The M & M Area Community Foundation has many funds established for personal and corporate giving. All funds are endowed and a portion of the funds growth each year is used to award grants to tax exempt organizations in our service area of Marinette County, Wisconsin and Menominee County, Michigan. These endowed funds include an Unrestricted Fund, a Youth Field-of-Interest Fund, a Community Health Field-of-Interest Fund and a Healthy Youth/Seniors Fund. There is no minimum contribution to an existing fund. Since these funds are of general interest, your neighbors and other community members decide where the grants are awarded.

It may not appeal to you to give to a general field of interest fund. Other long established funds with the M & M Area Community Foundation also accept gifts and contributions. We have many other designated funds, scholarships and donor advised funds that may be of interest to you.

Your gift qualifies for the maximum tax deduction allowed by the Internal Revenue Service. The M & M Area Community Foundation is classified as "tax exempt" under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code, as a "publicly-supported organization" under Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), and as "not a private foundation" under Section 509(A). In addition, Michigan residents and single businesses receive a special tax credit for contributing to a community foundation. Individuals are credited for 50% of their contribution up to $100 per person per year. Businesses filing Single Business Income Tax Returns qualify for the tax credit up to $5,000 or 10% of their tax liability, whichever is less.

You may donate publicly traded securities, cash, life insurance and listed stock. You may also donate real estate and other tangible property subject to approval of our Board of Directors.

Consider a charitable remainder trust and receive an income tax deduction based on your life expectancy and anticipated rate of income. You can increase the return on your investment during your lifetime. Our financial advisors will be happy to explain this concept to you and tell you how much you can benefit from this arrangement.

In fact, there are tax advantages to be realized with a variety of deferred funds, the charitable remainder trust being one of them. These are funds directed for use at a later time by the M & M Area Community Foundation. They can be made by bequests, wills directing disposal of estates and other planned giving instruments, which guarantee gifts at a later date.

Yes. Each year, throughout the United States, private foundations are transferred to community foundations to save management costs, administrative burdens and excise taxes.

Visit our offices, phone us, or just send a letter stating your wishes. We will draft an agreement for your approval to establish the fund. You may want to confer with your attorney or other advisors and our staff will be happy to work with them. Once the agreement is approved and signed by you and a Foundation authorized representative, your fund is ready to receive assets.

Of course. You name your fund and tell us how you want it to be used. You may designate specific organizations or institutions, or you may establish an advised fund so that you or others you name may indicate a preference each year. You may restrict your fund's use to your own community or to a particular field of interest, such as the arts, healthcare, or education. You may have a particular project in mind. The Foundation can hold funds until the project expenses require payment. You can also direct pass-through funds to the Foundation and take an immediate charitable deduction while deciding on the funds' final destination to a philanthropic entity.

Each year the staff of the M & M Area Community Foundation works with you to select projects that match your interest. Your fund remains relevant to today's needs and provides a powerful resource for future generations.

A fund can be established very quickly, depending on how complex your wishes are.

There is no fee for establishing a fund and no out-of-pocket costs to you once the fund is established.

A minimum gift of $10,000 will establish a fund. Your gift may be given over a three-year period.

Yes. Anyone can make a gift to your fund at any time. Many donors make contributions to remember birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions.

Endowment funds are invested by professional managers according to our investment policies, and are carefully reviewed by our Finance Committee on a regular basis. There is an annual administrative fee (currently 1%). Our Foundation fees are extremely low because of the cost efficiencies of pooling funds under one management system.

The primary purpose of a community foundation is to preserve and protect donors' investments and charitable intentions. The M & M Area Community Foundation is organized to provide permanent investment and grant-making protection for each donor's fund. In addition, our accounting practices are guided by very stringent internal controls. An audit is conducted annually by an independent accounting firm.

When you make a gift to the M & M Area Community Fountain, your tax dollars are turned into charitable dollars. Community foundations offer unique tax advantages for charitable giving, which can be explored on an individual basis with you and your financial advisors.

Professionals invest your contribution with our pooled income funds. Our Foundation staff will act promptly on your grant requests and can provide philanthropic advice and grantmaking recommendations when needed. You will be recognized for your gift and kept up to date on the Foundation's activities.