GIFT PLANNING SERVICES
"There is no greater reward than working from your heart, and making a difference in the world." — Carlos Santana
The act of giving can change a life — starting with your own. Through our charitable gift planning services, you can be the change you wish to see in your community and beyond.
Legacy Gift Highlight: Donna Murrill
Donna Murrill, a longtime Butte County resident, was forced to evacuate twice during the Camp Fire in 2018. The experience affected her profoundly.
She decided to leave part of her estate – more than $1.7 million – to NVCF for future wildfire recovery efforts. The Donna Murrill Fund has awarded grants of more than $100,000 to several organizations. The fund, meanwhile, has grown to more than $2 million through investment income, ensuring that Donna Murrill will be helping others for many years.
Why partner with us?
At NVCF, we are ready to help you put more good into your community, county and beyond.
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We have the experience and tools for finding the best ways to create legacies of giving.
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We help determine what to give and the best ways to give now or in the future.
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We research grant recipients, ensuring your gifts go to organizations that are in good standing.
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We understand the specific needs, opportunities and most effective nonprofits in the area we serve.
Giving is good for everyone.
Not only does an act of giving directly impact the lives of your fellow community members but it can transform your own mind, heart and legacy.
Legacy funds
By setting up a legacy fund, individuals and families can direct the lasting change they want to make in our region and beyond. Legacy gifts come in all shapes and sizes – and from a variety of assets through wills, trusts and retirement plans. Donor-advised funds and endowment funds are the most frequent ways to create a legacy of giving.
Other fund choices
Nonprofit Incubator Fund
Incubator funds are created by individuals interested in testing a charitable idea with the goal of establishing a new nonprofit within 18 months. Foundation staff assists with advice on operating a nonprofit as well as a review and assisting with documents required to obtain approval for creating a 501(c)(3) public benefit nonprofit.
Scholarship Fund
A scholarship fund is usually established by a family or group, often as a memorial fund. They establish scholarship criteria and a committee to recommend grant distributions. A fund also can be a permanent endowment fund as well as one created through a will, trust or beneficiary designation.
Charitable Impact Fund
An impact fund is often established by a volunteer group interested in organizing and operating annual fundraising events for specific charitable purposes or organizations. A business can also establish an impact fund.
There are countless ways of achieving your gift giving dreams.
We are ready to help.
Any questions? Contact us.
Ways to create a legacy of giving
Current Charitable Gifts
Setting up a donor-advised fund or an endowment fund is a simple process at NVCF and is often done in coordination with estate planning with other ways of giving.
Funds can be started with cash gifts but we encourage consideration of other assets to use, especially stocks or real estate that have appreciated in value.
Benefits include:
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Tax deduction for fair market value of assets contributed
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Avoidance of capital gains tax
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Research on nonprofits and help with structuring grants
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Satisfaction of seeing your gifts at work
Bequests
Leave a charitable gift through your will or trust to your donor-advised fund or endowment fund established at the foundation.
Best for donors who want to make a significant future gift while maintaining current assets.
Benefits include:
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No impact on current assets but can be used for charitable gifts while alive
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Family members can be successor advisors to continue your legacy of giving
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Charitable beneficiaries can easily be changed by amending the fund agreement
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Allows for substantial gifts that could become an endowment fund benefiting more than one charity
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May reduce federal estate taxes
Beneficiary Designations
Designate your donor-advised fund as the beneficiary of a retirement account, annuity or a life insurance policy.
Can also be shown as a secondary or contingent beneficiary in the event that the primary beneficiary is no longer alive.
Benefits include:
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Distributions from accounts that are taxed as income if made to individual beneficiaries won’t be taxed due to the foundation’s nonprofit status
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Additional benefits are the same as listed above for bequests
Life Income Gifts
Create a lifetime stream of cash flow through the establishment of a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust.
Best for donors with appreciated assets looking for current tax benefits and income for life.
Benefits of either include:
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Immediate income tax deduction
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Potential capital gains tax avoidance
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Lifetime income stream
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Professional asset management
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Remainder value goes to your designated charities
Best assets to give
The best assets for making charitable gifts can be summarized very simply: Assets that have appreciated in value give the donor a double tax benefit. First, the capital gains tax is avoided since the foundation is not taxed on the sale of the assets. Second, a charitable contribution deduction is allowed for the fair market value of the assets. There are possible limitations or complications, but that is where the staff of the foundation can work with your professional advisors in creating the best approaches.
Highly Appreciated Securities
Why they're ideal: Avoid capital gains taxes while receiving full fair market value deduction.
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Stocks held over one year – Maximum tax benefit, especially for high-value positions
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Ease of transfer – Instructions given to transfer from broker to broker electronically
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No appraisal – Listed securities valued as of the day of transfer from exchange prices
Real Estate
Why it works: Large potential tax deductions with professional appraisal of value.
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Investment property – Avoid possible depreciation recapture and capital gains
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Undeveloped land – Ideal for conversion of cash outlays to life income
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Personal residence – Retain right to live in home while receiving deduction
Retirement Plan Assets
Why they're tax-smart: Charity receives full value without paying income taxes.
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401(k) and 403(b) plans – Avoid ordinary income tax rates on distributions
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Traditional IRAs – Tax-free transfer to charity vs. taxable inheritance
Business Interests
Why they're valuable: Complex assets that provide significant planning opportunities.
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Closely-held stock – Valuation discounts may apply, professional management
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Limited partnership interests – Convert illiquid assets into charitable impact
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Rental real estate – Use limited liability company to hold for cash to donor-advised fund
Other Valuable Assets
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Art and collectibles – Full fair market value deduction for appreciated items
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Intellectual property – Ongoing royalties can benefit charity in the long term
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Life insurance policies – Convert unused policies into charitable gifts
Gift planning
podcast episodes
Check out episodes of our "Love Warriors" podcast focused on legacy giving services at NVCF.
Gift Planning Podcast Episodes
"Charitable Gift Planning, Oh My!"
"Legacy & Generosity: Where to Begin"
"Stocks, Charity and Capital Gains"
Contact us
North Valley Community Foundation serves residents, nonprofits and professional advisors throughout Butte, Glenn, Tehama and Colusa counties to enhance philanthropy throughout the region and the world.
Connect with us today to learn more about how you can
create a lasting legacy through NVCF.
Questions? Ideas?
Contact Bill Hubbard, director of charitable giving.
Email: bhubbard@nvcf.org
Phone: (530) 891-1150 ext 230
