How to Give

Starting a fund at a community foundation gives you the ability to have your fund benefit a variety of charitable causes and decide how involved you and your family would like to be. Yet, you do not have to get involved in administrative and regulatory responsibilities. Hawai‘i Community Foundation is an example of a statewide community foundation with five types of specific charitable funds you may choose to start.

Giving directly to your favorite charity or nonprofit organization enables nonprofit organizations to continue their work in the community, and also provides you with the opportunity to become involved with the organization and its mission.

You can contribute assets to establish a private foundation and control the investment and distribution of those assets as allowed by law. Although tax benefits are limited, a private foundation allows you to maintain a high level of independence about your giving. A family foundation is the most common form of private foundation and can be a great way to involve your entire family in the charitable giving experience. Hawai‘i Community Foundation provides management and grantmaking services to local private foundations.

This type of giving is most appropriate if you want to be closely affiliated with a particular charity and retain control over the management of the assets. As a donor, you receive favorable tax benefits and a high level of involvement with the charity. Hawai‘i Community Foundation is the beneficiary of two supporting organizations.

You may either create your own workplace giving program or support one that is already established. Operate an annual giving program to make charitable grants, funded as part of your annual operating budget. A workplace giving program has no independent endowment, and its budget is typically administered by corporate staff and directed by the CEO or an advisory committee of management staff members. The United Way is an example of a workplace giving program.