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CFSI Helps Area Nonprofits Plan for the Future
Grant to Center for Nonprofit Excellence Provides Local Nonprofits with Scenario Planning Guidance Due to COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic presented an unprecedented set of challenges to both individual nonprofit organizations and the nonprofit community as a whole. To help our community respond to these challenges the Community Foundation launched our COVID-19 Relief Fund which, to date, has granted nearly $1 million back to nonprofits and small businesses – helping them address the short and long term needs caused by the pandemic.
A grant from the Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund to the Center for Nonprofit Excellence provided a cohort-based, interactive series of four online sessions to help nonprofit organizations chart a course in challenging times and better respond to the long term needs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The goal of the four-part series was the development of a 12-month, operationally-oriented plan that:
- Focused mostly on the organization’s financial sustainability and its capacity/ability to execute programming;
- Detailed objectives, strategies, deadlines and benchmarks for the next 12 months;
- Identified alternative actions as internal and external conditions and scenarios change; and
- Specified communications to key stakeholders
Nine Southern Indiana nonprofits, ranging from small to large organizations, asked their leader and a board member to participate in the four 90-minute sessions offered via Zoom and led by CNPE Director of Consulting Services, Ed Cortas.
The interactive sessions offered opportunities for cohort members to discuss the subject matter, ask questions, and share information. A survey was completed following the sessions which showed that 90% of the participants agreed that the workshop series equipped them with the knowledge of the processes and tools necessary to lead and manage effectively in times of crisis and challenge.
Southern Indiana Burger Week: Burgers, Brews & Boos Supports CFSI
Local restaurants teamed together for Southern Indiana’s first ever Burger Week: Burgers, Brews & Boos! Not only did this event help spotlight some of our great local restaurants, but a portion of the proceeds went to the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana’s Community Impact Fund. Grants from the Community Impact Fund are used to support area nonprofits whose work addresses our community’s highest priorities and greatest needs in all areas.
Participating restaurants included:
- Board and You Bistro & Wine Bar
- Recbar 812
- The 1894 Lodge
- 1816 Modern Kitchen & Drinks
- Union Restaurant & GameYard
- The Exchange Pub + Kitchen
- Brooklyn and The Butcher
- The Portage House
- Pints & Union
- Boomtown Kitchen
Thank you to all those who participated in this wonderful event which helped support CFSI’s work in our community.
With a recent donation, the Jeffersonville Evening Optimist Club increased their support for Jeffersonville High School students through two funds at the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana.
The Jeffersonville Evening Optimist Fund for Prosser, established this year,will help Jeffersonville High School students taking career and technical education curriculum at Prosser who are in need of financial assistance to obtain required equipment and supplies to complete their coursework.
The Jeffersonville Evening Optimist Trade School Excellence Fund, also established this year, provides scholarships to graduating Jeffersonville High School students who have excelled in a particular trade during high school, as recognized by their teachers.
The Jeffersonville Optimist Youth Foundation Scholarship Fund, established in 2018, supports graduating seniors from Jeff High who plan to pursue post graduate education. Students who qualify for these scholarships must be involved in their community and be in need of financial support. A preference is given to those who have a connection to the Jeffersonville Evening Optimist Club. Pictured from left to right: Charlie Schladand, Jeffersonville Optimist; Linda Speed, Community Foundation; Bob Krall and Peggy Metzger, Jeffersonville Optimists.
YEAR END GIVING
Your Timing Must Be Right – We Can Help
If you’re planning on making a gift at year end there are some important things you need to know. Outlined below are a few basics to keep in mind.
- Keep an eye on timing. Checks must be hand delivered or postmarked on or before December 31. Credit card gifts must be posted to your account and received by CFSI by December 31, so we recommend making gifts by credit card several days before year end.
- Transferring Stock is a great way to give, but you should start this process a little earlier. Depending on the stock it may take some time to complete the gift and CFSI recommends starting this process no later than December 1st. If you want to transfer mutual funds, be sure to talk to your fund administrator on year end timing as these funds can take even longer.
- Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (“QCD”) from your IRA. This very popular giving technique allows IRA owners age 70½ or older to make a tax-free contribution of up to $100,000 directly to a qualified charity from their IRA. Qualified charitable distributions are excluded from your taxable income and can count towards your required minimum distribution. Your QCD gift can go into any fund at CFSI except donor advised funds. Please note that IRA owners who turn 70½ in 2020, however, don’t have to begin taking required minimum distributions until after they reach age 72, and under the CARES Act required minimum distributions are suspended for 2020. As with any year end donation, be sure that you check with your plan administrator on timing of a QCD to ensure a 2020 gift. Call Kenton at 812-948-4662 for help setting up your QCD gift.
Click below to learn more about timing giving techniques.