Oceana Foundation Still Short of $25,000 “Challenge Match” Goal
After a generous, anonymous Oceana County couple pledged a $25,000 matching contribution, the Foundation is still seeking some $15,000 in contributions from individuals, couples, families, organizations and businesses who’d like to make a difference with their philanthropy during this holiday season. The challenge match deadline ends December 31.
“These contributions bolster either our ‘Administrative Fund’ or our ‘Community Investment Fund,’” said Foundation Executive Director Tammy Carey. “Our Administrative Fund enables the Foundation to help lead critical work across the county — such as the Healthy Oceana Initiative to increase access to and consumption of healthy foods; and the Read Early, Read Often initiative to encourage reading to babies and toddlers.”
The Community Investment Fund enables the Foundation to channel financial help to critical, unmet needs that suddenly arise. “Unfortunately, only 2% of our Foundation’s $10 million in total assets is available in this fund, so we can only meet a fraction of the requests for funding that we receive. Our goal is to boost these funds to provide a new level of service to Oceana citizens,” added Carey.
The Foundation hopes this giving opportunity reaches more families, friends, and co-workers who want to do something nice during the holidays to benefit others. “I often hear of instances where folks get together and decide to write personal checks to make a difference,” said Carey. “This is a way to do just that. I hope people reading this will take the idea to heart.”
The Foundation last year exceeded its $25,000 challenge match goal when the same anonymous donor stepped forward with a similar offer. “Everyone likes to double the impact of their giving, and this is a great way to do it,” she said.
To support one or both of these CFOC named funds, one can write a personal check payable to Community Foundation for Oceana County. Be sure to indicate the name(s) of the fund(s) to be supported. Mail the check to P.O. Box 367, Shelby, MI 49455. Contributions also can be charged to a personal credit card by logging onto the online giving form, and then typing in the fund name.
“And here’s something that people over 70.5 years old and who are required to take distributions from their IRA should consider,” added Carey. “They can turn them into gifts that benefit our community by taking advantage of a special tax provision that allows a direct rollover into the Community Foundation without having to report it as income!” The IRA Charitable Rollover became a permanent option last year. Since then, many people have used their IRA’s to support causes that are important to them by making rollovers to community foundations like Oceana’s.
CFOC envisions an Oceana where everyone has access to resources needed to thrive. It receives and manages contributions from citizens and organizations and have provided $4.1 million in grants and scholarships back to the community since 1989. More information can be found by calling Ms. Carey at 231.861.8335 or following the Facebook page.