Learning

The Community Foundation of Washington County MD Inc. is a public, nonprofit organization created by and for the people of Washington County.  As an independent center for community philanthropy, the Foundation connects donors who care with causes that matter and serves as a trusted resource for addressing issues in our community.

Some Quick Facts About the Community Foundation

• The Community Foundation pools the charitable gifts of many donors into a permanent, income earning endowment that benefits the people of Washington County, and fulfills the charitable objectives of individual donor.
• The Foundation provides leadership by bringing people together from all sectors to identify and address issues and opportunities in our area.
• The Community Foundation emphasizes permanently endowed investments, which are always growing and the earnings will be available in perpetuity.
• The Foundation has no agenda:  it is not the object of anyone’s philanthropy, but provides the vehicle to fulfill donor’s charitable objectives.
• The Foundation is flexible and provides services to help donors realize their philanthropic goals. Donors may have as much or as little involvement as they want in how the money is disbursed.
• Donors can give to any fund at any time.  They can give as much or as little as they want.  Gifts can be of cash, stocks, real estate, bequests, life insurance, trusts, or transfers of an existing private foundation, trust, or endowment.  Life income trusts are also available.
• For as little as $5,000 (which can be contributed over several years), anyone can establish a named fund.  It only takes 15 minutes to establish a fund and there are many ways to do it, often with significant tax benefits.  The Foundation will work with you and your financial advisor to find the approach that works best for you.