You can donate to any of the CFCF's funds by credit card below, or by sending a check to Cedar Falls Community Foundation, PO Box 546, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. There is a processing fee administered by Stripe for online payments. Your donations help ensure that there are resources available to support non-profit organizations, education, and projects that enhance Cedar Falls. 

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To establish a philanthropic fund with the Cedar Falls Community Foundation, follow five key steps. Firstly, define your giving goals—decide on the fund's permanence, restrictions, and preferred field or organization. Next, choose your level of involvement in grant-making decisions. Thirdly, determine the assets for the fund, considering your financial situation and tax implications. Decide on the timing of contributions, whether immediate gifts, a series over 2 to 5 years, or planned estate gifts. Lastly, finalize the gift by selecting a fund name, signing an agreement, and transferring assets. Contact the Cedar Falls Community Foundation for fund agreement examples and additional information.

AGENCY FUNDS

These funds are established by non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations. Contributions from many different donors are collected and invested with the Cedar Falls Community Foundation. Distributions are granted to support the programs or operations of the non-profit organization. Funds may be named in honor of an individual, family, organization, or business. If you are interested in establishing an Agency Fund, contact the Cedar Falls Community Foundation.

DESIGNATED FUNDS

There are two types of designated funds. A donor may specifically assign a non-profit organization to benefit from the fund. Alternatively, the donor may elect to support a particular area of community life such as the arts, education, health care, seniors or youth. The Cedar Falls Community Foundation actively searches for worthy projects within the defined field of interest and offers grants or awards only to those organizations or projects that fulfill the mission and the intent of donor’s field of interest. Other donors can designate that contributions be deposited to any designated fund. If the donor’s designated organization ceases to exist or ceases to deliver the services that the fund was designated to support, the Cedar Falls Community Foundation will seek alternatives to carry out the donor’s intentions and desires. Funds may be named in honor of an individual, family, organization, or business. If you are interested in establishing a Designated Fund, contact the Cedar Falls Community Foundation.

DESIGNATED NON-PERMANENT FUNDS

When individuals or groups join together on a grassroots project for the community, they may come to the Community Foundation so their project is eligible to accept tax-deductible donations. The Community Foundation is not able to accept every proposed project, however if accepted, a Designated Non-Permanent Fund Agreement and Fiscal Sponsorship Operating Agreement will be developed. If you are interested in establishing a Designated Non-Permanent Fund, contact the Cedar Falls Community Foundation.

DONOR ADVISED FUNDS

With this type of fund, donors can consolidate their charitable giving into one invested fund. Donors receive a tax deduction for contributions to the fund. Once the fund is established, donors may recommend grants be made to any 501(c)(3) public charity. Grants are made from the fund with the approval of the Community Foundation Board in the name of the fund and the donor receives recognition for the gift. Funds may be named in honor of an individual, family, organization, or business. If you are interested in establishing a Donor Advised Fund, contact the Cedar Falls Community Foundation.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS

A scholarship fund allows donors to help deserving students further their education. Donors may designate any level of education from preschool to postgraduate work as well as field of study and eligibility requirements. Funds may be named in honor of an individual, family, organization, or business. If you are interested in establishing a Scholarship Fund, contact the Cedar Falls Community Foundation.

TESTAMENTARY FUNDS

Testamentary funds are established by individuals who wish to create a charitable legacy for the community. These funds are established via a planned gift through your estate. These funds will be administered according to the guidelines specified in your estate plan. The Cedar Falls Community Foundation can work with you during your lifetime to develop a formal agreement describing how the fund will operate after your death. Funds may be named in honor of an individual, family, organization, or business.

UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

Unrestricted funds are essential to building a flexible and responsible community endowment that can respond to changing and emerging needs. These funds enable the Cedar Falls Community Foundation to make grants to a variety of community organizations, programs and services. Unrestricted funds are established without designation as to how the contributions and/or earnings will be spent. The Foundation’s Board of Directors determines how the fund can most effectively meet the community’s most pressing needs. Funds may be named in honor of an individual, family, organization, or business.

Any of the preceding funds may be established as endowed or non-endowed.

Endowed funds are created when a donor instructs the Community Foundation to invest a gift to generate spendable resources in perpetuity to fulfill his or her intent. Distributions are limited to the Fund’s distributable income determined in accordance with the Foundation’s spending policy.

Non-endowed funds may be of a permanent or non-permanent nature and differ from endowed funds in that distributions are not limited to the fund’s distributable income. Non-endowed funds often receive contributions from multiple donors, including the general public.

Permanent non-endowed funds are created when a gift is sufficiently large to have a multi-year impact but the donor does not specify whether the gift should be expended or held in perpetuity. Permanent non-endowed funds are invested as if they were subject to the terms of an endowed fund. However, the Community Foundation Board has the discretion to spend all or part of the gift amount for the purpose designated by the donor.

Non-permanent funds are generally held for limited period of time and are generally used to support a specific project. During that period of time the gift amount and all of the earnings are expended as the donor specified so that no funds remain at the end of the term.

Your legacy matters, and the Cedar Falls Community Foundation offers guidance in crafting and supporting it. Choose between an enduring fund or one for a specific project. Opt for an unrestricted fund to build a flexible community endowment. Establish funds through your will or a lifetime agreement. As an accredited community foundation, Cedar Falls provides access to Endow Iowa tax credits for donors. Prior to donations, consult personal tax advisors. The Foundation collaborates with donors and their advisors to shape a legacy aligning with individual goals, ensuring a meaningful and lasting impact on the community.