Endow Iowa: A Wonderful Opportunity to Grow Perpetual Commitment to Your Organization

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Do you have an accumulated balance in your account that isn't waiting for an apparatus or other major purchase? 

Do you have a few significant supporters who might be interested in an additional State of Iowa tax break for a gift to your organization?

Does it sound nice to have a gift amount that you could count on year after year? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, and you are an IRS-recognized 501 (c) (3), your organization might be a good candidate for establishing a endowment through your local community foundation to maximize the impact of the Endow Iowa program. A video explanation of the program may be found here. 

Endowment accounts can be opened for less than you might think. Once your endowment is established, you will be able to count on a percentage of that principal supporting your operations every year in perpetuity. Talk about a gift for the future of the community! 

Qualified Endow Iowa gifts receive a 25% State of Iowa tax credit in addition to the normal charitable income tax deductions. Donors with appreciated stock can avoid capital gains tax and receive even greater state benefits through a stock gift to an Endow Iowa qualified account.  These credits make the net cost of a gift significantly smaller than the original amount.

Some of the requirements of the program include:

• Gifts must be made to a permanent endowment fund at a qualified community foundation  
• Endowments must benefit one or more Iowa causes

The State of Iowa Legislature established the Endow Iowa program in the early 2000's. It has resulted in an investment of more than $50 million to benefit great causes in our wonderful state for so many tomorrows.

Ready to start growing your organization's future? Contact your local community foundation to learn more about how Endow Iowa can benefit your donors, your community and your organization.  

Account Balance? Consider Planting an Emegency Response Seed

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In recent visits and Fire Service conversations, I've heard a common thread of future positive potential. Members have shared that they feel blessed to have balances in their association and/or auxiliary checking account. That feeling of blessing is countered by a slight frustration about lack of consensus among members of what to do with that balance. 

If you're in this blessed situation, consider bringing up the idea of  an endowment up at your next meeting.

The scope of the tools and tactics you and your members use in your emergency response shift significantly and continuously with improvements in technology, communities and safety. 

There's no way to determine with perfect accuracy what emergency response will look like in a few decades or a few generations. However, the human condition virtually guarantees the need for effective emergency response to keep communities stronger in perpetuity. 

Forming an endowment to benefit future emergency response needs in your community effectively addresses that ongoing need that can't be perfectly defined today. 

Once an endowment is formed, a specific percentage of the principal is made available to you each year to support your mission. Every year. In perpetuity.  A common percentage of principal made available in endowments is 5%.  The larger your endowment balance, the larger the amount available each year to help fully fund your mission. Talk about planting a seed for the future!

The State of Iowa has created a program, Endow Iowa, that makes gifts to endowments especially attractive for any of your donors in need of tax credits. More details on the program may be found here.The size of nonprofit endowments in Iowa has grown substantially since the creation of this program. 

The professionals at your area community foundation are outstanding resources as you consider an endowment for your department. Your area foundation may be able to send a staff person to your meeting to discuss the details with you. 

To connect with your local community foundation in Iowa for a discussion on the possibilities, visit the Iowa Community Foundations website and select your county from the orange box in the mid-right hand side of the page.

In addition to the Endow Iowa program, professionals at your local banks, credit unions and other investment firms will likely be able to provide you with detailed investment options for starting an endowment. Fees and opening deposit requirements vary by company. If these details aren't made clear in any proposal you receive, insist you receive them before making any purchasing decision.

Does your department have an endowment? What are your thoughts on this idea? Please your thoughts below.