Becoming a Philanthropist

PHILANTHROPY

Becoming a Philanthropist

Our work leads us to many discoveries here in Albuquerque. 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, addressing your concerns, and making it easy to engage with your community as a philanthropist. We will help you give in a way that is both deeply meaningful and effective.

For 36 years, the Foundation has served as a trusted philanthropic advisor for individuals, families and businesses. We can 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 ensure that every dollar donated makes the most impact for all of us.

Getting Started

We offer a variety of fund types. This allows 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.

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 less. This option helps you avoid capital gains tax.

Life Insurance

If you have life insurance, you may name the Albuquerque Community Foundation as the 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, 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 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 life insurance policy enables you to create a charitable legacy without using cash and other assets you may want to pass 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

With a charitable remainder trust, you can 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

A charitable lead trust allows you to 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.

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. You can also establish your own Impact Fund. These gifts allow the Foundation to invest in the most effective organizations in a specific impact area (which is newly 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; or Health and Human Services. Through the Competitive Grant Program, the Foundation awards grants to effective organizations and programs in your selected field.

PHILANTHROPY

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, and provide you with 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, while the other half are added to the Forever Fund for annual distributions.

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.