A recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) through the Walt Whitman Endowment Fund will further help the youth as they consider broader education goals. The fund was established with IECF in 1994 to benefit activities that promote mutual tolerance and respect between the community at large and the gay and lesbian communities. 

Eric J. Ornelas, President of Safe Schools Desert Cities, said the grant will go into the nonprofit’s scholarship program, offering students unique financial opportunities. 

“The grant is a great benefit to us because it’s not just a one-time thing,” Ornelas said. “It arrives every year and helps us with planning. We can count on it, which helps our scholarship program.”  

The program stands out, in fact, for how well it provides a financial lifeline for LGBTQI+ youth in the region.  

“And it’s not just because of the financial help,” Ornelas added of the program. “It’s the affirmation of who they are, and that helps boost their confidence.”  

To be sure, the financial part of the program is appreciated, too. With college costs continually rising, financial aid lightens the burden. About 20 scholarships are offered here, including the Financial Assistance Award, which can be requested throughout the school year.  

There’s also the Burton/May Pride Award, which is administered by IECF from selections made by Safe Schools Desert Cities. The Pride award provides support for educational expenses for enrollment in an educational program following a student’s graduation from high school, vocational school, or training program, community college, or another university. 

“LGBTQI+ youth in our community have additional challenges that the general student body does not have,” Ornelas said. “We step in and offer these students support. One example is by supporting gay/straight alliance clubs that exist within the schools, offering them resources.” 

The nonprofit also produces events like Pride Prom, which unfolded on May 15. 

“We also have the Rainbow Youth Summit,” Ornelas added. “And a couple hundred students came to the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast [on May 14], which isn’t produced by Safe Schools, but we are one of the beneficiaries, and we arrange to have students from across the Valley attend that event, which is huge because there’s well over a thousand people there.” 

This includes the general public and a variety of Valley leaders—from elected leaders and business owners to non-profit peers.  

Ornelas has been with the organization for more than 10 years, initially coming on as a volunteer. 

“I actually started as a DJ,” he said, noting how the organization needed a DJ to work its first Pride Prom at the time. He joined the board in 2017 and became president in 2020. 

The non-profit’s website is extensive, offering a valuable list of resources and updates on events and other opportunities for youth. 

One of them is the 2026 Safe Schools Leadership & Empowerment Camp, which runs June 11-14 at a camp in the San Bernardino Mountains within hiking distance of Jenks Lake. The event is free, runs four nights, and offers a significant intention: it’s designed for high school students to strengthen leadership skills, boost confidence and resilience, and offer a community space in a supportive and inclusive environment. 

Activities can include everything from hiking, swimming, and archery to canoeing, a talent show, and daily campfires. 

“Events like that allow these students to recognise that they are not alone, that they have a community that is there to support them,” Ornelas said. “And that’s super important during this time when they get a lot of messages that are not particularly positive. In fact, those messages can be extremely negative. 

“We help communicate that and to remind youth that there’s nothing wrong with them,” he added, “and that they are perfectly worthy. We help encourage and support them so that they can become successful leaders in their own right.” 

Learn more at safeschoolsdc.org.

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, 2026.

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A recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation became a valued lifeline as the nonprofit hopes to further enhance the college journey of African American students. 

“We want to bring them closer when they go to college—not just to get to college, but to become competitive when they’re in college,” said Jalani Bakari, President and Chair of GLG. “And the best way to do that is to prepare them with opportunities to understand or navigate their route.” 

To that end, one of the activities the nonprofit recently hosted was the Academic Bowl, a popular event specifically designed to illuminate pathways to success in college and beyond. 

“All but one or two people were male [at the event],” Bakari said. “We were literally trying to teach these young men to learn how to navigate not only education in itself, but to navigate and to share information of history and community activities with each other. 

“These are young men who work in project impact, who will become teachers in our local schools, young men who are undergraduates in our local schools, and young men who are citizens, all between the ages of 18 and 32,” he added. “We we were able to use some of the grant funding to help our students, training them and working with them.” 

Collectively, GLG’s members and board are seasoned servant leaders. One of the nonprofit’s main goals is to improve admissions competitiveness for majors in engineering, science, medicine, mathematics, and business administration.  

Improving parents’ abilities to interact productively with various staff, representatives, and teachers within schools and districts attended by their own children​ is key. 

Advocacy and equity also factor into the mix. 

To that end, communicating and promoting African-American educational issues at the state, federal, and local levels of government becomes not only necessary but vital. This is yet another way the nonprofit can gain cooperation and commitment from public and private representatives to participate and support various programs implemented in the Inland Empire. 

Ensuring vibrant and equitable participation in the area’s educational activities at all levels is yet another part of the nonprofit’s reach. This helps eliminate equity gaps that emerge on different levels in the African-American student experience. 

“We value our deep exploration of knowledge,” Bakari said. “What I love most about being here is being able to actively share in our community—of growing it and planting the seeds of the future for our students 

“It’s just incredible,” he added. “I appreciate doing activities that help students initiate things and help them begin to share in their skills or activities, whatever they are.” 

Bakari directs individuals to the nonprofit’s website to peruse upcoming events and consider getting involved.  

For instance, the nonprofit works in collaboration with the Pi Rho Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., in various events such as food drives, clothes drives, and other service-related events benefitting the community. 

And mark your calendars: The Sigma ETA Chapter 50th Anniversary Celebration takes place April 11 at the Grand Taj Event Center.  Supporting the event helps GLG honor past contributions, highlight current impact, and inspire future programs in science for students others in underserved communities. 

Mid-year connections also await. GLG’s summer flagship program, the Fatherhood Initiative Camp Out (FICO), Fishing Fest, & Garrett Livingston Graham STEM Camp begins Friday, July 17, and runs through July 19 at Lake Hemet Campground. 

Learn more at glgscienceedu.org. 

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, 2026.

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It’s yet another milestone for the Foundation and the fund, whose financial support will buoy the efforts of 22 organizations across the region. The annual grants will further expand support for housing, education, civil rights, and well-being in Latino communities across the area. 

“This year’s grantmaking is focused on moving resources where they can make a real difference for the residents of the Inland Empire,” said Jesse Melgar, IECF Board Chair and CIELO Fund founder and chair. “Surpassing $1.7 million in total investments since the CIELO Fund launched in 2022 reflects an intentional strategy by our leadership committee to back organizations that are meeting urgent needs and building long-term power and opportunity in every corner of our region.” 

He added that the groups the fund supports are “doing the hard work daily to expand access to health care, education, legal support, and economic opportunity. This is critical work at a critical time.”  

Overall, this round, the CIELO Fund’s total investment in grantmaking, research, narrative‑change efforts, and scholarships has resulted in more than 120 grants to nonprofits in 

Riverside and San Bernardino counties have received more than 300 scholarship awards to local students since it launched.  

“This happened because donors of all kinds, big foundations and local families alike, believed in the vision our Board set,” said Michelle Decker, President & CEO of IECF. “Their combined support through IECF has strengthened Latino-led and Latino-serving organizations across the region, and the Fund shows how powerful it is when a community invests in its own future.” 

Behind the scenes, CIELO Fund commissioned several reports from leading California universities to better understand the challenges facing the region, including its Latino residents.  

The latest report, which was partnered with UCLA’s Latino Policy & Politics Institute, revealed the underlying realities behind the numbers: how Latino workers drive the region’s economy yet continue to face persistent structural barriers. 

Angel Rodriguez, co-founder of the CIELO Fund, says that many people in the leadership committee are either from the Inland Empire and/or have established their careers in the region.                                                                                                                       

“I grew up here, went to school here, and built my career here,” Rodriguez said. “I know what it feels like when someone opens a door for you. CIELO is our way of opening more doors for students, families, and organizations across the Inland Empire.” 

That is essential on this side of the mid-2020s, when everything from federal funding cuts and divisive politics continues to be key issues to confront and surf through. 

“People are doing their best, but the cost of housing, food, health care, and education keeps getting harder,” Rodriguez said. “These grants support the local organizations people turn to when they need help, hope, or a path forward.” 

The 2026 grantmaking also included media partnerships to elevate positive regional narratives through original and effective programming. The CIELO Fund will continue to support KVCR’s IE Latino Voices segment which it helped co-design and launch in 2023. 

Additionally, the fund will continue supporting an innovative partnership with the LA Times’ Latino vertical, DeLos, to maintain special coverage of the IE. 

The 2026 CIELO Fund grantees include a vast array of vital nonprofits in the area. From Codex Creation Committee, which empowers communities by fostering educational opportunities in art, culture, health, and wellness, to Corona Relief Organization, an intrepid charity serving underserved communities with essential resources, the fund’s impact stretches far and wide. 

Other grantees include: Ives Torres Foundation, The Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California, Coachella Valley Parents, Danza Azteca Citaltonac, Rotary Club of Coachella East, Highlanders Boxing Club, and Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service. (Check the CIELO Fund page for a full list of grantees.) 

“The Inland Empire is full of talent, heart, and ambition,” Rodriguez said. “CIELO helps put resources behind the people already doing the work to make this region stronger.” 

CIELO’s support also reaches students directly. In 2026, 33 students applied for a CIELO scholarship, and every one of them will receive $1,500 to help pursue their degree. This is the fourth year in a row CIELO has been able to support every student who applied. In recent years, CIELO has provided $300,000 in scholarships to more than 200 Inland Empire students. 

“CIELO is about investing in people who are already doing the work,” Rodriguez said. “That includes local organizations serving our communities every day and students who are working hard to build a better future for themselves, their families, and our region.”

Learn more about the CIELO Fund at iegives.org/cielofund

This story originally appeared in the Press Enterprise, June 2026.

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As the founder of IAMGIFTED Foundation, he’s helped steer the non-profit organization to great heights, primarily with its mission to help young people recognize their strengths, build confidence, and develop the needed skills to succeed in school, the community, and in life.

Mental health advocacy factors strongly in the mix at IAMGIFTED—the inspiration for the organization came from Mattison’s own battles with mental health. Thanks to a recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation, IAMGIFTED will enhance its emphasis on mental health awareness, ranging from suicide prevention to offering emotional tools for young people.

“We’re excited to have received the grant,” said Dr. Angela Brantley, Executive Director of IAMGIFTED Foundation, noting that the resources have helped with one of the nonprofit’s signature offerings, the Youth Empowerment Program. Specifically, funding a five-week Saturday program that the organization runs twice a year.

“The most recent one brought in 170 students, and the grant helped us enhance that program,” Brantley said. “Another thing we’re using the grant for is to host events and invite our guest students and their families to various outings.”

A recent jaunt allowed students to attend a sports event in a collaborative event dubbed “Awareness Night.” Brantley believes that inviting students and families to such experiences generates positive ripple effects in the community.

“It gives students an opportunity not only to participate in our on-campus learning, but to get out and have an experience outside of the school campus,” she said. “It helps them engage with the larger community and have experiences they may not have had, and all with the focus on mental health and engaging in some fun way.”

Brantley cites one example that found staff guiding students through various activities between the innings of a baseball game. A breathing exercise was introduced, followed by cues and reminders about the benefits of regulating one’s emotions through breathing techniques.

“We had kids compete with balloon breathing, where they win prizes,” Brantley said, noting one example. “It comes down to: how do you teach third, fourth, and fifth graders about mental health and awareness? How do you get them to understand healthy ways to regulate their emotions and all those things?”

“We try to make it fun and engaging and exciting,” she added.

To be sure, the organization has made an impact since its inception.

More than 4,200 people, including youth, families, and those involved in community programs, have been positively impacted by the organization’s work. More than $60,000 scholarships have been awarded.

The foundation’s Rush 2 Give program also stands out. The year-round community outreach initiative that provides essential resources through such things as back-to-school drives, holiday givebacks, and community events, has helped approximately 3,500 families.

Brantley, who has been with the organization since it launched, said the organization focuses on four key pillars: Youth Sports and Life Skills Development; Mental Health and Wellness; Education and Opportunity Access; and Family and Community Support.

The nonprofit team is solid, comprised of mentors, educators, and advocates deeply committed to children and families through education, resources, and community-building programs.

As the need for mental health support grows, the organization is expanding its focus to offer comprehensive Mental health resources, workshops, and subsidized services to, “ensure that no one walks this journey alone.”

“We’ve seen an uptick in mental health concerns over the last six to seven years,” Brantley said. “We’ve all had a common experience of trauma with the pandemic and that creates a significant impact for our youth and adults.”

The staff’s deep appreciation for connectedness shines through.

“We all love doing the work—for the community and for the kids, and seeing the smiles on their faces,” Brantley said. “But that we’re doing it as a family is special. My husband, my kids—Alex’s cousins—his aunties, his uncles, his parents, his brothers… we’re all on staff. We’re all the ones showing up on Saturday for the programs.

“We are very passionate about giving back to the community,” she added.

Learn more at iamgiftedfoundation.org

This story originally appeared in the Press Enterprise, May 2026.

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“The grant benefits us greatly, especially with our food pantry for food distribution,” said Gerardo Pulido, Executive Director of Casa Blanca.

The food pantry serves about 100 families on a first-come, first-served basis from 9-10 a.m. every Wednesday.

“We serve at least 80 families every Wednesday,” Pulido said. “We also have a monthly distribution service, where people come in once a month for emergency food. It’s like 300 participants during that month, and it’s very valuable.”

Grant funding also helped fund nonprofit events, most of which are free.

“These events help the community with many opportunities, even with something as simple as a backpack giveaway,” Pulido said, noting that in 2025, the organization gave away 500 backpacks to children in the community. The backpacks included, among other things, back-to-school supplies.

“Events like that offer a great resource,” he added. “Other local organizations attend and distribute items to the community. It helps locals remember that there are organizations here for them, not just us. It’s a collaborative mission.”

An annual turkey giveaway filters into the mix during the holiday season. Last year, the nonprofit distributed 150 turkeys, which was funded, in part, by grant resources.

Founded in 1957 by community members who realized a need for services that met basic needs, as well as education and outreach. The plan clicked and soon community-building activities were introduced. One of its main goals was to provide “neighbor-to-neighbor service.”

“I started as a volunteer, and I love to give back and get involved,” Pulido said. “I like to be here for my community. It feels good when you see the looks on people’s faces when they’re receiving the support that they need.”

Over time, Pulido noticed the nonprofit would benefit from having more volunteers.

“People needed a place to connect the people with specific types of services,” he said. “And I’m like, ‘What’s going on here? Why are we not providing what we should be providing.’ I wanted to know how we could improve because I just wanted to give back to the community.”

Other standouts within the nonprofit include Casa Blanca Elementary School. Riverside Unified School District has brought innovative STEM-integrated instructional practices into the school’s programming. The school includes three learning labs and three open-terrace learning spaces that create a valuable learning environment designed for hands-on, collaborative learning for students.

“I want people to know we’re here for them,” Pulido said. “I’m not sure many people know that we partner with many other organizations and that collectively, we’re here for the community. We want to build that trust with them, because I know how humbling it could be for someone who is in need and has never found themselves in a situation where they needed food.

“Those type of services, even medical services, and something like Cal Fresh are important, and we’re able to help people with all that, especially with any language barriers,” he added. “We have Spanish speakers here, so in that way, people won’t find themselves in a situation to where, like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I want to go there, because I don’t know if they’re going to understand me.’”

Pulido encourages people to consider volunteering and also to abreast of the organization’s events calendar on its website. Coming up: Summer Movie Night on July 23.

“It feels good to help and comfort others,” Pulido said. “That’s the main mission—just to comfort one another.”

This story originally appeared in the Press Enterprise, May 2026.

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“We’re excited we can put some of these funds into field trips,” said Andrea Hecht, Executive Director at Tools For Tomorrow (TFT). “We recently did Desert X and we now have a partnership with the Herb Alpert Gallery, bringing kids there to experience the art. Extra funding is so important because it can go towards those particular trips and provide a space for kids to experience new things.”

The resources will also help develop the organization’s theater program—Hecht hopes students can experience Coachella Valley Repertory and other groups in the area.

TFT, which sprang to life in 1998 under founder Rachel Druten’s vision, uses qualified teaching artists to curate a professionally designed curriculum, creating standout lessons in the visual arts, creative writing, music appreciation, and theatre.

These free classes are held weekly at a school site after regular school hours. TFT provides all supplies—from books to musical equipment—and even snacks.

The nonprofit’s reach now stretches far and wide. All Coachella Valley elementary schools are eligible. Currently programs are set in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Coachella, Bermuda Dunes, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, La Quinta, and Thousand Palms.

“Tools for Tomorrow gets children into safe spaces to explore their creative potential through hands hands-on art experiences,” Hecht explained. “We can use illustrated children’s books to inspire the children, for instance, and in that way, they learn more about artists, musicians, and writers.”

Students also have opportunities to do hands-on projects.

“Every child in the program gets an art kit,” Hecht added. “We also introduce high-end materials for projects like gel printing, model magic, oil pastels. It’s a great way for them to learn how to use all materials in their art kit— from painting to watercolor pencils.”

The nonprofit also inspires students with various artists, from musicians to writers, where they can take what they’ve learned and create their own hands-on projects.

“In that way, they can learn to express their feelings and connect with their classmates,” Hecht said. “They build community, and learn to work together, collaborating, especially in the theater programs. They also learn problem solving, and that it’s okay to make mistakes, and that nobody’s perfect.”

Understanding that taking risks can be a good thing factors into the unique learning mix here.

“They get to have a safe space to be kids and to have fun, creatively,” Hecht said.

This 2025-’26 school year found TFT reaching more than 1,200 students in the Coachella Valley in 22 schools. In fact, all 15 Palm Springs Unified School District elementary schools have benefitted from the program, alongside six Desert Sands Unified School District schools, and Coral Mountain Academy in the Coachella Valley Unified School District.

Hecht has been with the organization for 18 years. She says she loves visiting classrooms and being a witness to the excitement students share.

“It’s a joy to notice the energy around doing the projects,” she said. “It’s remarkable to watch them, hear the stories, see the pictures, and witness them learn, step by step. I went into one classroom where they were going to do a collage with different colored papers. In this case, they were inspired by bees.”

One student was trying to draw a bee’s eyes, in fact, and kept repeating, “I can’t do it. I can’t do it.”

“We worked with him and gave him a few tips and tricks on how to cut paper,” Hecht added. “Sure enough, he was able to use some other materials and stickers, and then when he wanted to draw beehives, the volunteer showed him how to make a straight line by using paper. He managed to put it all together, and he was so excited and so proud of himself. Because he did it himself.

“It’s always inspiring to see things like that,” she added.

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, 2026.

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A recent grant from the Dr. Abram I. and Sylvia S. Chasens Endowment Fund via Inland Empire Community Foundation has given The Joslyn Center an opportunity to move forward with even greater ease. 

The longtime and revered nonprofit, which has been actively enhancing the well-being of 50+ adults in the area through its pioneering services and programs, will use the grant funding to cover operating expenses. 

It has given Greg Murphy, Director of Development and Marketing at The Joslyn Center, an opportunity to take stock of several key growth areas that emerged over the last year. One of them found the center winding down its Meals on Wheels program. 

“It was somewhat redundant to the county program,” Murphy said. “We looked at the overhead and the number of people served, and we believed that the clients were better off with the county program. The food is prepared fresh and is a better benefit to the clients in the program.”  

In addition, the board took note of member feedback and invested in three outdoor pickleball courts, two of which were underwritten by donors, and the third from the board. 

“That’s been in play, pun intended, since October,” Murphy said of the courts. “We’ve been having a really good spring, and people are still out there playing in the sun, when it’s not too hot yet.” 

Further back, in March 2025, Penny’s Pantry, which sprang to life in 2011, providing fresh produce and non-perishable food to thousands of low-income seniors each year, merged with the center’s farmer’s market to become the Joslyn Community Food Bank. 

These re-aligned efforts better provide food to those who have challenges purchasing enough of it to avoid hunger. The food bank is open Fridays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

Another thing the nonprofit has leaned into over the past couple of years was to install solar panels on its roofs. 

“It you think about a 27,000 square foot facility here, we have 15 functioning HPAC units, and it takes a lot of expense to keep those things operating during summertime,” Murphy said. “The solar panels have helped us out a lot.” 

Meanwhile, fresh off a recent volunteer’s luncheon in early April, Murphy says volunteer opportunities abound and directs those interested in getting involved with the organization to visit its website and submit their information. 

Looking ahead, mark your calendars. The Center will host both a Mother’s and Father’s Day luncheon, as well as a Fourth of July barbecue. 

“We just had a big fundraising event in early April,” Murphy noted of the gathering—another fundraising event takes place at the beginning of the season. “These events are important and we’re always looking to attract new volunteers, new members, and new donors.” 

Those big events also shine the light on the center’s various programs—from adult bereavement, the Better Brain Balance class, book clubs, and caregiver support groups to table tennis, bingo, American Mah Jong, guitar lessons, and even meditation classes.  

The Joslyn Wellness Center is yet another standout. It has been praised for its holistic approach and the variety of modalities it offers. The center focuses on aging, memory, and mobility, and uses thought, memory, exercise programs, and the strength of community to help improve life experiences. 

Now a nationally recognized entity, the Wellness Center’s unique approach to wellness among older adults is valued. It is also the first of its kind to offer free bilingual counseling services to adults in need.

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, 2026.

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What’s especially notable is that in recent years, Congress has expanded planning opportunities by indexing annual giving limits for inflation ($111,000 per person in 2026) and allowing certain one-time QCDs (“Legacy IRAs”) to fund charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. And now, proposed legislation known as the “Charity Parity Act” would, if enacted, extend QCD treatment beyond IRAs to include employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b)s. This potential change in the law would remove the extra step of rolling assets into an IRA before making a charitable gift, simplifying the process for many donors whose retirement savings remain primarily in workplace plans.

Consider a typical client scenario. Your client, age 74, is taking Required Minimum Distributions (“RMDs”) from a traditional IRA. Because the client claims the standard deduction, charitable gifts do not generate additional tax savings. By instead directing a portion of the RMD to a qualified charity as a QCD, the client can satisfy part or all of the RMD obligation without increasing taxable income. In many cases, this can also help reduce Medicare premium surcharges and lessen the taxation of Social Security benefits, creating planning advantages beyond the charitable deduction itself.

Here are three examples of how IECF can help your client achieve charitable goals through QCDs:

—A client directs a QCD from an IRA to IECF’s unrestricted fund to support broad community needs. The client satisfies part or all of the client’s annual RMD requirements while supporting flexible grantmaking that addresses changing priorities in the region.

—A client uses a QCD to contribute to a field-of-interest fund at IECF focused on causes such as education, healthcare, the arts, or environmental conservation. This allows the client to support a specific area of passion while relying on IECF’s expertise to identify effective nonprofit organizations over time.

—A client makes a QCD to an existing designated fund or scholarship fund held at IECF. For example, the client may support a favorite local nonprofit through a designated fund or help students pursue higher education through an endowed scholarship fund, all while reducing taxable income through a QCD.

Keep in mind that charitable giving with IRAs goes beyond current gifts to charity! As part of advising clients about their IRAs, be sure to check their beneficiary designations. Not only is it tax advantageous for a client to name a fund at IECF or another public charity as beneficiary of an IRA, but it’s also a best practice to avoid problems in the future. (Retirement plan beneficiary designations continue to show up in cautionary tales!)   

For attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, developments related to QCDs are worth watching closely. QCDs increasingly serve as a natural connector among retirement planning, philanthropy, and legacy conversations. Just as importantly, QCD discussions often open the door to broader planning opportunities, helping clients align financial goals with the causes and communities they care about most. As always, please reach out to IECF anytime! 

Please reach out to our Charitable Giving Team anytime. Stay up to date on all the good work we’re doing through the power of philanthropy – sign up for our eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters, today.

The team at IECF is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you help your clients build their charitable plans and pursue their philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.

The post Good news keeps coming: Retirement plans and charitable giving appeared first on IECF.

Understanding when to consider each option can help attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors deliver more customized and impactful planning guidance. Unless your practice specializes in charitable giving, though, you’re not likely to have the rules for CGAs and CRTs at your fingertips. Here are six FAQs to get you started.

What do CGAs and CRTs do for a client?

At a high level, both a CGA and a CRT would allow your client to make an irrevocable charitable gift while retaining an income stream for life or for a term of years. In both cases, your client may qualify for an immediate charitable income tax deduction, and a portion of future payments may receive favorable tax treatment. In short, people use CGAs and CRTs to save taxes, make a gift to charity, and create an income stream. 

Which is easier—a CGA or a CRT?

A charitable gift annuity is generally the simpler of the two arrangements. The client transfers assets to a charitable organization in exchange for a fixed lifetime payment backed by the charity’s general assets. Payment rates are typically based on age and standardized actuarial assumptions. Because the payout is fixed and administration is relatively straightforward, CGAs often appeal to older donors seeking predictability and simplicity. Note that not every charity offers a CGA option; many smaller or mid-sized nonprofits lack the resources, licenses, or state registrations needed to manage them. 

Which is more flexible—a CGA or a CRT?

A charitable remainder trust offers considerably more flexibility than a CGA, but it is also more complex. A CRT is a separately administered trust—its own legal entity—that pays income to one or more beneficiaries before the remaining assets eventually pass to charity. Unlike a CGA, a CRT can be designed in different ways. A charitable remainder annuity trust (CRAT) provides fixed annual payments, while a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) pays a variable amount based on a percentage of the trust’s annually revalued assets.

Which option is better for clients contributing larger assets? 

CRTs are often better suited for clients contributing larger or more complex assets. Because the trust can sell appreciated assets without triggering immediate capital gains tax within the trust, CRTs are frequently used in connection with highly appreciated real estate, concentrated stock positions, or even business interests prior to a sale.

In addition, CRTs can accommodate multiple beneficiaries, customized payout structures, and professional investment management strategies. Clients who want greater flexibility, longer-term wealth planning opportunities, or inflation-sensitive income may prefer a unitrust structure over the fixed nature of a CGA.

Of course, that flexibility comes with added responsibilities. CRTs require formal trust administration, annual tax filings, ongoing investment oversight, and legal drafting. CGAs, on the other hand, are generally easier for clients to understand and establish.

When is a CGA better?

You may recall that a technique called a “Legacy IRA” was created by the SECURE 2.0 Act, allowing taxpayers aged 70 ½ or older to make a one-time election for a tax-free Qualified Charitable Distribution to certain CRTs or CGAs. Clients who want to take advantage of the Legacy IRA may find that a CGA is better suited to their needs. The cost of setting up and administering a CRT may not be worth it because the limit for these transactions is $55,000 (2026 level) per person.

What’s the first step in exploring CRTs and CGAs?

As always, the team at IECF is honored to be your first call whenever charitable giving comes up in a client conversation. If you are exploring CGAs and CRTs, we’ll point you in the right direction so that you can evaluate the rules for each technique and review important questions related to the particular client situation, including what type of asset will fund the gift, the size of the proposed contribution, the client’s income goals, the number of beneficiaries, and cost concerns. 

Finally, keep in mind that charitable giving conversations are not limited to ultra-high-net-worth households. Many clients today are seeking ways to create reliable retirement income while also making meaningful charitable commitments. Split-interest gifts can help accomplish both objectives simultaneously.

We look forward to our next conversation! 

Please reach out to our Charitable Giving Team anytime. Stay up to date on all the good work we’re doing through the power of philanthropy – sign up for our eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters, today.

The team at IECF is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you help your clients build their charitable plans and pursue their philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.

The post Split-interest charitable gifts: Need-to-know FAQs appeared first on IECF.

But for some clients—especially business owners, collectors, and affluent retirees—valuable assets may take a different form entirely. Boats, airplanes, cars, RVs, and other tangible property can represent a mixed bag of characteristics: significant wealth, ongoing maintenance costs, and emotional attachment, all of which may add up to a charitable giving opportunity. These situations may no longer be one-off cases. Classic cars are a notable example, with some estimates tallying the total at more than 43 million vehicles in the United States alone—an estimated $1 trillion in total insurable value!

Here are four tips to consider as you work with your charitable clients.

Always reach out to IECF

Anytime you’re dealing with a charitable client, please reach out to IECF to explore your client’s options. Your clients may be surprised to learn that public charities, such as IECF, can accept a wide range of noncash assets, provided the assets can be evaluated, valued, transferred, and ultimately liquidated to support your clients’ charitable goals.

Ask questions beyond balance sheet basics

Clients may forget to mention that they own highly appreciated noncash assets. As clients prepare to meet with you, they are often so focused on gathering investment statements and real estate information that they forget about classic cars, RVs, planes, and boats! Comprehensive conversations are especially timely as many affluent households continue to hold substantial wealth outside of traditional investment portfolios. Recreational assets purchased years ago may now hold significant value while also generating ongoing expenses, storage concerns, and succession-planning questions. Clients who are downsizing or simplifying during retirement may welcome charitable strategies that transform underused assets into community impact. 

Build your client’s charitable plan prior to a sale

When you spot unusual assets on a client’s balance sheet, and you know your client is charitable, it’s important to consider the possibilities. A client preparing to sell a classic car or boat, for example, could incur significant capital gains tax if the asset has appreciated in value. Contributing the asset to a fund at IECF before a sale may help reduce or eliminate those taxes while also generating funds to support charitable causes the client cares about. 

Pay attention to the rules

Gifts of noncash assets require careful coordination. Unlike publicly traded securities, these assets involve additional due diligence. Title transfers, appraisals, environmental reviews for real estate, insurance considerations, debt obligations, marketability, and liquidation logistics all require attention. The IRS also imposes specific substantiation and reporting requirements for charitable deductions involving noncash gifts.

The team at IECF is happy to work alongside you and clients’ other attorneys, CPAs, valuation experts, and financial advisors to determine whether proposed gifts are feasible and which structures might be best. In many cases, IECF can accept the asset and facilitate its sale. 

The bottom line here is that for a charitable client, using a much-loved car collection, boat, or other luxury asset to support favorite causes and address community needs may be far more appealing than knowing the asset could sit in storage for years and years, with no end in sight to the maintenance expenses. You can add tremendous value by helping your clients consider whether highly specialized collections and “passion assets” are better suited for charitable planning than for transfer through an estate, especially when heirs may not share the same interest in maintaining or managing them. Whether your client owns a rare bicycle collection, antique toy collection, classic cars, or a country music producer’s private library, conversations about donating unusual assets can help clients simplify their estates, support charitable priorities, and avoid placing the emotional and logistical burden of niche collections on the next generation.

Please reach out to our Charitable Giving Team anytime. Stay up to date on all the good work we’re doing through the power of philanthropy – sign up for our eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters, today.

The team at IECF is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you help your clients build their charitable plans and pursue their philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.

The post Getting creative: Unusual noncash assets can make great gifts to charity appeared first on IECF.