Stories: Nonprofit Stories

If your organization's donor communications feel a little "routine," you're not alone. For years, many nonprofits relied on familiar messaging—especially around tax benefits—to encourage giving. But in 2026, the landscape has changed, and with it, the way...

Recent reports suggest that changes to federal tax policy could reduce charitable giving by as much as $5–7 billion annually. While philanthropy has never been driven solely by tax benefits, there's no question that tax incentives can influence the timing,...

As our region's home for charitable giving, the community foundation works with hundreds of families, individuals, businesses, civic leaders, and nonprofit organizations to help grow philanthropy, connect donors to causes they care about, and lead on critical...

Nonprofit professionals understandably spend a lot of "communication energy" explaining why their mission matters. Donors need to hear stories of impact, learn about outcomes, and understand what their gifts make possible. Yet there is another factor that...

"Our board members tell us that they are very skeptical that planned giving is something our team can just 'run with.' They are concerned that we're simply 'not ready.'" Does this sound familiar? It's understandable that a volunteer board of directors, few of...

The year is quickly winding down. And as you look ahead to the next few weeks, consider that now is a key moment for nonprofits in our region to double down on fundraising efforts. Although overall giving among affluent households has increased over the past...

Recently, the fundraising platform GoFundMe made headlines after automatically creating donation pages for about 1.4 million nonprofits – many of which knew nothing about it. Here's what you should know – and why we encourage you to give directly via...

You and your team no doubt understand that bequests and other legacy gifts can be transformational for your organization. In 2024, total charitable giving in the United States reached $592.5 billion, according to the Giving USA 2025 report. The total amount...

The fourth quarter is upon us, and you're no doubt gearing up for year-end giving initiatives. This is always a busy time. Indeed, the 2025 giving season is particularly important because new tax laws have created a window of opportunity and increased...

It's certainly no secret that times are tough. Nonprofits in our community are facing mounting pressures as inflation drives up operating costs, pandemic-era relief funds have expired, and demand for services continues to climb. At the community foundation,...