WHY GIVE

The Montrose Community Foundation is a tax exempt, nonprofit, publicly supported philanthropic organization with the long term goal of building permanent funds for the public benefit of the residents in the Montrose community.

We strive to grow a stronger community by enhancing the quality of life in the place we all call “home”.

We carry out our mission by building permanent funds and using a portion of the annual income from these funds to support local nonprofit organizations through grants and special projects.

The MCF is governed by an active board of directors and has a small, but professional, staff. Operating expenses are paid from fund fees and from gifts designated by donors to cover foundation operating and program costs.

What is a Community Foundation?
The MCF vs. A Private Foundation

A community foundation is supported by a broad group of unrelated individuals, families, corporations, and institutions. The only thing that connects all of our donors is a desire to improve our community. Because of our broad base of support, the MCF is classified by the IRS as a publicly-supported charity. This gives us tax advantages not enjoyed by private foundations.

The MCF also treats all of our funds in the MCF Family of Funds (known as “component funds”) as part of a single corporation. This gives them administrative and investment advantages over private foundations as well.

How is the MCF Different from Other Nonprofits?

Most nonprofit organizations have a specific mission. By contrast, the MCF’s mission is very broad: to improve the quality of life in the Montrose community. This breadth of mission reflects our ability to make grants in many fields of interest with a charitable benefit to Montrose. This flexibility allows us to serve a wider group of potential donors on the one hand and, on the other, a wider group of nonprofit organizations whom we consider our partners in improving our community.

Area nonprofits benefit from having a local community foundation because the community foundation helps money stay in our local community. We help benefit local nonprofits in other ways. Besides having local grant money available, we manage endowment funds on behalf of nonprofits. These funds are called “agency endowment funds.”

Our goal is to gradually become the center for charitable giving in the Montrose area. We help make connections between the people who want to give and the individuals and organizations that need their support.

 

10 Reasons to Give to the Montrose Community Foundation

 

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We are a local organization with deep roots in the community.
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Our staff and volunteers have broad expertise regarding community issues and needs.

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We provide personalized service tailored to each individual’s charitable and financial interests.

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Our funds help people invest in causes they care about most.

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 We accept a wide variety of assets, and can even facilitate some complex forms of giving.

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We can partner with professional advisors to create highly effective approaches to charitable giving.

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We offer maximum tax advantage under federal law for most gifts.

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We multiply the impact of gift dollars by pooling them with other gifts and grants.

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We build endowment funds that benefit the community forever and help create personal legacies.

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We bring community leaders together and work closely with other local funders, nonprofits, public officials, and businesses to coordinate resources and create positive change.

Our goal is to become the center for charitable giving in the Uncompahgre Valley.