving a percentage of what remains after other gifts and expenses are settled. In both cases, the Foundation works closely with your estate’s representative to ensure that your charitable intentions are honored promptly and properly.
From the first conversation to the final distribution, the Community Foundation team walks alongside donors and advisors to carry out each legacy with care.
Big or small, planned today or realized tomorrow, your gift through the Community Foundation continues the good you care about, far into the future.
We invite you to explore how easy it can be to create a legacy that endures. Contact Matt Nelson, Director of Development at 706-724-1314, matthewnelson@cfcsra.org or visit www.cfcsra.org to learn how your planned gift can make a lasting difference in our Community.