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Establishing An Endowment Fund

How We Can Help

The Lethbridge Community Foundation provides the expertise, flexibility and community trust to assist you in reaching your charitable goals. The foundation provides a range of services including knowledge of the community, knowledge of charitable giving and peace of mind. The foundation staff is available to assist you with any questions or concerns. Call us at 403-328-5297, email us at lcfdn@telusplanet.net, or stop by the office during regular business hours [Professional building, #506, 740 3th Ave S, Lethbridge].

When you make a donation to the Lethbridge Community Foundation you are investing in our community your way... today and for ever. Your gift creates a legacy of caring, a legacy that will continue to provide support for your favourite charity or charitable cause, now and forever. Starting a philanthropic fund at the Lethbridge Community Foundation provides many of the benefits of a private foundation, plus over 40 years of experience helping donors achieve their philanthropic goals.

It's easy to set up your own endowment fund. The Foundation will do all the paperwork, and we look after issuing your grant cheques. You just need to make three decisions:

1. Choose the timing.

When do you want your fund to be established? Immediately so you can start giving grants in the near future; over a period of time through an ongoing donation program or later through your estate.

2. Type of fund.

Decide on the type of fund you would like. We offer a variety of fund types to allow donors to have as much, or as little involvement as desired. Learn more...

3. Finances.

You can choose any number of financial instruments to set up your fund. Funds can be created with tax deductible donations made in any appropriate form, including cash, securities, real estate or other property, or life insurance. An individual named fund may be established with a one time donation or ongoing donations. Certain minimums apply. Contributions that fall below the minimums are welcome, and can be added to almost any of the foundation's existing funds.

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Endowment funds can be established at LCF to support any charity or charitable purpose anywhere in Canada and under certain circumstances, in other countries. The process is normally initiated by the donor calling, or writing, advising of their wish to establish a fund.

Fund Agreements

Every donor to the foundation is unique. All our donors have a desire to make a difference to the quality of life in our community. From arts and culture to health, education, the environment, social and community services; donors look at our community from a variety of views. Individually tailored fund agreements allow donors to clarify their intentions for their named funds. Working with the Foundation, donors specify how they want the net income from the fund disbursed for charitable causes along with any other details relevant to the individual fund.

The foundation staff will help you to complete a document that makes your intentions clear. Once completed we will strive to help you meet your charitable goals, while assuring your philanthropic wishes are met in perpetuity. You will receive regular fund statements to assist you in tracking your fund and the grants made from it.

Naming a Fund

Any of these funds can be established in your name, or in the name of your family, your organization, or anyone you wish to honor [minimums may apply]. All grants distributed from your fund - today and in the future - are then awarded to charities in the name of your fund. It's a great way to always be involved with, and remembered for your community investment.

When naming your fund you may wish to

- create a personal legacy using your own name or your family's name

- honour a special person in your life/memory of a loved one. Every grant from the fund carries its name.

- choose anonymity by selecting a name reflecting your charitable purposes

- celebrate a corporate milestone or significant event

- browse through our current funds for more suggestions

Naming a fund provides recognition for whoever the fund is named after. All funds are listed annually in the LCF Anual Report to the Community, along with the distributions made from the fund that year.

However you choose to name the fund, your legacy will continue to make a difference forever.