You can make a gift to the Catholic Community Foundation at any time. The amount you designated can be gifted to one of the current funds through cash, checks, appreciated assets, or credit cards. The Catholic Community Foundation staff will work with you to help you meet your personal charitable giving goals. While the Foundation staff cannot provide tax or legal advice, we will happily collaborate with you and your financial planner, personal attorney, or certified public accountant.

The Catholic Community Foundation is resolute in its commitment to implementing prudent investment strategies by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) guidelines. As a Catholic organization, we ensure that our portfolio managers do not invest in entities that contradict the teachings of the Catholic faith.

Additionally, our managers actively invest in funds that promote charitable works. We are proud to declare that our investment portfolios are 99% Catholic-screened. We collaborate closely with professional investment advisors to achieve a competitive return aligned with our board's risk and return policies.

The Catholic Community Foundation offers multiple investment pools. The specific investment asset allocation will depend upon the short-term and long-term objectives our donors stipulate when a fund is established. Each giving vehicle has different investment risk options, such as a Donor-Advised Fund, Endowment, or Catholic Savings Fund. If you would like to learn more about investment pool options that meet your needs, you can contact us at 480-651-8800.

Endowments are financial investment vehicles designed to withstand economic instabilities through sensible investing practices. An endowment fund is a long-term investment fund made up of contributions that continue to grow. At the same time, a percentage of the earnings is distributed each year to benefit the named nonprofit organization or cause. Since the fund's principle is untouched, this fund is guaranteed to last perpetually and will safeguard against unpredictable future donor-giving and economic hardships. The perspective of holding an endowment is very long-term as these are funds given in perpetuity to support the fund or organization's mission.

Additional contributions can be added to the endowment fund to increase the principal balance. Those additional contributions and investment earnings are used to grow the fund and provide the beneficiary with ongoing financial support. A percentage of the profits is distributed annually based on the intentions of the fund creator. Gifts to the endowment may be given as immediate gifts such as cash, real estate, stocks, and bonds – or in the form of future gifts through wills and bequests or as a designated beneficiary of a life insurance plan, retirement plan, or IRA.

As an individual, you can make a gift to an existing endowment to support a parish, a Catholic school, or other charitable organizations. You may also create an endowment that supports a ministry/cause of your choice in your name or honor of a loved one.

As a leader of an organization, you can create a perpetual endowment that supports your mission.

You can establish a new endowment with an initial gift of $10,000 if you intend for that endowment to receive additional contributions. Any gift amount can be added to an existing endowment. If you want to establish an endowment with the expectation that there will be no additional contributions, then your gift must be a minimum of $20,000.

Each year, a distribution notice is sent to each benefitting organization in May. The organization can select the payout amount based on several scenarios. Each August, the organization will receive its disbursement from its endowment. The disbursement is calculated on the average of the last 12 quarters, which helps counter market fluctuations. The Foundation’s current spending policy is capped at 4%, which protects the longevity of the endowment and allows for continued growth based on the market.

The liquidity of each fund type varies based on the nature of the underlying investment vehicle.

If an organization were to open a Catholic Savings Fund or Catholic Growth Fund with the Catholic Community Foundation, the organization retains ownership and access to those funds. Those funds, by nature, are like a savings or brokerage account at your local bank.

If an individual or organization were to start an endowment, those funds would be available annually, per the spending policy, as prescribed.

A charitable gift annuity is a gift vehicle that falls into the category of planned giving. It involves a contract between a donor and a charity, whereby the donor transfers cash or property to the charity in exchange for a partial tax deduction and a lifetime stream of annual income from the charity. The annuitant receives a fixed source of income for life without worrying about fluctuations in the market, like other retirement options. After your passing, the named charity receives the remainder of the annuity to support its mission. Please get in touch with us for more information on annuities at 480-651-8800.

The Forever Funds are a collection of endowments that create an everlasting impact by supporting organizations that promote the mission of the Catholic Church. The Life Forever Fund aids organizations that protect life from conception through natural death. The Education Forever Fund provides tuition assistance scholarships for Catholic Education for the families most in need. The Community Forever Fund supports the infrastructure needs of Parishes, Schools, and nonprofits through grants. The Care Forever Fund supports frontline organizations that provide for those who are most vulnerable.

Investment returns from the Forever Fund Endowments are distributed back into the community annually in the form of grants. Grant recipients are chosen through our Giving Circle Program.

The Giving Circle is a unique and innovative program inspired by a new generation of donors. Each member is an active participant in the community grant-making process. Organizations are invited to pitch their need to Giving Circle members in late winter at Pitch Day. Each member is asked to vote on the causes that speak to them most. Votes are tallied, and grant winners are announced. Members can connect with grant recipients throughout the year during check granting days and site visits. The Catholic Community Foundation Giving Circle is Arizona's ONLY Catholic giving circle!

A planned gift is a contribution arranged in the present and allocated at a future date. A planned gift has no immediate financial impact on the donor but can significantly support the named beneficiary at the time of payout. Commonly donated through a will or trust, retirement plan, or even life insurance policy, planned gifts are often granted once the donor has passed. A donor can name their parish, Catholic school, favorite nonprofit, or even the Catholic Community Foundation as a full or partial beneficiary of their estate. Planned gifts are an excellent option for those unable to provide support in the present but would like to make an everlasting impact on the organizations they love after they pass.

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is an individual charitable giving vehicle established with a minimum $10,000 gift to the Catholic Community Foundation for any general or specific purpose; grants are awarded by the Fund Adviser (individual donor) whenever they feel the desire to give. A DAF is a popular giving vehicle because it simplifies your charitable giving with one tax receipt but still provides continued support to the causes you love. If you want to learn more about our donor-advised fund options, please get in touch with us at 480-651-8800.

We can provide the tools and knowledge needed to fulfill your financial and philanthropic goals. We help individual donors as well as nonprofit organizations, including parishes and schools. The Catholic Community Foundation has a Professional Advisory Board of trusted and vetted professionals with expertise in wills and trusts, investments, and tax laws, which provides you with the assistance needed to make the best decision for your personal and organizational needs.

Every organization has different financial goals. The Foundation can provide you with the expertise and knowledge to help you meet those goals, whether it's an endowment drive, planned giving program, or fundraising initiative. If the organization would like to secure financial resources for the future, we are here to help. If you want to learn more about how the Catholic Community Foundation can help your organization, please get in touch with us at 480-651-8800.

The Catholic Community Foundation’s Development staff is available to consult organizations regarding charitable giving options such as education about major gifts, gift solicitation, annual giving, endowment growth initiatives, and planned giving. Whatever the project, we can help your organization reach its goals.

No matter your religious affiliation, the Foundation can help you fulfill your financial and philanthropic goals if they are not contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Faith.

Yes, to the extent allowable under IRS regulations. The Catholic Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Please contact your tax advisor or accountant regarding your tax benefit circumstances.

A Catholic Savings Fund provides non-profit organizations with safer and more flexible short-term investment options that are often more competitive than those offered by secular banks, such as savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), or stocks and bonds. The Catholic Community Foundation’s accounts are not subject to market fluctuations, allowing them to offer competitive rates that consistently outperform traditional banks.

Your organization can feel confident knowing that it can access funds immediately. Additionally, the principal and interest earned from the fund are protected by the Foundation's assets, providing a no-risk investment option that empowers you to take control of your organization’s financial future.

Strengths:

• Similar to a savings account

• Attractive rates

• Accessible at any time

• Low risk

A Catholic Growth Fund is an investment account for non-profit organizations that provides an alternative to secular banks. Non-profits can select an investment pool that best serves their needs, including the risk profile and timeline of usage, as a means to grow idle cash over time. All pools in Catholic Growth Funds are screened following the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) investment guidelines and are overseen by the Catholic Community Foundation Finance & Investment Committee and a third-party investment manager. To learn more about which best suits your organization, don't hesitate to contact the Catholic Community Foundation at 480-651-8800.

Both funds are treated like a checking or savings account. The difference between the two is how they are invested.

A Catholic Growth Fund is placed in a moderately aggressive portfolio that allows for growth but is subject to market fluctuations. A Catholic Savings Fund is invested in a much lower portfolio. Both funds operate like checking or savings accounts, but they differ in their investment strategies.

The Catholic Growth Fund is invested in a moderately aggressive portfolio that aims to achieve growth, although it is subject to market fluctuations.

In contrast, the Catholic Savings Fund is placed in a much lower-risk portfolio that mitigates market volatility, offering a guaranteed annualized return rate instead.

If you want to learn more about which fund is best suited for your organization, please get in touch with the Catholic Community Foundation at 480-651-8800.

The Catholic Community Foundation must adhere to the fund's intent. Endowments are meant to provide perpetual income, and any withdrawals would contradict the original purpose of establishing the endowment. The Catholic Community Foundation must follow and act by the fund's establishing party’s intent. Endowments exist to provide a perpetual income, and any withdrawals would go against the original purpose of establishing the endowment.

Catholic Education Arizona scholarships are made possible through tax credits, which provide tuition assistance to families.

The Catholic Community Foundation grants scholarships through the generosity of individuals and organizations within the community. Currently, the Foundation offers three types of scholarships: CCF Scholarship Program (needs-based tuition assistance), Christian Service Awards (based on service), and special interest scholarships designated for particular student classifications based on the donor’s intent.

You can be a recipient of both scholarships. Students can apply for the CCF Scholarship in their 7th grade year and the Christian Service Awards (CSA) Scholarship in the 8th grade. Both the Catholic Community Foundation Scholarship Program (tuition assistance scholarship) and CSA are by nomination only.

The Christian Service Award is a scholarship that rewards individuals who live a Christ-centered life through volunteerism within the community, whether at their local parish or another charitable organization.

The Catholic Community Foundation Scholarship Program is a needs-based tuition assistance scholarship that provides financial assistance to needy families based on the FAIR Application data. It is awarded by nomination only.