Becoming a Philanthropist

Our work leads us to many discoveries here in Albuquerque. And one of the things we’ve learned is that giving is personal—visions for the future are often connected with individual values and goals. The Foundation is dedicated to working with you to create a charitable giving experience special to you, addresses your concerns and makes it easy to engage with your community as a philanthropist. We will help you give in a way that’s both deeply meaningful and effective. For 34 years, the Foundation has served as a trusted philanthropic advisor for individuals, families and businesses. We assist you whenever and however you need us, providing solutions and services tailored to you and your objectives. We also work in conjunction with our community partners, grantees and other interested groups to discover how every dollar donated can make the most impact in the community.

Cash, check or credit card These classic charitable gifts are easy and effective. Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds Gifts of appreciated stocks, bonds and mutual funds result in a charitable deduction for the full market value of the donated asset, even if you bought it for far less, and help you avoid capital gains tax.

Life Insurance

You may name the Albuquerque Community Foundation as sole beneficiary of your policy, transfer ownership and receive a tax deduction for the policy’s cash value. Real Estate We can help you turn a home, a business or land into a charitable gift.

Charitable Bequest The simplest gift is a bequest in your will or trust that directs specific assets or a percentage of your estate to your fund at the Foundation. This can be used to establish a fund or to be added to an existing fund. A bequest will reduce estate taxes and grow your charitable legacy. Life Insurance Naming the Albuquerque Community Foundation as a beneficiary of your insurance policy enables you to create a charitable legacy without using cash and other assets you may want to go to your heirs. The process is simple: purchase a policy, make the Foundation the owner and beneficiary and then make a gift to the Foundation in the amount of the annual premium. Then, you take that amount as an annual tax deduction. Retirement Account Because retirement plan withdrawals are double-taxed, the value of the plan is decreased for your heirs. Consider providing other assets to your heirs and naming the Albuquerque Community Foundation as the beneficiary of your retirement accounts. This will allow you to both avoid taxes and preserve your assets for the good of your community. Charitable Remainder Trust Place cash or property in a trust that pays annual income to you (or another named beneficiary) for life. After your death, the remainder of the trust transfers to the Foundation and is placed into the charitable fund you’ve selected. You receive income tax benefits for the year in which you establish your trust. Charitable Lead Trust Place cash or property into a trust that pays a fixed amount to the Foundation. You can select the trust to pay the Foundation for as many or as few years as you select. Once the period ends, the assets held by the trust are transferred to the beneficiaries you name. In some cases, you can receive a substantial reduction in federal gift and estate taxes.

Getting Started

A variety of fund types we offer allow your gift to benefit the programs, individuals, focus areas or organizations you care about. Funds can be created in as little as one meeting and grown over a two—to five-year period. Additional tax-deductible gifts can be made at any time.

GIVE

Give Tomorrow

Fund Types

Administrative Fund Endow your partnership with the Foundation by creating an administrative fund that will support the work of the Foundation forever.

Impact Fund You may contribute to the collective giving effort of the Impact Fund, joining with other donors to achieve the greatest possible impact or you can establish your own Impact Fund. These gifts allow the Foundation to invest in the most effective organizations in a specific impact area selected each year.

Field-of-Interest Fund You can select one of the Foundation’s interest areas—Arts & Culture; Economic & Workforce Development; Education; Environmental & Historic Preservation; Health and Human Services. Through the competitive grant program, the Foundation awards grants to effective organizations and programs in your selected field.

Donor-Advised Fund This option is ideal for those who wish to play an active role in supporting multiple organizations and programs throughout the year. Our staff can help identify organizations and programs, ensure their charitable status, provide grantmaking and administrative support.

Now & Forever Fund For those who want to see their philanthropic dollars make both an immediate and a perpetual impact, this is the perfect vehicle. Half of the annual contributions are available to fund grants now, the other half are added to the Forever fund for annual distributions in line with the Foundation’s current distribution policy.

Student Aid Fund Assist students pursuing education through scholarship or financial aid awards. You suggest eligibility criteria based on high school, college, merit, need, field of study or other interests.

Donor-Designated Fund Grants from these funds provide a reliable annual income stream to one or more of your favorite organizations, forever.

Collaborative Fund A group contributes to a single fund focused on a shared cause, with grants recommended by a member or representative advisory committee.

becoming a philanthropist