Building Community

When Arlene Nichols began volunteering for what is now the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, she was frustrated by how much more was needed than the fledgling organization could provide. Now, after 12 years of devoted service on the organization's board and making charitable contributions through the Community Foundation of Collier County, Nichols is thrilled to see the club expanding its programs and breaking ground on a new campus on Davis Boulevard. But there is much left to do.

"Fifty percent of the 40,000 children in Collier County live at or below the poverty level," she says.

In the face of such need, Nichols and her husband, Jerry, co-founder of Junior Achievement in Collier, wanted to make sure their charitable gifts made the most impact possible. So they turned to the Community Foundation of Collier County, which helped them give in a way that would provide the most benefit to the community and ensure continuity. "Someday our grandchildren will be able to pick up where we leave off," she says.

Barely talked about 20 years ago, community foundations are now one of the fastest-growing sectors in philanthropy-and for good reason. They offer both donors and fund recipients a full array of services that make the most of each donation for both sides. Everybody wins-especially the community. Such foundations have rapidly established themselves as a cornerstone of philanthropy and regional development.

Of the 600 community foundations in the United States, 24 are in Florida, and five call Southwest Florida home: the Community Foundation of Collier County, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, the Bonita Springs Community Foundation, the Cape Coral Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sanibel-Captiva. Between them, they manage more than $92 million, all donated by private citizens and organizations to improve the quality of life in Hendry, Glades, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.

Essentially, community foundations make grants for charitable purposes within a specific community or region. Funds are typically derived from several donors and held in an endowment that is invested for substantial long-term growth. Income earned by the endowment is used to make charitable grants. Because most community foundations are themselves public charities, with the necessary 501(c)(3) tax classification, they are eligible for maximum income tax deductibility of contributions. As a result, the money grows quickly.

The Community Foundation of Collier County was established in 1985 by a group of 13 private citizens who each contributed $300,000 to improve Collier County and encourage and manage its growth. One of the foundation's first missions was to promote the recycling program that is now in force across the county, says Mary George, the foundation's president and CEO. This year the organization will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a variety of events and initiatives.

or donors, immediate tax benefits, extra income, and the continuity or improvement of an existing estate plan are key pluses. For example, donors can stipulate a total grant amount and then take the full tax benefit in that fiscal year, even if the total amount of funds will actually be donated over several years. Such flexibility makes community foundations highly popular tax- and estate-planning vehicles.

Plus, they provide professional estate and tax planning, advice about various charitable options and a full range of administrative services and public accountability. "We essentially become the donor's back office," says George. "We do all of the paperwork and administrative work so that the donor can simply sit back and enjoy the pleasure of giving."

On the flip side, community foundations offer a world of services for nonprofits. Along with providing the grants most charitable organizations rely on for survival, they offer training, consultation, financial and accounting services and more. Many nonprofits couldn't afford such services on their own. But with the grants, they can greatly increase the effectiveness of their staffs and the quality and reach of their programs.

The Community Found-ation of Collier County operates a leadership center for area nonprofits. Opened in 1996, it provides seminars on non-

profit governance, customized training for trustees, short-term consultation, board and staff referrals and other resources. "We work in close conjunction with donors as well as area nonprofits to provide that vital link between the funds and the issues," says George.

Paul Flynn, president of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, says a major reason groups like his flourish here is the unusual level of commitment from donors and agencies. "There are some truly magnificent people right under your nose," he says.

Flynn, who has worked as a newspaper publisher in several major markets, says, "I liked the newspaper business because it gave me the chance to make change happen. This does the same, only more so."

Flynn's foundation played a major role in assisting with disaster relief in Charlotte County after last year's hurricanes. The organization joined forces with the Allstate Foundation to establish a $1 million disaster recovery fund. A major portion of the donations were distributed through nonprofit agencies, supplying victims with shelter, food and clothing, emergency medical clinics, social services, community clean-up and more.

Flynn notes that community foundations do not compete with the United Way, which provides operating expenses for charitable organizations. Instead, community foundations finance specific projects or programs. This year, mental health has been identified as a crisis issue in Lee County, so funds from the Southwest Community Foundation will be part of the $100,000 Ruth Cooper Community Grant to aid in the construction of a new mental hospital for the community.

Flynn's foundation also works with Maureen Oravec, who runs Faith in Action, which provides housekeeping, food, home maintenance and other assistance to elderly residents who want to remain in their own homes. "We help people who would otherwise fall through the cracks, but most charities operate on a shoestring," she says. "The Southwest Florida Community Foundation

helps us manage our operations and do a better job for the people who need us."

Lalai Hamrick agrees. As the director of Family Health Services, she works with the Salvation Army, Cornerstone Ministries and the Lee County Homeless Coalition to provide health services to the region's agricultural workers, the homeless and the needy.

"As someone who grew up here and has worked here all of my life, I can see and appreciate all the good they have done," Hamrick says.

For those passionate about improving their communities in a way that provides sound financial benefits all around, community foundations take everything that's good about charitable giving and make it great.