Help Your Clients Give Where Their Hearts Live

Work with the Vermont Community Foundation to support your clients’ philanthropic goals with confidence. We partner with you to develop personalized, tax-efficient strategies that align with their financial plans—helping you deliver thoughtful solutions that strengthen client relationships and maximize impact.

The view of the Vermont sunset from the Long Trail.

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Scroll down for an overview, or visit our dedicated Gift Planning subsite to explore giving strategies that can support your clients’ goals and help them shape a lasting legacy.

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Donor Advised Funds

Legacy & Planned Giving

Mission Investing

Nonprofit Funds & Planned Giving

Other Ways to Give

Donor Advised Funds: Distribute charitable dollars over time to the causes your client cares about most

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Grant Flexibility: Recommend grants anytime to charities

Growth Potential: Donations can grow, boosting charitable impact

Family Involvement: Engage family in giving with successor options

Philanthropic Advising: Expert advice for more impactful donations

Tax Deductions: Immediate tax benefits for donations

Secure your client’s impact and values for future generations through strategic charitable giving.

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Estate Control: Directs use of assets according to your client’s personal philanthropic goals

Legacy Building: Creates a lasting impact that reflects your client’s’ personal values

Financial Efficiency: Maximizes charitable contributions through strategic planning

Peace of Mind: Ensures long-term support for cherished causes, securing donor intentions

Tax Relief: Immediate tax deductions potentially reduce estate costs

Foster Vermont’s future by investing in projects that reflect your values.

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Aligned Impact: Investments match personal values with community needs

Social Responsibility: Promotes sustainable practices and social equity within the community

Strategic Growth: Enhances the capacity of local projects and enterprises

Community Engagement: Direct involvement in fostering local economic development

Job Creation: Supports initiatives that generate employment opportunities in local communities

Ensure lasting support for your nonprofit client’s mission by working with a trusted partner.

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Investment Expertise: Through professional investment services

Fund Assistance: Get help managing complex gifts

Planned Giving: Benefit from gift annuity and trust management

Donor Trust: Enhance credibility with a reputable charity affiliation

Community Benefit: Support the vitality of Vermont communities

Our team of philanthropic advisors can work with you to match circumstances and impact with the giving vehicle that best meets your client's needs.

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Designated Fund: Provide ongoing support to one or more nonprofit organizations in perpetuity.

Supporting Organization: The identity of your client’s own foundation, without the administrative burden

Discretionary Fund: Select a cause, region, or topic, then have VCF source and select grantees.

Considering VCF for Your Clients' Philanthropic Needs?

FAQs
Common Client Scenarios

What expertise does VCF provide in managing philanthropic funds?

Our experienced staff manages over $40 million in annual grants, including research and tracking community trends, identifying gaps where philanthropy can make a significant impact, and vetting and recommending grantees.

How does a private foundation compare to a donor advised fund?

Setting up a fund at a Community Foundation is more cost-effective than a private foundation, which can be expensive to run. With a single fee, you get all the services you need, ensuring efficient and impactful philanthropy:

Accounting
Investments
Grantmaking and check distribution
Compliance and due diligence
Access to our research on giving and issue areas
Full turnkey bequest program
Full turnkey planned giving program
Event invites with other philanthropists and fundholders
IRS reporting

Do you have clients who are impacted by the provisions for IRA Charitable Rollovers as of 2024?

If so, we might be able to help. Starting in 2024, individuals aged 70½ or older can make a one-time qualified charitable distribution of up to $53,000 from their IRA to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) through the Vermont Community Foundation without being taxed.

To help your clients explore whether this IRA rollover option is right for them you can…

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What makes VCF unique in supporting Vermont communities?

We are recognized as a leader in philanthropy in Vermont, efficiently meeting urgent needs, and fostering community collaboration. When your clients partner with VCF, they join a community of individuals deeply committed to making a positive difference in Vermont.

How can working with the VCF help support your clients?

We partner with you to support your clients as they explore charitable giving. Our philanthropic advisors bring deep expertise in gift planning and can serve as a resource alongside you—whether that means discussing tax-efficient strategies, establishing a donor-advised fund or charitable gift annuity, or guiding the basics of grantmaking. We’re here to provide that specialized knowledge so you don’t have to, helping you offer thoughtful, well-informed solutions that align with your clients’ goals.

What does philanthropic advising mean?

Philanthropic advising is about working with experienced professionals to thoughtfully shape your charitable giving and grow your impact over time. Our team takes the time to understand your goals, values, and vision, and works alongside you to develop strategies that align with what matters most. We’re here to support you at each step, helping ensure your giving is meaningful and creates lasting impact.

What resources are available for gift planning?

Your client wants to sell appreciated property, but is concerned about capital gains taxes.

Giving all or part of the asset to charity will eliminate or reduce capital gains taxes and can replace less efficient charitable giving, continue or begin to provide lifelong income, and/or provide satisfaction about supporting a charity of one’s choice.

Your client will receive additional taxable income and plans to give some to a charity, but isn't ready to decide which one.

Donor advised funds will lock in a tax deduction for the current year and allow as much time as is needed to choose the charity.

Your client manages a rental unit which provides needed income, but it's too much work.

Giving the rental property to charity and setting up a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) will eliminate the capital gains tax, secure lifetime income (perhaps more than from the rental), claim a sizeable tax deduction, and support a favorite charity.

Your client has a large retirement fund but their heirs will only receive 20-30 cents on the dollar after income taxes.

Naming the Vermont Community Foundation as a beneficiary of retirement assets—to create a fund from which heirs may recommend charitable gifts—will reduce estate tax, eliminate income tax on the IRA distribution, and create a family legacy. There are other assets with lower income tax burdens that could be used to pass wealth to family members, such as real estate and securities.

Your client has no children, and it's time to write a will.

How do they want to be remembered? Suggest a charitable fund at the Foundation as a way to be remembered and an alternative to paying too much estate tax.

Your client wants to help a long-time employee (or friend, sibling, or parent).

A life-income gift, such as a Gift Annuity, will assure the friend a lifetime income—and allow your client to support a favorite charity following the friend’s death.

Your client has inherited artwork, jewelry, or real estate and would like to set up a fund.

The Community Foundation can accept almost any appreciable asset to help you set up a charitable fund.

Our Trusted Partners!

Thanks to the many people who have helped create a more vibrant Vermont by referring clients to the Community Foundation.

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“VCF offers better service, better connections (with nonprofits), and better advice all around compared to national providers.”

JJ Williams

Williams Financial

“My initial Zoom meeting with a VCF philanthropic advisor was like she was across the table. At VCF there's someone to talk to, unlike the commercial DAF providers.”

Lisa Campion

LMC Law

Schedule Your Meeting Today

Make the VCF your first call when considering how a financial event can create charitable impact. Discover how partnering with us can provide you with a competitive edge. Schedule a meeting to explore the potential for collaborating and enhancing the impact of your clients’ generosity.