The end of the year is filled with the spirit of giving and Giving Tuesday is the unofficial start to the giving season. During this time, giving can take many forms. Grand Rapids Community Foundation provides our donor partners the opportunity to give during this season, or to carry the spirit of giving throughout the year with recurring gifts. Whether you choose to give a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift throughout the year, the impact of your generosity is felt now, and in the future. Here are some things to consider to help determine what type of giving best fits you.
One-Time Gift
A one-time gift is the most common type of gift from donors and something many people are familiar with. A one-time gift given to the Community Foundation or the organization of your choice supports their work and creates action and change bettering the wellness of the community. A one-time gift can be given in a fiscal donation or appreciated assets, like a gift of stocks or mutual funds. By donating appreciated assets directly, rather than by selling them to make a cash donation, you can claim a tax deduction for the full fair market value of the assets without owing any capital gains tax on the sale.
Recurring Gift
In recent years, the Community Foundation began offering recurring gifts because it was becoming a more common way to give and we wanted to provide our donor partners convenient giving options. Setting up a recurring donation to support the Community Foundation or any nonprofit you are passionate about is as easy as setting up a monthly payment for your Netflix subscription or auto pay on a monthly utility bill. A recurring gift often allows a donor to more easily give a larger amount, because they can spread their donation throughout the year. A recurring gift allows donors to easily budget for charitable giving and is advantageous to the non-profit as well, because it provides a steady stream of support throughout the year.
There are advantages to each giving method, but no matter your method, you can make a difference. The collective gifts of each of our partners is what allows the Community Foundation to continue to support the ever-changing needs of our community and support growth and prosperity for all who call West Michigan home. No matter how you give or how much – you are creating change in our community!
If you are interested in supporting a fund through a recurring or one-time gift, visit grfoundation.org/give or give us a call at 616.454.1751.
Melissa Albano is our public relations & marketing intern for fall 2019. Melissa is a senior at Grand Valley State University with a major in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Chinese Language. Melissa serves as Vice President of Operations for GrandPR, New Member Educator in her sorority Gamma Phi Beta and is a member of Grand Valley’s PRSSA Chapter.