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What is a community foundation?
A community foundation is a tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable organization that connects donors with local needs and opportunities. It manages a collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations for the long-term benefit of a defined geographic area.
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What is the Rice County Community Foundation?
The Rice County Community Foundation (RCCF) serves communities throughout Rice County, including Alden, Bushton, Chase, Geneseo, Little River, Lyons, Raymond, and Sterling. RCCF helps donors accomplish their charitable goals, manages permanent and nonpermanent funds, awards grants, and brings people together around opportunities that strengthen Rice County.
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Who governs RCCF?
RCCF is governed by an independent local board of directors representing the broad interests of Rice County. The board provides oversight of the Foundation’s finances, investments, policies, grantmaking, and long-term direction. Foundation staff carry out the day-to-day work and help donors, fund advisors, nonprofits, schools, municipalities, and community partners.
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How does RCCF receive its funds?
RCCF receives charitable gifts from individuals, families, businesses, estates, trusts, and organizations. Donors may give to an existing fund, establish a new fund, make a memorial or honorary gift, include RCCF in an estate plan, or contribute during a special campaign or matching opportunity.
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Who may receive grants from RCCF?
Grant eligibility depends on the purpose and guidelines of the fund making the award. RCCF grant opportunities may support qualified nonprofit organizations, schools, municipalities, and certain religious or charitable organizations serving Rice County. Each grant cycle or fund has its own eligibility requirements, priorities, deadlines, and application process.
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How are Community Fund grants awarded?
RCCF uses a competitive application and review process for its Community Fund grant cycle. Applications are evaluated according to published guidelines, community benefit, project readiness, available funding, and the charitable purposes of the applicable funds. Awards are not guaranteed and may vary by community and funding availability.
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How does RCCF help Rice County beyond making grants?
RCCF can serve as a convener, connector, and charitable partner. The Foundation works with residents, donors, community leaders, and organizations to identify needs, build partnerships, preserve local charitable resources, and create practical ways to support important projects and long-term priorities.
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Who invests RCCF’s charitable assets?
RCCF’s board establishes investment policies and delegates ongoing oversight to an Investment Committee and professional investment advisors. The portfolio is reviewed regularly with the goal of balancing long-term growth, responsible stewardship, appropriate risk, and the spending needs of charitable funds.
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Will RCCF ever change a donor’s stated purpose?
RCCF honors donor intent. Fund agreements generally include variance power, which allows the Foundation to modify a restriction only when it becomes unnecessary, impossible to fulfill, impractical, or inconsistent with current charitable needs. This protects a donor’s gift so it can continue serving a meaningful charitable purpose over time.
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To whom is RCCF accountable?
RCCF is a public charity and is accountable to its board, donors, fund holders, grant recipients, regulators, and the Rice County communities it serves. The Foundation files required federal and state reports, maintains financial records, follows board-approved policies, and provides information about its charitable work.
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Do I need an attorney or financial advisor to talk with RCCF?
No. You are welcome to begin with a conversation with RCCF staff. For gifts involving an estate, trust, retirement account, appreciated property, tax planning, or other complex assets, donors are encouraged to involve their attorney, accountant, and financial advisor. RCCF does not provide legal or tax advice, but it can work alongside a donor’s professional advisors.
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How can I use RCCF for my charitable giving?
You may give to an existing fund, establish a fund in your family’s name, honor or remember someone, support a favorite organization or community, create a scholarship, provide for a charitable cause, or include a charitable gift in your estate plan. Businesses and organizations may also use RCCF to simplify and strengthen their local giving.
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What kinds of funds can be established?
Depending on the donor’s goals, RCCF may offer options such as unrestricted community funds, field-of-interest funds, designated funds, scholarship funds, organization funds, donor-advised funds, and pass-through or project funds. Some funds are endowed for long-term support, while others are designed for current or short-term charitable use.
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What is an endowed fund?
An endowed fund is intended to support charitable purposes for generations. The principal is invested, and a board-approved portion is generally made available for grants or distributions each year. Because the remaining assets stay invested, the fund can continue growing and giving over time.
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How long does it take to establish a fund?
The process usually begins with a conversation about the donor’s goals, the proposed charitable purpose, and the most suitable fund type. RCCF then prepares a fund agreement for review. After the agreement is approved, the initial gift is received, and any required board action is completed, the fund can be established.
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How much is needed to establish a named fund?
Funding requirements depend on the type and purpose of the fund. A permanent endowed fund generally requires a meaningful minimum balance to operate effectively. RCCF staff can explain current minimums, available build-up options, and whether an existing fund may already fit the donor’s goals.
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Do I need a large gift to support RCCF?
No. Gifts of all sizes are meaningful. Donors may contribute any amount to many existing funds, make memorial or honorary gifts, participate in community campaigns, or make recurring contributions. Pooled together, gifts of many sizes can create significant local impact.
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Must all gifts be cash?
No. In addition to cash, RCCF may be able to accept appreciated securities, qualified charitable distributions, estate gifts, real estate, business interests, or other property. Acceptance depends on the asset and the Foundation’s gift-acceptance policies. Donors should consult their professional advisors before completing a noncash or planned gift.
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Can I make a gift anonymously?
Yes. RCCF can work with donors who prefer to remain anonymous. The Foundation can also help structure recognition, memorial, or honorary giving according to the donor’s wishes and applicable recordkeeping requirements.
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How do I get started?
Contact the Rice County Community Foundation to schedule a conversation about giving, creating a fund, applying for a grant, or partnering on a charitable project. The RCCF office is located at 110 East Avenue South in Lyons, Kansas.
