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CHARITABLE CONNECTIONS

A monthly newsletter for our region's trusted financial and legal advisors, by the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region.


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APRIL UPDATES

Happy spring from the Community Foundation! 

As the weather warms up and people begin to venture outside, your clients' already busy schedules start to get even busier. Even if your clients are tempted to log off and enjoy the sunshine, we encourage you to help them stay the course. Your clients’ 2024 financial and estate planning goals are important, and now is the time to start tackling those strategies, especially after the tax season dust settles. 

In this issue, we’re covering three topics that can help you counsel your philanthropic clients:

  • No matter what words you use to express the advantages of giving appreciated assets, it can be hard for clients to truly hear it. Consider showing clients – using numbers and examples –that it really is better to support favorite charities by giving appreciated assets instead of cash. The Community Foundation is here to help!
  • Help your clients get ahead in their estate planning by leaning into the flexibility and benefits of a fund at the Community Foundation, including your clients’ ability to leave permanent legacies to support the community for generations to come. 
  • There’s lots going on in the world of charitable giving! The Community Foundation team has curated several articles that are worth reading if you’d like to dig deeper into springtime issues that are trending in philanthropy circles.

As always, we appreciate the opportunity to work together!

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Becca Baumbach
​Executive Director

RECENT NEWS AND UPDATES

Stay up-to-date on benefits, opportunities, and changes that may impact your clients.



​​No matter how frequently you remind clients to pause before they automatically reach for the checkbook to make their charitable gifts, many clients still give cash! As an attorney, accountant, or financial advisor, you are well aware that giving long-term appreciated assets is often one of the most tax-savvy ways your clients can support their favorite charities. Nevertheless, it’s sometimes hard to convey that message to clients with words that stick. Next time, consider using illustrations to help clients see the benefits. 

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Getting a jump on a future “to do” list is always such a good feeling. The team at the Community Foundation can help you with your clients’ long-term charitable giving plans by putting in place the structures to receive bequests decades from now.

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As you read up on techniques to structure philanthropy plans for your high-net worth clients, we recommend reviewing the potential impact of the estate tax exemption sunset, as well as making sure you’re one of just half of advisors who are truly helping their clients with charitable giving in the first place. The team at the Community Foundation is happy to help you start the philanthropy discussion with clients; we understand that it’s not always easy, but it is so important. 

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40% ND ENDOWMENT TAX CREDIT

Endowments are a sustainable forever gift that generally qualify for a deduction on both your federal and state income tax return. Many donors choose to establish or add to existing endowment funds to provide a vital base source of funding that may allow a benefitting organization to carry on, even in lean years.


ND State Tax Credit for Endowment Gifts

If your clients are North Dakota taxpayers, they may be eligible to claim a credit of 40% on a minimum donation of $5,000 to a qualified endowment at the Community Foundation through the North Dakota Charitable Income Tax Credit. This is on top of the savings they receive on their federal tax return by itemizing their qualifying charitable donations. By taking advantage of both the state tax credit and the federal tax deduction, your clients can significantly lower the net cost of their contribution and triple its impact.

All of the Community Foundation's endowment funds qualify for this tax credit!

Individuals may receive a state tax credit for a contribution for $5,000 or more (lump sum or aggregate in one year) to a qualified North Dakota endowment. The tax credit is 40% of the charitable deduction allowed by the IRS up to a maximum credit of $10,000 per year per taxpayer or $20,000 per year per couple filing jointly. Effective for taxable years starting in 2011.

Example: Mr. Jones, a North Dakota resident, donates $20,000 in cash to an endowment fund at the Community Foundation. He receives an $8,000 tax credit (40%) on his North Dakota return. If he is in the 28% federal tax bracket, his federal tax savings is $3,360 (28% of $12,000). The "cost" of his $20,000 gift is offset by $11,360 in tax savings.

Businesses (C corporations, S corporations, estates, limited liability companies, trusts, and financial institutions) that pay ND income tax may take a 40% credit up to a total of $10,000 for gifts to the qualified endowment fund of a qualified North Dakota charity. Effective for taxable years starting in 2011.

In all of the above, the credit may be carried forward for 3 additional tax years if it cannot all be used in one year.

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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HOURS
Our office is open Monday through Thursday from 10am to 4pm. Meetings are by appointment. We keep remote hours on Fridays from 10am to 4pm and are available by phone and email.

This newsletter as well as any referenced materials are provided for informational purposes only. They are not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.