NON-PROFIT

DCCF Connects Charitable Community Members, Organizations

| 2016 Q2 | story by LIZ WESLANDER | photos by Earl Richardson
 Non-Profit

Sunrise Project

Lawrence is full of generous people who want to support their community through charitable donations. It is also full of nonprofit organizations that rely, at least partly, on donations to fulfill their missions. The Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) exists to help address the needs of these two groups.

Community foundations exist all over the world, and the first community foundation was established in 1914 in Cleveland. The Douglas County Community Foundation was established in 2000 with a major gift from the late Tensie Oldfather, a charitable champion of Lawrence.

“She was looking for a way to improve the way she gave away money and also to provide other folks an avenue to do their charitable giving,” says DCCF Executive Director Chip Blaser. “She learned about the idea of community foundations and set one up in Douglas County.”

Marilyn Hull, DCCF program and communications officer says community foundations generally serve three roles in a community: grant making, providing donors a vehicle for charitable giving and community leadership.

“Everything we do connects to those main roles,” she says.

 Non-Profit

Emily Hampton, Sunrise Project Director


Grant Making

Since its inception in 2000, DCCF has given more than $18 million in grants to the Douglas County community. In the last five years alone, it has given more than $10 million in grants. The money for DCCF’s grant making comes out of the more than 150 individual funds that families, individuals and organizations have set up through the foundation.

Hull says DCCF’s community grants, for which any Douglas County nonprofit organization can apply, are the ones with which people in the community are most familiar. These grants come out of a general, unrestricted fund that was established by Oldfather and are given out twice a year. DCCF awarded its most recent round of community grants in March, with 24 local nonprofits receiving a total of $133,000. Cottonwood Inc. and Family Promise of Lawrence received the largest grants, of $15,000 each.


Hull says the DCCF’s lesser-known grants are the ones that come out of donor-advised funds, which are funds set up by individuals to manage their charitable giving. These grants differ from the community grants in that there is no application process. Instead, fund donors direct the grants according to their interests.

“Almost all of these donors are longtime Lawrence residents, and they, in many cases, already have an established relationship with several nonprofits, so they know what they are interested in supporting,” Hull says.

Nearly half of the dollars that go out to the community from the DCCF come from donor-advised funds, Hull explains.

 Non-Profit

Sunrise Project


Donor Services

People often ask Blaser and Hull why setting up a fund for their charitable giving through the DCCF is a good idea. In a nutshell, the answer is return on investment and convenience.

“In many cases, it can be effective and efficient for families or individuals to put one donation into a fund, and then, over time, they can decide the causes and organizations they want to support,” Blaser says. “The money is invested and grows over time. It’s really a way to have a charitable piece of their overall financial plan.”


Hull says it’s not uncommon for people to believe the best way to use a charitable donation is to give the entire sum of money to a charity right away. But because of the concept of compounding interest and income on investments, putting money in endowed funds allows a substantially greater impact on the community.


“One of the things we are always trying to educate on is the fact that endowed funds actually produce many more dollars for community over time,” Hull says.

Another advantage to setting up a fund through DCCF, Blaser explains, is that families or individuals can give stock, mutual funds, shares or even real estate as their charitable gift to the community foundation, which can then be turned into money to use for charitable donations for grant making.

Starting up your own private foundation is time-consuming and comes with cumbersome tax requirements, Hull says. When a family gives to the community foundation, it doesn’t have the burden of those administrative aspects. DCCF also offers various donor education opportunities related to charitable giving, such as estate-planning tools and education on community issues.

“We are providing donors some money management; we are also making it efficient for them in that they don’t have an organization to manage and do all the reporting for,” Hull says. “On top of money management, they are getting some education and consulting.”

 Non-Profit

Sunrise Project


Community Leadership

DCCF’s third role, community leadership, is, in many ways, what gives the foundation’s grant making and donor services maximum impact.

The Douglas County Community Foundation Board of Directors is made up of people with a longtime and strong interest in the charitable sector in Douglas County, and the DCCF staff is involved in various task forces and planning processes within the community.

“Because we have a wide lens on what’s going on in all the charities in the community, sometimes we can help connect the dots between cause and effect, or between different organizations, that similar goals can work, Hull says. “That leadership can be as important as the grants we make.”

Share.

79 Comments

  1. Thanks for the concepts you have provided here. Also, I believe there are some factors that really keep your car insurance policy premium down. One is, to contemplate buying vehicles that are from the good directory of car insurance companies. Cars which might be expensive are definitely more at risk of being lost. Aside from that insurance is also using the value of your truck, so the more pricey it is, then the higher a premium you spend.

  2. You’re so cool! I do not think I’ve truly read a single thing like that before. So nice to discover another person with some unique thoughts on this issue. Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This web site is something that is required on the internet, someone with some originality.

  3. After checking out a handful of the blog articles on your website, I honestly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I book marked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my web site too and let me know what you think.

  4. I’m impressed, I must say. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something which not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy that I found this in my search for something relating to this.

  5. I?m not sure where you are getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this info for my mission.

  6. Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. Finding the time and actual effort to create a top notch article… but what can I say… I put things off a whole lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.

  7. You are so interesting! I do not believe I have read anything like this before. So great to find somebody with genuine thoughts on this subject matter. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This site is something that’s needed on the internet, someone with a bit of originality.

  8. Next time I read a blog, Hopefully it doesn’t fail me just as much as this particular one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I truly thought you would probably have something helpful to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of complaining about something that you could fix if you weren’t too busy searching for attention.

  9. Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular article! It’s the little changes that produce the greatest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!

  10. I’m amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and engaging, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is something which too few folks are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I stumbled across this during my search for something concerning this.

  11. You are so cool! I do not believe I have read through something like that before. So great to find somebody with genuine thoughts on this subject. Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This site is one thing that’s needed on the internet, someone with a little originality.

  12. You’re so cool! I don’t think I’ve read a single thing like this before. So great to discover someone with original thoughts on this issue. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This web site is something that is needed on the internet, someone with some originality.

  13. I have noticed that good real estate agents all over the place are Marketing and advertising. They are noticing that it’s not just placing a poster in the front yard. It’s really regarding building human relationships with these sellers who at some time will become consumers. So, when you give your time and effort to encouraging these vendors go it alone — the “Law involving Reciprocity” kicks in. Thanks for your blog post.

  14. I’m impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and amusing, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is something that too few folks are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy I stumbled across this during my hunt for something relating to this.

  15. I must thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site. I’m hoping to view the same high-grade content from you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own, personal blog now 😉

  16. Having read this I believed it was very informative. I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this article together. I once again find myself personally spending a significant amount of time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile.

  17. Considering this dark change in personality to be a transformation into a different individual altogether, some who turn to the dark facet take on a different title, as they regard their former persona as lifeless and destroyed.

  18. hey there and thanks on your information ? I have certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical points the use of this web site, as I experienced to reload the web site lots of instances prior to I may just get it to load correctly. I had been wondering in case your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, however slow loading cases times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can injury your quality ranking if advertising and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Anyway I?m including this RSS to my email and could glance out for much extra of your respective exciting content. Make sure you replace this once more soon..

  19. Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the web the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  20. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you so much, However I am encountering troubles with your RSS. I don’t understand why I cannot subscribe to it. Is there anybody having the same RSS problems? Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx.

  21. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you, However I am encountering troubles with your RSS. I don’t understand why I cannot join it. Is there anybody getting the same RSS problems? Anyone that knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanx!!

  22. Next time I read a blog, I hope that it won’t fail me just as much as this one. After all, I know it was my choice to read, nonetheless I genuinely believed you would probably have something helpful to say. All I hear is a bunch of moaning about something you can fix if you weren’t too busy searching for attention.

  23. Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you, However I am encountering troubles with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to join it. Is there anybody getting the same RSS problems? Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx!!

  24. It’s perfect time to make a few plans for the longer term and it is time to be happy. I’ve learn this put up and if I could I desire to recommend you few fascinating issues or advice. Maybe you could write subsequent articles relating to this article. I wish to read even more things approximately it!

  25. Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. Taking the time and actual effort to make a really good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and don’t seem to get anything done.

  26. I have really learned some new things by your blog. One other thing I’d like to say is the fact that newer computer system operating systems often allow additional memory to be played with, but they additionally demand more memory space simply to function. If one’s computer is not able to handle much more memory as well as the newest software package requires that memory increase, it can be the time to buy a new Computer system. Thanks

  27. Thank you a lot for sharing this with all folks you really recognize what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my web site =). We will have a hyperlink exchange agreement between us!

  28. Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thanks, However I am experiencing troubles with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I can’t join it. Is there anybody else having identical RSS problems? Anybody who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanx.

  29. Spot on with this write-up, I truly think this amazing site needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read through more, thanks for the information!

  30. Hey very nice website!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds also?I’m happy to find numerous useful information here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  31. Good site you have got here.. It’s hard to find high-quality writing like yours nowadays. I truly appreciate people like you! Take care!!

  32. I have witnessed that expenses for online degree experts tend to be an excellent value. For example a full Bachelor’s Degree in Communication in the University of Phoenix Online consists of Sixty credits at $515/credit or $30,900. Also American Intercontinental University Online comes with a Bachelors of Business Administration with a full education course element of 180 units and a tariff of $30,560. Online degree learning has made taking your college diploma much simpler because you might earn your degree in the comfort of your house and when you finish working. Thanks for other tips I’ve learned through the website.

Leave A Reply

Contact to Listing Owner

Captcha Code