Gifting Guidelines...
Requesting a matching gift, or making a grant request is very simple. Please follow these easy steps:
For all gifts, direct or matching, the organization receiving the gift must be recognized by IRS as a registered 501c3 charitable organization. Any organization in the business of receiving donations will understand the question and be in a position to confirm their status. This means no Foundation gifting to a family who have suffered a tragedy and need to help cover unexpected costs, unless this gifting is made thru a recognized charitable organization. Scholarship funds must be registered. Family members can certainly make donations to non 501c3 groups, just without a matching gift from the Foundation.
Matching Gifts
Matching gifts are used to encourage family charity. For adults, 30 years old or older, the gift matched must be at least $50 and is matched at a one-to-one ratio, and is limited to one gift to the same organization, per family per calendar year. This doesn’t mean multiple families can’t have matching gifts to the same organization within the same year. Indeed, that happens quite frequently. It also doesn’t mean that the same family can’t have multiple matching gifts within a calendar year, but just not to the same organization. There’s no upper limit stipulated, but the Foundation retains the right to limit the size of a matching gift. Maximum matching gifts to-date have been at the $2,500 level.
The rules change for family members under age thirty, to encourage their charitable giving, even at a younger age. A matching gift will be made, with a $25 minimum. Further, the first $25 will be matched 2 for 1, and 1 for 1 on any amount in excess of $50.
Direct Grants
Ordinarily, we do not give direct grants to general operational fund raising campaigns. Rather, we prefer to respond to a specific fund raising request for an emergency need, or to help underwrite a special new pilot program or a new, untested marketing campaign to solicit additional funds or volunteer participation. If the trial initiative proves successful, The Foundation would expect that the continuing cost would be built into the organization’s operating budget.
We prefer to deal with organizations which have some relationship to a member of the family, and the opportunity is considered especially favorably when that family member has an active volunteer relationship. Foundation participation can recognize such a volunteer initiative, which makes that person’s efforts even more recognized and rewarding.
Generally, we limit grant gifts to once a year, per organization. Our average grant is about $3,000.