OPEN A NAMED FUND

Rochester Area Foundation can help you meet your charitable objectives through a variety of different types of funds.

Learn more about Funds.

Gift & Estate Planning

Achieve your charitable giving goals through your will or estate plan.

Support the Better Communities Fund

Our community endowment supports RAF programming and grants both now and in the future.

Ways to Give

Rochester Area Foundation accepts a wide variety of assets to start a new fund or add to an existing fund.

In addition, RAF can facilitate gifts now in your lifetime, as well as through your will or estate plan.

Cash

We accept checks, credit cards, and monthly contributions from a savings or checking account through an electronic funds transfer. Checks may be made payable to Rochester Area Foundation, with the name of the fund included in the memo field. Checks should be mailed to: Rochester Area Foundation, 12 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN 55901.

Stocks and Mutual Fund Shares

Giving appreciated securities and mutual fund shares offers an immediate charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the donated assets, as well as avoidance of any capital gains tax on the appreciation. If you would like to contribute these types of assets, please contact Ellen Hegge, ellen@rochesterarea.org or 507-424-2407 to discuss how to transfer mutual fund shares.

RAF may accept gifts of closely held business interests on a case-by-case basis.

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)

If you are 73 or older, you are eligible to make charitable gifts directly from your individual retirement account (IRA). These gifts satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year and reduce your taxable income, all while allowing you to give pretax dollars to charity.

Benefits of a Qualified Charitable Distribution:

  • Satisfy your required minimum distribution
  • Reduce your taxable income / avoid taxes on transfers up to $100,000/year
  • Provide permanent support for the causes you care about – give to an endowed designated fund, agency endowment, field of interest fund or RAF’s Better Communities Fund. (Distributions to a Donor Advised Fund are considered a taxable event.)

Life Insurance

Life insurance is one of the easiest ways to leave a legacy. If the policy premiums are complete, simply name Rochester Area Foundation as beneficiary. If premium payments are needed, you may assign your insurance policy to RAF and continue to make annual, tax-deductible contributions to cover the premium. When making your beneficiary designation, use the following – Legal Name: Rochester Area Foundation, Tax ID: 41-6017740

Real Estate

Gifts of real estate may include residential, commercial, industrial or undeveloped property. You can make a gift of real property now or through your estate plan. A gift of real estate you have owned for more than one year may entitle you to a tax deduction for the full fair market value of the property while allowing you to avoid capital gains taxes.

RAF may accept gifts of real estate on a case-by-case basis.

Charitable Gift Annuity

A charitable gift annuity allows you to make a tax-deductible gift today and receive a guaranteed income for your lifetime and the lifetime of another, if you choose. Annuity payments may begin now or be deferred. The older the donor, the more favorable the annuity payment. CGA donors receive significant tax benefits, including an immediate charitable tax deduction for a portion of the gift amount, and a portion of each income payment is considered a tax-free return of principal.

Bequest in a Will

Naming RAF as a beneficiary in your will allows you to support your charitable interests while retaining complete control of your assets during your lifetime. Bequests can be a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or what remains after other bequests, such as those to family members, are satisfied. When making your beneficiary designation, please use the following legal name and Tax Identification Number: Rochester Area Foundation / Tax ID: 47-6017740

Is Rochester Area Foundation included in your will or estate plan? Please let us know by sending this confidential Statement of Intent [PDF] to document the impact you plan to make through your gift. Information you provide is not legally binding and may be changed at any time in the future.