Golden Belt Community Foundation has some spooktacular news that could be a special treat for our communities! Our Board of Directors recently approved an Impact Investing Policy, creating a new way for charitable dollars to make a difference throughout our service area.

Impact investing allows GBCF to supplement our traditional grantmaking with investments that can generate both a community benefit and a financial return. These investments may include opportunities with nonprofits and for-profit businesses, including gap financing that can help worthwhile projects move forward when traditional financing alone may not be enough.

Here is where the real treat comes in. Through the generosity of local donors, charitable dollars can be placed into an impact investing fund and potentially used again and again. Rather than making a single grant and watching those dollars disappear, an investment can be repaid and then reinvested into another community opportunity.

In other words, your generous spirit never has to vanish! The financial return may be lower than what someone would expect from a traditional investment, but the real return is measured by what happens in our communities: businesses growing, jobs being created, housing being developed, services expanding, and new opportunities becoming possible. One gift today could create ripples that benefit our communities for generations.

More Treats as

Year-End

Approaches

October is also a good reminder that the year-end giving season is right around the corner. Giving Tuesday begins Dec 1, making now a great time to visit with your tax or financial advisor about charitable giving and year-end tax planning. Depending on your individual circumstances, charitable giving may provide tax benefits for individuals and businesses. Those who are required to take distributions from certain retirement accounts may also have charitable giving options worth discussing with their advisors.

Another opportunity available through GBCF involves scholarships. Golden Belt Community Foundation is a registered Scholarship Granting Organization, allowing qualifying contributions to eligible scholarship programs to potentially receive a 75% Kansas state income tax credit, subject to state requirements and limitations. That means your generosity can do more than support a student. It may also provide a significant state tax benefit while helping create educational opportunities for young people.

There may be a few ghosts and goblins wandering around this October, but there is nothing scary about planning ahead and making your charitable dollars work harder for the communities you care about.

Want to learn more about impact investing, Giving Tuesday, scholarship tax credits, or other charitable giving opportunities? Give Golden Belt Community Foundation a call at 620-792-3000. We would be happy to visit with you about the possibilities.

As always, donors should consult their tax, legal, or financial advisors regarding their individual circumstances and eligibility for specific tax benefits.

Jason Murray is the executive director of the Golden Belt Community Foundation.