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Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
The Individual Retirement Accounts you have established for your retirement years can later be reduced by income and estate taxes before reaching designated heirs. By naming the Community Foundation as the plan's beneficiary, you ensure that all of the assets will continue to benefit your community.

Charitable Lead Trusts
You can name the Foundation as beneficiary of income from a trust for a specific number of years. Ultimately, the bulk of the trust goes to other named beneficiaries, such as children or grandchildren.

Charitable Remainder Trusts
You can provide lifetime income for yourself or other beneficiaries and leave the remainder of the estate to the Community Foundation

Charitable Gift Annuity
With a Charitable Gift Annuity, you can make a significant gift to the Foundation and, in return receive income for life - at interest rates ranging from 6% to 10%, depending on your age.

Making a gift to the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation can be as simple as writing a check or as sophisticated as designing an individual estate plan. The Foundation accepts charitable gifts of almost any kind, invests the money, and distributes a portion of the income to philanthropic organizations and programs matching donors' interests and charitable giving goals. The many ways of giving to the Community Foundation include:

Outright Gifts
Gifts of cash, securities, personal property or real estate are simple and convenient ways to make a charitable contribution and receive maximum tax advantages.

Bequests
Cash or property given through a will is usually fully deductible for federal estate and state inheritance tax purposes. The Community Foundation can also be named as the residuary beneficiary of a donor's estate or be named in a charitable remainder trust created by the will.

Memorials
Gifts made in memory of loved ones are ideal ways to perpetually remember family members, friends, or colleagues.

Life Insurance
By naming the Foundation as the irrevocable owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy, you can create a future fund for the benefit of others.

Private Foundation Transfer
A private foundation can efficiently and cost-effectively transfer all or some assets to the Community Foundation, yet still retain its name and purpose. This transfer offers the private foundation tax advantages, flexibility, and administrative savings.

How Do I Establish A Fund?
It is very simple. Many Funds can be opened the same day you call and there are no special start-up costs or fees. A minimum amount of $2,000 is all that is needed to establish a Fund. Just give the Foundation office a call and we will talk about your options and help you pick the best Fund to meet your charitable needs.