When thinking about the mark you want to leave on the world and tweaking your estate plan along the way, it’s natural to have your loved ones at the top of your list. But many donors are also looking to extend that legacy to include their wider community, like right here in Birmingham.

Here at the Community Foundation, our flexible platform allows you to customize your charitable estate plans, and our Giving Strategies team is here to help craft a plan to meets your giving goals. Here are three ways you can make a difference by partnering with the Community Foundation in your Estate Plans:

1. An Unrestricted Fund: By establishing an unrestricted fund, you are creating a fund that will meet our community’s changing needs and fund innovative opportunities as they arise over time. Our competitive grant cycle would not be possible without these unrestricted funds. Take a look at some of our recent grants here.
2. Field-of-Interest Fund: With a field-of-interest fund, you can funnel your support directly into areas like education, health, the environment, or the arts. Our staff will ensure your fund is supporting the causes you care most about, and we can even create highly customized funds that help advance your personal passion.
3. Designated Fund: If you are interested in ensuring your favorite organization stays strong for years to come, a designated fund could be the right vehicle for you. Whether it’s a local nonprofit or your church or synagogue, a designated fund will make annual distributions of support even after you’re gone.

Bonus Tip: If you’re 70 1/2 or older, you can direct some of your IRA funds—up to $105,000 a year—to your chosen fund here at the Community Foundation (if it is not a donor advised fund). It’s called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), and it’s a tax-smart way to make a big impact.

We are here to help you make a fully customizable estate plan that fits your interests. Contact our Director of Gift Planning, George Gaskin, to get started.