Charitable Giving
An investment in our community's future
You've worked hard to achieve your goals and
to support the causes and institutions you believe in. Charitable
giving is an important part of your life. As someone who knows
the value of giving, you want to be assured that your gifts
will meet vital needs and improve our community.
You want to know your gifts will achieve positive
results and, of course, maximize your tax deductions. You
may want to involve your family in your giving. You want a
tasteful level of recognition -- or perhaps you want anonymity.
But most of all, you want an easy and flixible
way to accomplish your objectives.
There is a simple way for you to make a difference
and leave a lasting legacy in our community. You can make
a difference for good, a difference forever -- and that's
by establishing a fund with us.
Philanthropic Advantages
There are many advantages to partnering with
the Southfield Community Foundation to realize your philanthropic
goals. By investing in the Foundation's permanent funds your
create a legacy of caring that will provide permanence, local
control for greatest charitable impact, flexibility, economies
of scale, convenience, tax benefits and public accountability.
Permanence. Dollars given to the Southfield
Community Foundation will last forever. Your gift is placed
in a permanent fund so that your charitable interests will
be carried out in perpetuity and have a lasting impact.
Local Control for Greatest Charitable
Impact. Our staff, committees and Board of Directors live
and/or work in our community. We understand how local and
regional issues affect the community as a whole. Our broad
perspective ensures that the grants we distribute are targeted
where they will do the most good.
Flexibility. The Foundation offers
a variety of ways to give. Donations can be cash, appreciated
property, stock, life insurance policies, and charitable bequests
in wills or trusts. Gifts can be designated for special interests
or left unrestricted. Gifts can be made in memory or in honor
of others.
Economies of Scale. By pooling contributions,
we are able to achieve better investment performances. Management
and administrative costs are kept to a minimum so your contribution
supports programs rather than overhead.
Convenience. We can establish most
funds in one brief meeting. Plus, we keep complicated paperwork
and charitable giving terms as simple as possible.
Tax Benefits. The Southfield Community
Foundation is a public charity and all donations qualify for
the maximum available deduction for charitable contributions.
In addition to federal deductions, your gift qualifies for
the Michigan Tax Credit.
Public Accountability. The Foundation
undergoes an annual audit and copies of the financial statement
are available upon request.
For further information on specific philanthropic interests,
please contact:
Warren E. Goodell at 248-351-1320
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The Southfield Community Foundation
is committed to enhancing the lives of those who work and
live in Southfield and Lathrup Village. It accomplishes this
through the support of initiatives and programs not traditionally
funded by government. The Foundation accepts and administers
gifts from many sources to help meet the changing needs of
the community.
Foundation grants are directed by the Board of Directors with
the assistance of community volunteers and staff. The Foundation
currently awards approximately $50,000 annually in grants
and scholarship awards. Grants range in size from approximately
$500 to $5,000. Grants are ordinarily made for a period of
one year.
In the distribution of its funds, the Southfield Community
Foundation does not discriminate based on age, sex, color,
religious affiliation, national origin, individuals with disabilities
or the programs to be benefited.
GRANT-MAKING PRIORITIES
The Foundation's priority is
to fund grants and programs that have the potential for positive
impact on the lives of people who work and live in Southfield
and Lathrup Village. It focuses on projects not adequately
served by existing community resources and in six particular
areas of interest: Community Building, Youth Development,
Senior Adults, Public Education, Arts & Culture and the
Celebration of our Diversity.
Proposals which identify a problem,
propose a well-defined solution to that problem and appropriately
measure the effect of that solution are strongly encouraged.
The Foundation believes that cooperative and collaborative
efforts play an important role in community building. The
Foundation also encourages those organizations submitting
proposals to develop multiple sources of project support.
Community Building. A strong, thriving
community is the product of many diverse activities. The Foundation
seeks projects and programs that successfully encourage volunteerism,
philanthropy, community pride and identity, civic responsibility,
community appearance, and the development of environmental and
recreational assets.
Youth Development. Our children are our future and are
in need of positive role models, peer influences and energies
channeled to appropriate activities to become productive adults.
The Foundation supports providing constructive life choices
through youth-directed educational, recreational and problem-solving
activities and alternative choices that provide assistance for
youth development.
Senior Adults. Southfield is blessed with a large senior
adult community. The Foundation seeks projects and programs
that address quality of life issues for seniors, especially
emergency and crisis management programs through Southfield's
Human Services Department.
Public Education. Educational opportunities and academic
excellence are critical to the future of our youth. The Foundation
funds proposals which promote special creative efforts, innovative
academic programming and instructional excellence.
Arts & Culture. Cultural enrichment is one of life's
fundamental cornerstones. To enhance quality of life, youth
development, senior recreation and reflection, and business
retention, the Foundation encourages efforts in dance, theater,
concerts, symphonies, orchestras, music, lecture series, travel
and hands-on classes that stimulate educational creativity and
enjoyment of the performing and visual arts.
Celebration of Diversity. Perhaps Southfield's greatest
strategic strength is that of the diversity of its human resources.
The opportunity for personal and professional growth through
exposure to multiple cultures, religions and generations is
limited only by our willingness to explore. Southfield is a
cosmopolitan center and an international city. The Foundation
seeks projects and programs that celebrate our diversity and
encourage human and corporate growth through the active exploration
of our differences.
WHAT WILL NOT
BE FUNDED
The Foundation does not generally
fund grants for:
- Operational, maintenance,
or ongoing expenses
- Programs or projects that
duplicate existing services and/or programs
- Sectarian or religious organizations,
programs or activities
- Individuals
- Testimonial dinners, fund-raising
events or advertising
- Payments of loans, interest,
taxes or debt retirement
HOW TO APPLY
Grant seekers are encouraged
to call the Southfield Community Foundation (248-351-1320)
to review the scope and appropriateness of their proposals
before submitting a formal application. Grant requests to
the Southfield Community Foundation must be submitted in writing.
A one to two page letter is generally sufficient and should
contain a brief overview of your organization and its mission,
a description of the problem you are seeking to solve, the
methods you will employ, and how you will know whether or
not you succeeded. The following attachments must be included
for your proposal to be considered:
- A complete, detailed budget
of the project for which the funds are
requested
- An audited copy of your last
annual financial statement
- A list of your current board
of directors and/or governing board
- Proof of tax-exempt status
(usually your IRS tax exemption recognition
letter)
Grant requests and other correspondence
should be sent to the address below.
REVIEW
PROCESS
Careful consideration is given
to each grant request as it is received. Proposals are reviewed
by the Foundation's Executive Director in terms of general
eligibility and conformity to Foundation guidelines and fund
availability. Proposals are then reviewed, as appropriate,
by one of the Foundation's standing committees (Grant, SPS
Education, Youth Advisory, or Executive Committee). Proposals
that receive committee endorsement are then forwarded to the
Foundation Board of Directors for final determination. The
Foundation's Board of Directors meets approximately six times
a year.
Grant seekers will be notified
in writing of the final status of their request. If a grant
has been approved, the recipient organization/group will enter
into a Grant Agreement with the Foundation. This agreement
fully explains the rights and responsibilities of the grantee,
including, but not limited to the submission of a final report
either verbally, in writing, or both, to the Foundation Board
of Directors.
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