Whether helping clients directly or assisting professional advisors as they navigate charitable giving with their clients, the NoCo Foundation provides resources and support to make it easy.
We host professional advisor educational sessions throughout the year, so be sure to keep an eye out for those events! You can also find FAQs below. If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out and one of our knowledgeable staff will be happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Developing a charitable plan that considers your client’s financial and charitable needs is no small task. As a professional advisor, the opportunity to help your clients achieve their philanthropic goals is both a privilege and a challenge. The NoCo Foundation is a local resource for you, as well as a philanthropic partner for your clients. A full understanding of charitable giving options, which can offer specific tax benefits, can help your clients achieve their financial, personal, or business goals. The NoCo Foundation delivers world class donor customer service, and has developed unique resources for you to use in helping clients craft their charitable giving plans.
There are many practical reasons why establishing a charitable fund at the NoCo Foundation might be better than creating a private foundation. Our staff is pleased to provide additional information regarding the benefits of establishing a charitable fund rather than a private foundation.
The NoCo Foundation offers several types of funds to help your client accomplish their charitable goals. Staff members are available to discuss these options with you and help your client select one or more funds that best suit their philanthropic needs.
It is easy to establish a fund at the NoCo Foundation. Your clients can simply decide which type of fund best meets their interests and needs, determine their charitable priorities, select a name for the fund, and make an establishing gift. The NoCo Foundation can typically prepare and complete the written Fund Agreement in less than one hour. (Sample fund agreements can be downloaded from the Establish a Fund page.)
All funds must be established with a minimum gift, with the amount determined by the type of fund. There is no maximum limit and no set-up fee.
| Type of Fund | Minimum Gift |
|---|---|
| Donor Advised | $25,000 |
| Corporate Advised | $25,000 |
| Designated | $10,000 |
| Memorial or Tribute Fund | $1,000 Initial Contribution |
| Field of Interest | $25,000 |
| Scholarship | $200,000 |
Each fund at the NoCo Foundation shares in the total administrative costs of the Foundation. The NoCo Foundation charges a very low annual administrative fee ranging from 1% to 2%, depending on the type of fund established. Our current fee schedule is located on our Financials and Policies page, and our staff can answer any questions you may have.
Yes! The NoCo Foundation offers different investment pools, and donors may advise that the fund be invested in a way that best aligns with their needs and interests. Our staff is happy to review the investment options with you and assist your client as requested.
- The Balanced Pool: Provides long-term growth of capital and generation of income by investing in a diversified mix of domestic and foreign equities and fixed-income securities. This pool is appropriate for donors who seek moderate growth paired with stability.
- The Growth Pool: Provides long-term growth of capital with the production of income being secondary. This pool is appropriate for donors seeking capital appreciation who have a higher tolerance for volatility.
Funds may be established with many different types of gifts — cash, securities traded on major exchanges, closely held stock, mutual fund shares, real estate, bequests, interests in limited partnerships, and more! The NoCo Foundation staff is experienced at evaluating unusual assets and can accommodate them for charitable purposes.
Charitable giving should warm the donor’s heart, not burden them with tax complications and ongoing administrative details. Once your clients decide on the type of fund they would like to establish, our staff can set it up with a simple governing document that requires less than an hour to prepare and complete.
Absolutely. Your clients may use their own names, the names of individuals to be honored or memorialized, or the name of a business. Some donors select a more general name to retain anonymity.
A member of our staff would be happy to meet with you. Please call the NoCo Foundation at (970) 224-3462 to schedule a time that works best for you and your client.
When preparing a will or an inter vivos gift, please refer to the fund as follows: “The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado [ insert fund name ].” Our staff would be happy to customize the language for specific funds.
