Powering
Your Passion

Community Foundation Tampa Bay is your partner and advisor as you create and manage your charitable investments. Even if you make a complex gift such as securities, real estate or other assets, we can help. We take care of the administrative details so that you can focus on your joy of giving. 

Individuals & Couples
You can take advantage of our deep knowledge of the local nonprofit ecosystem. We can help you find the most meaningful and impactful giving investments that meet your goals – whether you are a new philanthropist or a long-time giver.
Families

Giving as a family – with your grown children, your teens, your grandchildren or your extended family –adds depth and meaning to your philanthropy. It’s a way to share values and draw closer as you set an example of giving for the next generation.

Businesses

When your business gives charitably, you help build a stronger, more vibrant community in ways that are intentional, meaningful and impactful. You also engage your employees. We help you assess your giving priorities and organize your giving.

Legacy Givers

You care about your community now and forever. We work with you and your professional advisor to document your priorities. Then, your charitable intentions will be carried out through your estate plans.

Working With Us

Donor Advised Funds:

The donor advised fund offers a convenient, versatile way to make charitable contributions when and how you choose. Think of it as a charitable checking account: You make an initial donation and claim the maximum tax benefits allowable by law. Then you decide which nonprofit organizations you want to support with grants. Add to the fund anytime you want with cash, stock or other assets.

Personal, Family or Corporate Foundations:

A personal, family or corporate foundation held at Community Foundation Tampa Bay looks like a private foundation. But there are fewer costs, time commitments and administrative hassles. You can focus on the joys of giving while we take care of all the details. A foundation within Community Foundation Tampa Bay receives more favorable tax treatment than a private foundation. Plus, you can brand and promote your foundation as you choose.

Planned Giving:

Estate gifts create a legacy for generations. We work with you and your professional advisor to choose the planned giving option that best meets your charitable goals. Your estate gifts can create or enhance an existing fund or support the overall work of the Community Foundation in our region. You can create a charitable legacy with:
  • A bequest in your will or trust
  • A donation from your retirement plan
  • A life insurance policy
  • A charitable trust or gift annuity

Establish a
Scholarship Fund

We work with you, your community group, your business, or your foundation to develop and award scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary education at universities, colleges, technical/vocational schools, or professional certification programs. 

  • student graduate

Talk to one of our Philanthropy Experts for more details

Customized Giving Options:

We can help you customize your charitable gift in a number of ways, including both endowed and non-endowed gifts. An endowed gift usually is invested for the long-term. It generates income each year as the principle continues to grow. Endowments can be permanent or for a specific amount of time. A non-endowed gift can be invested and distributed for any period of time.

The gifts can go for:

  • The community good. Each year, the Community Foundation applies the funding to the Tampa Bay region’s most pressing challenges
  • A specific nonprofit or up to four named nonprofits
  • Projects or nonprofits that address a specific issue or cause that you care about, such as education, the environment or the arts
  • Scholarships for students at a specified school, with a designated major or career or from a geographic area

Endowments

We offer endowments—long-term funds invested to generate growth and income—to provide stability and a consistent source of income to support your mission. Endowments held at the Community Foundation Tampa Bay range from the minimum of $25,000 to more than $5 million. We manage, administer and invest the endowed funds, and you may receive a specified amount distributed to you annually to support your operations.

How Does it Work?

Community Foundation manages your endowment as part of a high-performing investment pool. An annual distribution is made to your organization, consistent with the spending policy adopted by our board. The current distribution amount is 4.25%. 

What is the Return?

Endowment funds are intended for perpetual asset growth and are invested for the long-term. We target an annual average return of 7% and the administrative fee for service is 0.75%.

What are the Advantages?

Endowment funds ensure the success and longevity of your favorite nonprofits while making sure they are viable into the future. 

Critical Needs

While nonprofits provide services to those most in need within our community, many are often under-resourced and a single, unexpected event can dramatically impact their ability to provide crucial services. To address these unexpected needs, Community Foundation Tampa Bay has created the Critical Needs List for nonprofits to share those urgent, unexpected needs with community philanthropists. A critical need is defined as unbudgeted, unforeseen, and time-sensitive, and one that significantly interferes with a nonprofit’s ability to provide crucial services or presents an imminent threat to the organization’s continued operations. Please view our list submitted by local nonprofits below.
Questions Frequently Asked About Giving Funds at the Community Foundation
Yes. You may donate to any 501(C)3 charity in the US that is in good standing with the IRS. In many cases, you may support international charities as well.

No. You may donate from your non-endowed charitable fund as you see fit. There are no required annual minimum or maximum distributions.

No. While endowment is an option, you may choose a fund that is not endowed. That allows the greatest amount of flexibility. Up to 100% of a non-endowed fund may be distributed at any time.

Yes. You can decide how future generations can be involved in the funds you establish.

Yes. When you establish a new fund, you can choose from one of the Community Foundation’s investment options or you may choose your own investment advisor to manage your charitable fund.

No. In fact, using a charitable fund at the Community Foundation to manage your giving can make it easier to donate to nonprofits you already know and we can introduce you to others whose work you want to support.

Policies & Fees

We aim to make our policies and fees clear and transparent for our donors and the nonprofits and professional advisors who work with us. Please find our list of downloadable fee and policy statements below. If you’re looking for something you don’t see, let us know.

Ready to make an impact?
Let’s talk.

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