Niagara Community Foundation works with you to identify ways you can make an impact in your community. Our team has a broad understanding of community vision and connecting causes to philanthropists like yourself is an integral part of our work.
NCF has a variety of funds available for our donors to consider. Many of them are open funds where gifts can be made by any interested contributor, at any time, allowing every gift to make a difference- gifts for maximum charitable benefit. Our goal is to turn your intentional gift into the greatest impact in Niagara.
Ways to Give
- Gifts of Cash
- Gifts of Appreciated Securities
- Gifts of Insurance Policies
- Charitable Bequest
- Gifts of Retirement Funds
- Gifts of other Assets
Gifts of Cash
A very straightforward way of making a gift to Niagara Community Foundation is through cash or cheque. This is an attractive form of gift for the donor who has cash readily available and wants to make an immediate donation. Your donation is pooled in our income earning endowment fund to support local charities. Your donation will have impacts for generations to come, while you enjoy immediate tax savings today.
Gifts of Appreciated Securities
Gifting appreciated securities enables the donor to give the most to the Niagara Community Foundation for the least cost. The 2006 Federal Budget reduced the capital gains inclusion rate for these donations to zero. In effect, taxpayers can now donate qualifying securities with appreciated gains to a charity and not have to pay any tax on the capital gain that would otherwise be realized.
Gifts of Insurance Policies
A gift of life insurance, by either making the Foundation the owner and beneficiary of an existing policy or purchasing a new policy and making annual premium payments, has many benefits. It allows donors to make a significant gift at a fraction of the value from their disposable income. The annual payments are generally modest and eligible for tax credit, giving annual income tax relief.
Charitable Bequest
A bequest in a will may specify a certain sum of money, a particular asset, or a portion of an estate, to be donated to Niagara Community Foundation. Donors may specify that a bequest be used to establish a new fund in their name, be added to an existing fund or be added to a fund that the family has established during the donor's lifetime. For more resources about gifts in wills, visit our partner program Will Power. Your will can do more.
Gifts of Retirement Funds
Use tax-deferred assets (ie. RRSP, RPIF) accumulated for retirement to provide a gift to Niagara Community Foundation, after you no longer require them. Convert an 'end of life' tax liability into a meaningful gift. Moreover, retain control to easily make revisions should your future circumstances change. Learn more.
Gifts of other Assets
The Foundation will consider gifts of other assets on an individual basis because there are a number of factors to consider with each type of gift. Please contact the Foundation office if you are considering this type of gift. Types of Assets considered: property, art, royalty interests, closely held corporate securities, gifts-in-kind.
For more information about any of NCF’s gift options, or to make a donation, please contact Orla Newhouse, Manager of Philanthropic services.
Types of Funds
As a community foundation, NCF is known for its flexibility to adapt and meet your unique needs. Whether you have a modest gift or are transferring sizable assets, we are able to turn your intention into impact.
- the niagara fund
- Local Community Funds
- Designated Funds
- Charitable Organization Endowment Funds
- Field of interest Funds
The Niagara Fund
Composed of donations, large and small, from a variety of sources - individuals, corporations and foundations. A donation to this fund gives the Foundation the greatest flexibility. Like our local community funds, the earnings on this fund enable our Board of Directors to respond to current community needs through the provision of grants to charities throughout the Niagara Region or in a local community.
Local Community Funds
As a compliment to the Niagara Fund, local community funds keep your investment in your municipality. Established in Grimsby, Fort Erie, Lincoln, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara West, Pelham, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Thorold, Wainfleet, and Welland, donors can establish a named fund within any Community Fund with a $5,000 gift. Your gift will be pooled with others to create an endowment fund that will directly support charities in and serving your local community.
Designated Funds
Donors have the opportunity to specify, at the time the fund is established, which particular charities to support in perpetuity. If an organization ceases to exist unexpectedly, we can redirect the fund to support a similar cause. The minimum donation to open a designated fund is $10,000 per beneficiary. Donor-Advised Funds Donors are able to participate in the selection of charities that will benefit from the fund. Donors may choose this type of fund instead of creating a family trust or private foundation. Existing foundations may transfer their assets to the Niagara Community Foundation to reduce administration while still remaining involved in allocating grants. The minimum donation to open a donor-advised fund is $25,000.
Charitable OrganizationEndowment Funds
Charitable Organization funds are created and administered by the Foundation on behalf of registered charities. This allows the organization freedom from investment responsibility and gives donors the confidence of knowing that a permanent foundation is in place to professionally administer the charity's endowment. Once established, the charity can encourage their donors to contribute to their endowment fund. The minimum donation to open this type of fund is $10,000.
Field of interest Funds
Field of Interest funds work much like our Community Fund, except that donors identify an area of interest that they would like to target their support. Examples include the arts, heritage, environment, health, seniors, children, recreation, relief of poverty, or education. With these funds, the donor defines the area of interest but empowers the Foundation's Grantmaking Committee to select worthwhile projects to support. The minimum donation to open a field of interest fund is $25,000.
For more information about NCF’s fund options, or to open a fund, please contact Bryan Rose, our Executive Director, and will walk you through the next steps.
Being a Donor
Niagara Community Foundation is home to donors of all kinds- individuals, businesses, charities, corporations, governments and everyone in between. Whether our donors are coming to us with a one time donation of $100 or looking to make a seven figure investment, NCF knows that each and every donor comes to us with great intention. It is our privilege to partner with you and help turn that intention into impact.
Whether you are an existing donor or considering donating for the first time, we want you to be well informed about what it means to partner with NCF. If you can’t find the information you are looking for here, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are always here to find a solution that fits you.
Benefits of Being a Donor
- Recognition and Participation
- Granting
- Professional Management
- Flexible Gift Options
- Simplicity
- Community Impact and Leadership
- Responsible Stewardship
Recognition and Participation
An endowment fund created in a donor's name becomes a permanent legacy that will be celebrated for generations. Fundholders are recognized in NCF's Annual Report that is distributed to all fundholders as well as throughout the community. The degree of participation by the donor and their family is flexible. They may participate in granting decisions for their fund and the delivery of grant cheques.
Granting
Depending on the type of fund established, fundholders can direct their support to particular charities or leave those decisions to the Niagara Community Foundation, which is skilled in identifying and evaluating granting needs and opportunities. In some scenarios fundholders may visit the facilities of grant recipients and potential recipients.
Professional Management
Niagara Community Foundation is managed by professional staff and governed by a volunteer Board of community leaders from throughout Niagara.
Flexible Gift Options
Donors may choose from a variety of gifting options. The Niagara Community Foundation staff will work with donors and their advisors in exploring options for charitable gifts such as cash, life insurance, appreciated securities and bequests. Our goal is to be responsive to the donor's personal, financial and philanthropic objectives.
Simplicity
Donors are able to:
- create their own philanthropic Fund
- simplify giving, record keeping and tax return preparation
- time their giving to match cash flow and maximize tax benefits
- avoid the complexities of a private foundation
Community Impact and Leadership
The Niagara Community Foundation will help donors target their dollars toward projects that meet the community's most pressing challenges and opportunities. We believe that by strengthening the gifts, assets and capabilities of community organizations, we strengthen our community as a whole. The Foundation works with other organizations, funding agencies, citizens and government to identify and address community issues.
Responsible Stewardship
Professional money managers are selected to invest the Foundation's assets. By pooling Funds for investment and administrative purposes, the Niagara Community Foundation is able to minimize costs. fundholders receive annual reports on their Fund's performance as well as follow-up reports on grant recipients and the use of grant funds.
Community Funds
While NCF was established to serve all the communities in Niagara, we recognize that our region is made up of many different communities, each having a unique history. This is why we established local community funds. Working with donors and volunteers we pool local funds to support local charities. Gifts to these funds are endowed and help to support the unique municipalities across Niagara in perpetuity. The earnings on these funds enable NCF to respond to current needs in the local communities through the provision of grants to charities providing programs and services at the local level. Donors can establish a named fund within any Community Fund with a $5,000 gift.
- Fort Erie
- Grimsby
- Lincoln
- niagara falls
- niagara-on-the-lake
- niagara west
- pelham
- port colborne
- st. catharines
- thorold
- wainfleet
- welland
Fort Erie
Established in 2010 with a gift from Community Living – Fort Erie.
Ambassadors:Scott Maskell, Dave Shaw and Sandy Annunziata
Grimsby
Established in 2014 with initial gifts from Grimsby Power Inc., Niagara Power Inc., Former Mayor Bentley and Alderman Wilson
Committee Members:Patrick Brabant, Gary Evans, Allan Goddard, Victoria Hunter, Monika Patterson, Andrea Piche, Amanda Pyper, Don Stewart (chair) Sarah Sweeney and Kurt Whitnall
LEARN MORELincoln
Established in 2015 under the leadership of Mayor Easton.
Committee Members:Carrie Beatty (Chair) Rob Foster, Rich Gark, Sara Homes, Adrian Pennachetii, Stuart Reimer, David Wood
LEARN MORENiagara Falls
Established in 2006 under the leadership of former Mayor Ted Salci and Alderman Jim Diodati (now Mayor) through the proceeds from the annual Sleep Cheap - Charities Reap event.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Established in 2016 under the leadership of former Lord Mayor Patrick Darte.
Committee Members:
Nancy Bailey, Mike Berlis (chair) Ann-Louise Branscombe, Wendy Cheropita, Patrick Darte, Mario Ferrara, Brianne Hawley, Debi Pratt, Shawn Spiewak
LEARN MORENiagara West
Established in 2005 under the leadership of former Foundation Board member Eric Gilbert.
Pelham
Established in 2012 under the leadership of the Pelham Mayor’s Gala Committee.
Committee Members:Mel Groom, Jodi Lycett, Peter Papp and Judy Reid.
Port Colborne
Established in 2007 with a $50,000 donation from Port Colborne Hydro.
Committee Members:
( L to R) Claudia Brema, Christopher Wilson, Rosanne Marsh, Gary Talosi, and David Semley
St. Catharines
Established in 2000 during the development of the Niagara Community Foundation.
Committee Members:Sharon Borgmann, Mark Brohman, Peter Partridge Jr. (chair)
LEARN MOREThorold
Established in 2016 under the leadership of Mayor Ted Luciani.
Ambassadors:Mario and Rachel De Divitiis
Wainfleet
Established in 2011 by the Township council.
Committee Members:Kelly Robson (Chair), Daniel Bouchard and Sharon Svob
LEARN MOREWelland
Established in 2001 with the proceeds from the Welland Community Foundation, which was created in the 1990s.
Committee Members:Mike Grocholsky, Jeff Neill, and Aulf Robitaille
LEARN MOREAllied Professionals
NCF partners with professional advisors of all kinds- lawyers, estate planners, financial advisors, accountants - to help turn client intentions into community impact, through planned giving, estate planning, and setting philanthropic goals. No matter your client's scenario, we can work with you to create a tailor made solution that meets their needs. Here's how:
- We work as your partner. You stay in control of your client relationships-we're here to help you provide a full range of services to your clients;
- We are experts on charitable giving. Whether it's setting up an alternative to a private foundation or putting together a complicated estate plan, we can tailor giving plans to meet your client's needs;
- We are experts about our community, so we can help your clients be as effective as possible in their giving;
- We help you connect across generations. When you help families establish an advised fund with us, you and they can stay involved for generations;
- We help your clients donate a variety of assets, including cash, appreciated securities, and real estate. These can be assets they give now or later, as part of their estate plans.
- As a public charity, we offer maximum tax benefits. Starting a fund at a community foundation is significantly less expensive and easier than starting and operating a private-foundation. Learn about our fees.
