What is endowment?

When you create a charitable fund through Durham Community Foundation, you have the opportunity to benefit the community now – and forever – with a permanent endowment. Your gift is invested over time. Earnings from your fund are used to make grants addressing community needs. Your gift — and all future earnings from your gift – is a permanent source of community capital, helping do good work today and in the future.

Legacy and stability.

Donors who endow their gifts with our Foundation can make a difference in the Region of Durham during their lifetime and, at the same time, provide a gift that lasts forever. Grants will continue to be made in the name of the fund you establish so that your charitable wishes are preserved, even if an organization receiving grants ceases to exist in the future.

Leaders of a nonprofit organization have also looked to our Foundation to hold their organization’s endowment because they know that having a constant source of funding helps them respond to immediate needs and plan for the future.

Expert help.

When donors or nonprofit organizations work through our community foundation to achieve their charitable goals, they benefit from the expertise of experienced local program staff, community leadership, and investment management.


Legacy Builders: Robert, Carlee and Bonnie Fraser

A Variety of Giving Methods Tailored to Your Unique Situation.

Outright Gift.

You can make a gift of cash, stocks, bonds, real estate, or other assets to Durham Community Foundation. Your gift qualifies for maximum charitable benefit under federal law.

Appreciated Securities.

You can give appreciated securities to our Foundation to eliminate capital gains tax and get an immediate tax receipt for the market value of those securities.

Bequest.

You can designate a gift or portion of your estate to our Foundation and, in some cases, receive a substantial reduction in federal gift and estate taxes.

Life Insurance.

You can designate the Foundation to receive a portion or all or of the proceeds from your life insurance, reducing your estate taxes, or you can transfer the policy to our foundation’s name and receive an immediate tax receipt for the cash surrender value.

Charitable Remainder Trust.

You can place cash or property in a trust that pays annual income to you (or another named beneficiary) for life. After your death, the remainder of the trust transfers to Durham Community Foundation, and is placed in a charitable fund you’ve selected. You receive income tax benefits the year you establish your trust.

Five Great Fund Options. Choose the one that’s right for you.

Any of the Funds below can be established during your lifetime or through a bequest in your Will. We will help you determine which type of fund fits your needs best. All gifts made to your Fund will be invested professionally, and a portion of the total value of the Fund is available each year for distribution to any registered Canadian charity.

Unrestricted Funds.

You can use your gift to meet ever-changing community needs –including future needs that often cannot be anticipated at the time your gift is made. We evaluate all aspects of community well-being –arts and culture, education, environment, health and social services, youth, and more. The flexibility of your unrestricted gift makes it possible to respond to the community’s most pressing needs, today and tomorrow.

Field of Interest Funds.

You can target your gift to address needs in an important area of community life. The arts. Health and Wellness. Aging. At-risk youth. You identify your personal interest area when making your gift; our board awards grants to community groups and programs that are making a difference in the area you select.

Designated Funds.

You can direct your gift to a specific charity or issue area. Help provide ongoing funding for a senior centre, museum, your church, or virtually any nonprofit charitable organization. You identify the recipient you wish to benefit through your gift; our staff manages the annual distribution of funds.

Scholarship and Bursary Funds.

A Fund in your name or a loved one can provide student scholarships that benefit youth in your area(s) of interest. We can help you define the scholarship criteria,handle all administrative details, and awards scholarships to deserving students in the name of the Fund you establish.

Donor Advised Funds.

You can have ongoing involvement in the use of your gift. You work with our Foundation, identifying ways to use dollars from your Donor Advised Fund to address the issues and needs you care about most. Your recommendations are submitted to our board for approval; we then distribute grant dollars.

Contact Us

We’re here for you and our community, call us at 905-430-6507.

Find us

Charity Reg. #: 898797931RR0001
2-157 Harwood Avenue North
Box 250
Ajax, Ontario
L1Z 0B6

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