Community Foundation of the Ozarks

CFO is pleased to announce the recent addition of new Legacy Society members. The Legacy Society is comprised of donors who have made a planned gift to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks or one of its affiliates. The Legacy Society was created to recognize and thank donors in their lifetimes and to offer the opportunity to introduce ourselves and learn more about the donor’s philanthropic wishes.

Nita Jane Ayres, Kimberling City, MO (Table Rock Lake Community Foundation)
Paul O. Barker, Springfield, MO (Community Foundation of the Ozarks)
David & Susan Belcher, Little Rock, AR (Community Foundation of the Ozarks)
John & Barbara Brockschmidt, Springfield, MO (Community Foundation of the Ozarks)
William & Sylvia Cornette, Forsyth, MO (Taney County Community Foundation)
Bridget & Andy Dierks, Springfield, MO (Houston Community Foundation)
Brian & Renee Fogle, Springfield, MO (Aurora Area Community Foundation)
JW and Kirsten Gibbs, Springfield, MO (Community Foundation of the Ozarks)
Mildred & Leona Hoffman, Ste. Genevieve, MO (Valle Schools)
Mimi Kauffman, Springfield, MO (Community Foundation of the Ozarks)
Paul & Charlene Koch, Springfield, MO (Community Foundation of the Ozarks)
Margo Murray, Oakland, CA (Ozark County Community Foundation)
John Nixon, Ozark, MO (Finley River Community Foundation)
Jill & Brad Reynolds, Springfield, MO (Community Foundation of the Ozarks)
Richard & Carol Silvey, West Plains, MO (Community Foundation of West Plains)
Winter Skelton, Springfield, MO (Mount Vernon Area Community Foundation)
JC Smith, Clinton, MO (Truman Lake Community Foundation)
Doug Thornsberry, Springfield, MO (Community Foundation of the Ozarks)
Price Baker Walden, Bolivar, MO (Bolivar Area Community Foundation)

The Foundation’s board of directors has challenged the organization to enlist at least one new Legacy Society member from each affiliate and 20 new members from metropolitan Springfield during this fiscal year. Through thoughtful planned giving, we strengthen community grantmaking, support sustainability of the foundations serving our neighbors and keep vital community capital in the Ozarks region. We hope that you’ll consider making a planned gift to the Foundation or your favorite charity. Please remember that the Community Foundation of the Ozarks staff stands ready to assist you in this effort.

To learn more about the Legacy Society, you can watch a short video featuring CFO’s honorary Legacy Society Ambassadors discussing what inspired them to give something back to their community and even some helpful dialog about how to make a charitable planned gift.

CFO and the United Way of the Ozarks are teaming up once again to present a free seminar on planned giving for nonprofit organizations on Thursday, May 14, from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. at the United Way office, 320 North Jefferson, Springfield. Gary Funk, CFO president, will present “Ramping up Planned Giving for Nonprofits” and representatives from the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield and the Springfield Symphony will discuss their successful planned giving strategies.

Speaking of planned giving, CFO recently shared a “Planned Giving Tip of the Week” series. Each tip discusses an easy strategy for making a planned gift, something you can share with your donors, volunteers, and friends. If you missed a tip, they’re available here. Methods covered include: making a charity the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, a savings bond, bank account, etc.; setting up a charitable remainder trust; and making a gift of personal property. Go to the web for all the details.

Another March Madness is in the books. While the college basketball season may be over, CFO’s frenzied full court press for planned giving rolls on, and it’s not too late for you to be a champion for your community by making a planned gift.

The Foundation’s board of directors has challenged the organization to enlist at least one new Legacy Society member from each affiliate and 20 new members from metropolitan Springfield during this fiscal year. This marks our final weekly tip on how to make a simple planned giving commitment, but each tip and a wide range of additional planned giving resources are available on our web site at www.cfozarks.org or simply by giving us a call at (417) 864-6199. These commitments are important; they truly will make a difference down the road and they encourage others to think about giving back to the places we call home. This week tip is:

A Specific Bequest in your Will or Trust

Making provisions in your Last Will and Testament or Revocable Trust Agreement for either a specific dollar amount or percentage of your estate to pass to a charitable organization at your death (or the death of the survivor of you and your spouse) is one of the most effective and obvious methods of making a planned charitable gift.

It is also relatively simple to designate the purpose for which your charitable gift is made (e.g., create an endowment or scholarship fund or use for a particular program or field of interest). Individuals with minor children, who might otherwise be reluctant to divert a portion of their estate away from their children, can accomplish both their family and charitable objectives by delaying the distribution to charity, directing that their estate be held in trust for the benefit of their children until the children attain a particular age (e.g. 25 years of age), and then directing that a portion of what remains be distributed to charity and the remainder to their children.

The Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri, Inc., CFO’s largest affiliate, recently announced the addition of a new Legacy Fund. The Dorthadean Moorman Memorial Fund was established by a bequest from Ms. Moorman. The fund will directly benefit Crosslines of Carthage and the College Heights Christian Church. Read more about this most recent example of planned giving here.

View past Planned Giving Tips here.

Please remember that the Community Foundation of the Ozarks staff stands ready to assist you in this effort. A major part of our website (www.cfozarks.org) is dedicated to planned giving, and we have a simple form that signifies your charitable planned giving commitment. In these challenging economic times, this is something that all of us can do to support the community foundation movement. Please contact Gary Funk or Winter Skelton at (417) 864-6199 if you would like to discuss this planned giving option.

As always, thanks for all that you do for the Ozarks!