Why Give to The Wapakoneta Area Community Foundation?

"The most useful and influential people in America are those who take the deepest interest in institutions that exist for the purpose of making the world better."
   Booker T. Washington, 1901

The Wapakoneta Area Community Foundation is similar to the well-funded community foundations in many of our neighboring communities. These foundations provide scholarships, seed money for new art and cultural groups, athletic sponsorships, and health services, the kinds of things that are needed but not covered by tax monies. A community foundation provides an efficient and effective structure or linking individuals' charitable interests with important programs and services.

Since its founding, the Wapakoneta Area Community Foundation has worked to build a permanent endowment which will support a variety of charitable programs. The Foundation is a conduit through which donors can make individual gifts to benefit the community in a collective way. A sizable endowment is critical to ensuring that community needs will be met for years to some. Only the earnings are expended from the endowed account, assuring that dollars will always be available to improve the quality of life and work in the grant distribution region, which includes the Wapakoneta school district.

The Foundation also offers ongoing sound leadership and professional management. It is operated by a board of Trustees whose members are chosen for their knowledge and understanding of the community. They serve on a voluntary basis to protect the long-term interests and growth of the Foundation's assets. Operating expenses for the Foundation are minimal.

The Wapakoneta Area Community Foundation gains additional strength from its affiliation with the Fifth Third Bank Trust Co. for investment purposes. However, decisions regarding fund-raising and the distribution of funds remain in the Wapakoneta Area Community Foundation.

The Wapakoneta Area Community Foundation is a vehicle through which individuals, families, companies, and charitable organizations can make current and planned gifts to benefit the community, both today and for years to come. Charitable funds serve purposes as varied as the donors who create them. Donors may establish a fund to support the community's greatest areas of need, a broad field of interest, or specific charitable organizations or programs.

Permanence

Gifts can give forever because the Foundation invests the charitable capital to make certain there are resources for the future.

Flexibility

The Foundation offers unique flexibility, making it possible for donors to benefit a variety of philanthropic purposes.

Tax Benefits

As a public charity, the Foundation offers maximum tax benefits.

Financial Management

Maximizing returns while minimizing expenses, the Foundation offers a variety of investment options.

Security

A volunteer Governing Committee of experienced community leaders oversees foundation management and use of funds.