What if one of the best ways to support your favorite nonprofits is to trust the people closest to the work? We’re taking a practical look at trust-based philanthropy, including unrestricted and multi-year giving, listening to nonprofits, and ways the community foundation can help you put these ideas into action.

IRAs and other retirement accounts can be powerful charitable planning tools, but the rules can be confusing. We’re sharing five important things to know about QCDs and retirement assets—plus a bonus reminder about how the community foundation can work alongside you and your advisors.

Year-end giving advice is everywhere—but which decisions really deserve your attention? We’ve boiled it down to five action steps to help you focus on what you want to accomplish, which assets you give, the new 2026 tax rules, opportunities involving your IRA, and why now is the time to get started.

Your charitable intentions are yours to define, and documenting them early can make it much easier for your family members and advisors to honor them later. We’re sharing practical reasons to talk about your long-term giving plans now - including how early planning can reduce difficult gray areas if health or decision-making capacity changes down the road.

A private foundation may have been a perfect fit when your family established it - but is it still? If the administrative work has begun to overshadow the joy of giving, our five-point checklist can help you and your advisors explore whether transitioning to a donor-advised fund at Norton County Community Foundation might make sense.

October’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week is a good reminder that an estate plan involves much more than a will. If charitable giving is part of the legacy you envision, learn how wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, and charitable funds can work together to carry out your wishes.

The Great Wealth Transfer we’ve all been watching is about so much more than passing along assets to your heirs. The community foundation team welcomes conversations about generosity, shared family philanthropy, and thoughtful estate planning to help ensure that your values - and not just your wealth - continue to make a difference for generations to come.

Major life events often inspire us to think differently about what comes next. Whether you've sold a business, received an inheritance, retired, or crossed another important milestone, the community foundation can help you discover how thoughtful charitable planning can translate financial success into lasting community impact.

Year-end giving often works best when planning starts long before the holidays. Learn why now is the perfect time to review your charitable plans, explore the benefits of "bunching" charitable gifts, and consider how your donor-advised fund at the community foundation can help you maximize both your impact and potential tax benefits.

Life changes, families grow, and community needs evolve, which means your charitable plan may deserve an occasional review. Check out key questions to consider as you revisit your giving goals, beneficiary designations, family involvement, and opportunities to make your philanthropy easier and more meaningful.

Many parents and grandparents want to pass along values of generosity and community involvement, but they are not always sure how to begin. The community foundation offers ten ideas for helping teenagers explore causes they care about, learn from local nonprofits, and begin developing lifelong habits of charitable giving.

If you have a donor-advised fund at a national charitable sponsor or commercial provider, you may be wondering whether there is a better fit for your charitable giving goals. We’re happy to share simple steps for moving your donor-advised fund to the community foundation where you can benefit from local knowledge, personalized support, and a deeper connection to the community you care about.

You might initially think of a donor-advised fund as a simple charitable savings account: contribute assets, immediately receive a tax deduction, if eligible, and recommend grants to your favorite 501(c)(3) nonprofits over time. While that is certainly true, many people are surprised to learn just how flexible a donor-advised fund can be. For many donors, the creative use of donor-advised funds at the community foundation opens the door to a larger charitable impact than they

Your attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors play an important part in helping you achieve your financial and charitable goals. Learn how introducing your advisors to the community foundation team can strengthen collaboration and uncover new charitable planning opportunities.

What does it mean to “meet the moment” through charitable giving? A “portfolio” approach to charitable giving, developed in partnership with the community foundation, can combine thoughtful planning, flexibility, and consistency, helping you respond quickly to current community needs while also supporting long-term impact.

Norton County Community Foundation offers a wide range of charitable giving tools to help you achieve all of your philanthropic goals.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bethany Shirk (785) 874-5106...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bethany Shirk (785) 874-5106 foundation@nortonccf.org Norton County Community...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bethany Shirk (785) 874-5106, foundation@nortonccf.org Norton, Kansas, December 2023 – Norton County...

Norton County Community Foundation Awards Two Grants in May 2023 Cycle