What is the role of a Community Foundation? Multiplying Generosity in a Region for Lasting Impact 

What is the role of a Community Foundation? Multiplying Generosity in a Region for Lasting Impact 

by | Feb 20, 2025 | Generosity

At Ten Talents Foundation, we see both the challenges and opportunities in the Central California region. The San Joaquin Valley has the highest rate of violent crime in California (PPIC, 2023) and shorter life spans due to disparities in education, pollution, and food access (SJVPHC Report, 2022). Many in our communities struggle with poverty, homelessness, and mental health challenges (Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, 2022).

At the same time, our region is home to thousands of businesses, churches, and nonprofits. Our farms produce nearly one-fourth of the nation’s agricultural output (USGS), and our communities are filled with resources, funding, and people ready to make a difference.

So how do we bring these resources together to meet the greatest needs more effectively?

That’s where a community foundation comes in.

Community foundations like the Ten Talents Foundation exist to connect generosity with impact. By managing Donor Advised Funds, facilitating non-cash giving, and distributing charitable grants, we help donors give more strategically while equipping nonprofits to maximize every dollar given.

When generosity is thoughtful, strategic, and long-term, it has the power to transform communities for generations to come. We invite you to be part of this movement—where generosity is not just an action, but a legacy.

What is a Community Foundation? 

A community foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps donors strategically manage their giving to maximize impact. Instead of simply giving directly to a single charity, donors can establish a donor advised fund and allow the foundation to oversee the distribution of funds to various local causes.

Community foundations exist to  connect resources with a region’s greatest needs, and ensure charitable giving makes a lasting impact in a specific region. By managing special donor advised funds, processing asset-based gifts, and equipping local nonprofits, they make generosity more effective and sustainable.

What Does a Community Foundation Do?  

  • Manages Donor Advised Funds – Helps donors create funds like Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) to simplify and plan their charitable giving.
  • Processes Non-Cash Gifts – Accepts and processes non-cash donations such as real estate, stocks, agricultural assets, and cryptocurrency, making giving more tax-efficient and helping nonprofits accept gifts they otherwise would be unable to..
  • Distributes Grants & Equip  Local Nonprofits  – Distributes grants and resources to nonprofits, ensuring gifts make a lasting impact in the community.
  • Provides Community Education – Offers resources, workshops, and training to help individuals and organizations maximize their charitable giving.
  • Supports Generational Stewardship – Encourages families to engage in long-term, impact-driven philanthropy by structuring giving plans and including charitable donations in estate planning.

Want to Learn More?

If you’re interested in opening a Donor Advised Fund, donating a non-cash asset, or learning how Ten Talents Foundation can equip your nonprofit, we’d love to help.

Watch the video to see how strategic generosity can create a lasting impact, or contact us here. 

What is a “Successful” Retirement?

What is a “Successful” Retirement?

by | Jul 19, 2023 | Donor Advised Fund, Generosity

What is a “Successful” Retirement? 

“The happiest people I have worked with are not necessarily those who retire the wealthiest. They’re the ones who have a giving spirit infused in their family culture.”

~ Jeff Bradshaw, Financial Advisor & Ten Talents Board Member

Agriculture, Wall Street, & Entrepreneurship: Jeff’s Story

After moving from the Midwest to the Central Valley in his late twenties, Jeff Bradshaw developed a deep relationship with the California farming and agri-business community. He worked for companies including Monsanto, John Deere, and Netafim Irrigation, and in 2000, Jeff began his financial career at a Wall Street firm.

At this firm, Jeff quickly realized promoting commissioned products did not always best serve the client and align with his personal values. This experience led him to start his own company, Sierra Pacific Financial Services, Inc.

“Outperform the competition.” “Surpass last year’s revenue.” “Double the client base.”

These are metrics of success Jeff became very familiar with.

Yet, when a person approaches retirement or is confronted with the legacy they want to leave their family and community, defining “success” can feel more abstract and elusive. Because of this, many people don’t think about it at all. “There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing people depart this world with little to show for their efforts and no lasting legacy,” says Jeff.

Jeff Bradshaw, Financial Advisor & Ten Talents Board Member

So, what is a “successful” retirement?

“Retirement is a term created in the West,” says Jeff, “but it isn’t a Biblical concept. While a person’s season may change as they age, their life’s focus does not need to shift from giving to taking.”

“[When thinking about retirement], ’how much money have you saved?’ is not the question at all,” says Jeff.

“Instead, it is, ‘What quality of life do you want to lead?’ and how can I best use my time, skills, and experiences to help others in this next season of my life?'” It’s important to think about how you’re investing your money and how you’ll pay for important expenses later in life.

However, as Jeff defines a “successful” retirement, he also factors in a person’s relationships, physical, spiritual, and mental life. “One important element of a [vibrant retirement] is one [marked by generosity].”

“Retirement is a term created in the West, but it isn’t a Biblical concept. While a person’s season may change as they age, their life’s focus does not need to shift from giving to taking.”

~ Jeff Bradshaw

I’m far from retirement, but how can I think about leaving a legacy now?

Thinking about your legacy involves asking, what spirit am I instilling in my family now?

If I work 60 hours a week and golf every weekend, I can’t be surprised if self-centeredness is infused in my family culture.

Contrarily, if I expose my children through my example of volunteering for important causes they can get involved in too, I am cultivating something countercultural. I am cultivating a generational spirit of giving of time, talent, and financial resources.

Some of us feel like we need to be millionaires to leave a legacy. Is this true?

“It takes the same heart to give $25 as it does to give $25 million,” says Jeff. The amount of money is less important than the intentionality behind your legacy plan.

As an example, Jeff says you can create a trust, or a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), pick a few organizations your family loves to support, and allow your kids to give out of this fund for years into the future.

Usually, we don’t care about an investment until we have skin in the game.

Opening a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a great way to get your family’s skin in the game. When you put funds into the account, they can’t be removed for personal spending. It’s like putting money into an envelope you get to then give out of in the future, providing a level of accountability for those managing the fund.

It’s also important to remember, says Jeff, leaving a legacy of giving starts in your home and in your neighborhood. Generosity can involve money, but it can also be as simple as cooking a meal with your family and delivering it to a neighbor.

Money without heart doesn’t go far, but a heart of generosity can impact generations.

“Leaving a legacy starts in your home and neighborhood. Generosity can involve money, but it can also be as simple as cooking a meal with your family and delivering it to a neighbor.”

~ Jeff Bradshaw

I want to leave a legacy of generosity. But how do I know what to give to?

First, you need to know your identity. What are your values? What is your “North Star” determining what those values are? What are your unique passions?

Then, start strategically giving to organizations and causes aligning with your values and passions.

“The giver is becoming more astute about where their money goes,” says Jeff. Organizations like the Ten Talents Foundation are great resources to help you align your passions and giving with organizations effectively meeting the needs of your community.

Sometimes people need a sounding board, coaching, or education on giving, says Jeff. Ten Talents can help people start the discussion, look at their assets, identify assets no longer being utilized, set up funds to save in taxes, and ensure every penny of giving aligns with their values.

The Ten Talents Foundation is deeply thankful for people like Jeff who are inspiring our community to invest their resources to serve others beyond their own lives. If you have questions about starting a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), setting up a legacy plan, or where to begin in thinking about these topics, we would love to connect with you!

Together, we can mobilize a movement of generosity impacting our community for generations to come.

“First, you need to know your identity. What are your values? What are your unique passions? Then start strategically giving to organizations and causes aligning with your values and passions.”

~ Jeff Bradshaw

Contact Ten Talents
Over a Million Americans have Opened Donor Advised Funds

Over a Million Americans have Opened Donor Advised Funds

by | May 9, 2023 | Donor Advised Fund

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are being used at historic levels according to the National Philanthropic Trust.

    “The number of individual DAF accounts in the U.S. is above one million for the first time. Donors may initially choose DAFs for their flexibility and ease of use—and they continue using DAFs because they can both plan for and respond quickly to causes that are important to them.”

    National Philanthropic Trust, 2021

    Why are Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) so popular? Donor Advised Funds:

    – Offer significant tax benefits.

    – Allow you to give non-cash assets.

    – Are more private and less expensive than a personal foundation.

    – Simplify your giving. (Give to multiple organizations you love while receiving ONE tax deduction letter!)

    – Help you plan ahead, partner with other community members to support specific causes and organizations, and increase the power of your giving

    The Ten Talents Foundation has helped many businesses, families, and community members launch their Donor Advised Funds in the Central Valley! Click the button below, call (559) 387-5534 or email info@tentalentsfoundation.org. to learn more about launching YOUR Donor Advised Fund today.

    Open a Donor Advised Fund
    Generosity & The Gospel

    Generosity & The Gospel

    by | Apr 12, 2023 | Generosity

    Generosity & the Gospel

    Last Sunday, some families loaded up a car full of kiddos dressed in their Easter best and sped to church. Others colored eggs, enjoyed a quiet afternoon, or cooked a delicious meal for the family (or perhaps allowed Applebees to do the cooking this year!).

    No matter how you spent Easter Sunday, all Christians are challenged with this question today: How do we live out the Gospel, the message of Jesus’ resurrection, in the mundane, difficult, and normal life of this week?

    In a recent conversation with Sylvia Plumb, Ten Talents Foundation Board Member, she shares that living generously is one of the most practical ways to carry out the Easter message today.

    What does generosity have to do with the Gospel?

    “The Lord brings people along our path who we can choose to share our time, attention, and resources with,” says Sylvia. 

    How do we respond when a friend in need interrupts our busy schedule? 

    Are our thoughts oriented toward impressing others or serving them? 

    Do we view our money and assets as status symbols to be held or gifts to be shared?

    In a society where time is money and money is success, a willingness to give either freely is radically counter-cultural.

    In a society where time is money and money is success, a willingness to give either freely is radically counter-cultural.

    Sylvia has been in the mortgage business for over 30 years. She is honored to assist many people with their home financing needs, viewing her career as an opportunity for generosity.  

    “God has given me the ability to use the home loan industry as a mission field- it’s my marketplace ministry,” says Sylvia. 

    The Lord has provided many opportunities for prayer in Sylvia’s “Marketplace Ministry”. As Sylvia has taken the time to truly see people and hear their stories over the last three decades, she has been able to pray with countless individuals and couples facing hopelessness or discouragement.

    Instead of focusing on how many meetings she can fit into a day or what kind of reputation she can build in the community, Sylvia views her work as an opportunity to love people.

    “Knowing every good and perfect gift is from God [including my career] makes me feel blessed to be a little part of other people’s journey,” says Sylvia. “One of my favorite Bible passages about this topic is in 2 Corinthians 9.”

    Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God…

    2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (emphasis ours)

    When we choose to be generous with our time, attention, or resources people may ask, “Why do you live like this?” Generosity opens the door to share the Gospel, the good news about the One who produces a giving heart.

    Generosity opens the door to share the Gospel, the good news about the One who produces a giving heart. 

    How can we cultivate lives of generosity?

    “Ask God to see people through His eyes and love through His heart, and look for opportunities to be generous!” says Sylvia.

    The premise of the Easter message is: we need God. We need supernatural help to live the life He has called us to. We don’t have to work harder to become “better” people or give a certain amount of money so we are now deemed “selfless.”

    2 Corinthians 9:11 says you “will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous.” God is the Only one who can produce Gospel-reflecting, selfless generosity in us.

    We are not generous so that we can be blessed or earn God’s favor. We are generous because God enriches us to do so.

    Staying connected every day to our ultimate Provider through prayer, community, and His Word is where this all begins. God is the One propelling a movement of generosity in the Central Valley (& beyond) for eternal impact. We just have the incredible opportunity to be part of HIS movement.

    As we think about living out the Gospel message this week, Sylvia encourages us to start with prayer. “Ask that the Lord will transform our hearts in prayer to generously share our time, talents, and treasure to draw others to Himself.”

    God is the Only one who can produce Gospel-reflecting, selfless generosity in us.

    God is the One propelling a movement of generosity in the Central Valley (& beyond) for eternal impact. We just have the incredible opportunity to be part of HIS movement!

    Sylvia Plumb, Ten Talents Foundation Board Member

    2022 Ten Talents Foundation Annual Impact Report

    2022 Ten Talents Foundation Annual Impact Report

    by | Mar 7, 2023 | Donor Advised Fund, Generosity, Ministry Partners, Ten Talents Foundation Updates

    TEN TALENTS FOUNDATION 2022 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

    Thank you.

    At the Ten Talents Foundation, we believe our time, talents, and treasures are gifts from God. We have the responsibility to manage our resources with wisdom, creativity, and generosity to build His kingdom. We strive to unify our faith community in the Central Valley under this mindset. Darkness trembles, hope grows, and cities change when businesses, families, ministries, and churches come together in His name!

    We’ve seen it first-hand. Since our inception in July of 2020, over $1,000,000 has been thoughtfully distributed on behalf of our Donor Advised Fund holders through the Ten Talents Foundation to organizations making a positive impact in our region and world! Our 14 Ministry Partners are receiving training and resources to become even more effective conduits of God’s love in our community.

    In 2023, with your help, we can double our impact, increase our generosity, facilitate more complex gifts like crop giving and real estate, and add 10 new Ministry Partners!

    Thank you for partnering with the Ten Talents Foundation. Whether you are a Founding Member, Donor Advised Fund holder, Ministry Partner, Prayer Partner, or a neighbor, you are a vital part of this movement of generosity.

    Read full 2022 impact report