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About The Community Foundation
Tim Luipersbeck, Director of Marketing and Communications; Stacey Crawford, President/CEO; Tammy Brown, Office Manager & Sarah Burge, Director Of Grants & Donor Relations
The Community Foundation of Washington County MD strives to inspire, grow and steward philanthropy for improving the quality of life in Washington County. We work with individuals, families and businesses to create funds that help meet their charitable goals and give to the causes they care about most. Established in 1997, the Community Foundation has grown from one fund worth $9,000 to more than 360 funds valued at over $41 million. We have distributed $25 million in grants and scholarships since inception. By promoting philanthropy in every field of interest and capacity, we also manage special fundraising projects, such as endowment challenges, emergency relief campaigns and Washington County Gives.
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GIVING
As the experts in creating, administering and managing endowments in Washington County, the Community Foundation provides several options for donors to give back. An endowment fund makes annual grants to the donors’ favorite charitable causes in perpetuity. We accept gifts of cash, bequests, stocks, retirement assets or charitable gift annuities to create donor-advised, community, field of interest, designated, legacy, scholarship or memorial funds.
TYPES OF FUNDS ENDOWED
A fund whereby the initial gift and subsequent gifts are never spent, and instead, the investment returns from the fund support the charitable purpose specified by the founding donor.
NON-ENDOWED
A fund where all contributions as well as investment returns can be used for charitable purposes.
ENDOWED AND NON-ENDOWED FUNDS FALL INTO THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:RESTRICTED Restricted funds allow UNRESTRICTED Unrestricted funds go DONOR-ADVISED Donor-advised FIELD OF INTEREST a donor to designate into community funds. funds permit a Field of interest funds which specific charities Our board of trustees donor to maintain allow a donor to specify or charitable endeavors determine the most an advisory role in general areas in which to to support. Scholarships appropriate uses for the the disbursement. direct the funds’ and designated funds fall proceeds, responding to spendable allotment. under this type of fund. the community’s most pressing needs.
ENDOW MARYLAND
The Endow Maryland Tax Credit for 2020 permitted Washington County residents to claim a 25% state tax credit when they create or contribute to an unrestricted community endowment fund, field of interest, designated fund or scholarship at the Community Foundation of Washington County. Donors must give at least $500 to a community endowment fund or a minimum of $5,000 to create their own named endowment to support a specific nonprofit organization in Washington County or one of six areas of interest: arts and culture, historical preservation, health, education, self-sufficiency and youth/recreation.
FUND PERFORMANCE
Our ten-year annualized return of 7.55% per year makes us one of the top performing community foundations in the country. The Community Foundation’s Investment Committee, comprised of trustees with investment expertise, sets the overall investment policy, selects the managers and monitors their performance. Our main investment manager is Mason Investment Advisory Services. Donors establishing a fund of $100,000 or more may recommend an investment manager and strategy, subject to the approval of the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Donordesignated managers include The Hershey Group of RBC Wealth Management, The Family Heritage Trust Company and Marshfield Associates.
ADMINISTRATIVE FEE
We meet our expenses through founder’s endowment funds, operational endowments, the Branching Out Society, special events and an annual management fee of 1% charged to all component funds. We assess 1.5% for scholarships and field of interest funds since they require greater administrative effort. These fees help pay our financial audit, salaries, rent and other expenses associated with running a nonprofit.
NEXT STEPS
With the Community Foundation, you can join others who have perpetuated their giving. Our staff will work with you to help find the best approach to your personal philanthropy and create a lasting legacy. Please call us at 301.745.5210 for more information on creating a fund or contributing to an existing fund.
