Here are ten practical reasons that outline why establishing a community foundation charitable fund might make more sense than creating a private foundation:
- A fund is easy and inexpensive to establish. A private foundation requires a donor to create a new organization, apply for tax-exempt status, pay filing fees and incur legal and accounting expenses.
- A gift of cash to a charitable fund allows a deduction of up to 60% of a donor’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). A gift of cash to a private foundation allows a donor to deduct up to 30% of AGI.
- By creating a charitable fund, a donor may deduct gifts of closely held long-term appreciated stock at its fair market value, up to 30% of AGI. If the same gift is given to a private foundation, deductibility may be limited to its cost basis up to 20% of AGI.
- No tax is imposed on the investment income of a charitable fund because it is a component of a public charity. A private foundation pays up to 2% federal excise tax on its investment income and net realized capital gain.
- A community foundation donor may remain anonymous. A private foundation must make available to the public the name and address of any substantial contributor.
- There are no minimum distribution requirements for a charitable fund at a community foundation. A private foundation must annually distribute at least 5% of its net investment assets, regardless of whether the amount is actually earned.
- There are fewer restrictions on a charitable fund. For private foundations, however, there are strict regulations regarding self-dealing between the foundation and those who manage, control, or contribute to it and persons or corporations closely related to them. For example, a private foundation, along with its donor and other “disqualified persons” (including members of the board and staff), may not hold more than 20% of a related corporation’s voting stock.
- There are fewer investment restrictions on a community foundation’s funds. A private foundation may not make certain types of investments. For example, a community foundation may hold more than a 20% ownership in a particular corporation, but private foundations may not.
- There are fewer IRS reporting requirements on community foundation grants and funds, and requirements that do exist are handled by the foundation’s staff at no extra charge to individual donors.
- Charitable gifts to a community foundation fund are almost always considered “public support,” thus helping the recipient charity retain its public charity status. A private foundation grant is usually not considered “public support” in its entirety and, thus, may not be as helpful to the recipient charity in retaining its public charity status.