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. 

Give More, Pay Less in Taxes: How Asset-Based Giving Maximizes Your Impact 

Give More, Pay Less in Taxes: How Asset-Based Giving Maximizes Your Impact 

by | Feb 20, 2025 | Asset-Based Giving

At Ten Talents Foundation, we love educating our community about tax-wise and strategic ways to give. Many people want to be generous, but their wealth isn’t always in cash—it’s often tied up in assets like real estate, stocks, or business interests. What many don’t realize is that donating these assets before selling can significantly increase their giving potential while reducing unnecessary taxes.

For example, if a donor sells a rental property worth $500,000 to give the proceeds to charity, they could owe up to $100,000 in capital gains taxes, leaving only $400,000 to donate. However, by donating the property before selling through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), they could eliminate capital gains taxes and potentially  give the full $500,000 to the causes they love and receive a tax receipt letter for the appraised value of the property.

Most people assume generosity means writing a check, but asset-based giving provides a way to give more while paying less in taxes. If you’re considering selling  real estate, stock, or other non-cash assets, continue reading to learn what it would look like to donate these assets and leave  a lasting legacy.

What Kind of Assets can I Donate? 

Asset-based giving allows donors to contribute valuable assets directly to charity instead of selling them first and donating the remaining cash. Some of the most common non-cash assets that can be donated include:

  • Real estate
  • Stock & bonds
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Business interests
  • Fine art
  • Agricultural assets (crops, livestock, etc.)

By donating these assets before selling, you can avoid capital gains taxes, receive a charitable deduction, and increase the amount available for generosity.

How to Donate a Non-Cash Asset:

  1. Donate the asset (such as real estate, stocks, or business interests) into a Donor Advised Fund.
  2. A foundation like Ten Talents handles the sale of the asset tax-free.
  3. Receive a tax deduction for the full fair market value of the donation.
  4. More money goes to charity—not to taxes.

The Benefits of Asset-Based Giving 

When you sell an appreciated asset—like a house or stock—you are typically required to pay a capital gains tax on the profit. This means a portion of your money goes to the IRS instead of the causes you care about.

A better option? Donate the asset before selling through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) to save in taxes and give more! With less money lost to taxes, you’re able to give more, create a bigger impact, and support multiple organizations with a single transaction.

In summary, asset-based giving allows you to: 

  • Increase Your Impact – Avoid taxes and donate the full value of your asset.
  • Reduce Your Tax Burden – Receive a charitable deduction and eliminate capital gains taxes.
  • Give Strategically – Use a Donor Advised Fund to support multiple charities over time.
  • Create a Lasting Legacy – Steward your resources wisely and inspire future generations to give.

By giving non-cash assets, you can make a greater impact while also benefiting from tax savings and streamlined charitable giving.

Want to Learn More?

At Ten Talents Foundation, we specialize in helping people give more while paying less in taxes. If you’re considering donating real estate, stocks, business interests, or other non-cash assets, we’re here to guide you through the process.

To see how asset-based giving works in action, click on the video and learn how you can maximize your impact while minimizing taxes, or contact us here to get started.

Giving Non-Cash Assets through a Donor Advised Fund

Giving Non-Cash Assets through a Donor Advised Fund

by | May 9, 2023 | Donor Advised Fund

Giving Non-Cash Assets Through a  Donor Advised Fund.

Open a Donor Advised Fund and simplify the way you make donations.

When you open a Donor Advised Fund through the Ten Talents Foundation, we become the hub to help you give cash and non-cash gifts. You can save a significant amount in capital gains taxes when you gift assets like:

  • Appreciated Securities
  • Appreciated Real Estate
  • Business Interests
  • Crop/Agricultural Gifts
  • Cryptocurrency
  • & More!

Example: Gifting Real Estate through a Donor Advised Fund

One example of a way you can do this is through gifting a piece of appreciated real estate to your Donor Advised Fund at Ten Talents.

This means you may not pay capital gains taxes as you normally would when selling a piece of property.

The full value of the real estate is instead transferred into your Donor Advised Fund and you also receive a tax receipt letter. You can then make donations out of your Donor Advised Fund for the next several years, allowing a greater portion of your dollars to go to organizations you love!

Most of peoples’ business and personal wealth is locked up in non-cash assets like property, securities, business interests, or crops. Because of this, when a nonprofit makes a request for a gift, funding must usually come from your cash reserves, not the bulk of your giving capacity.

The Ten Talents Foundation helps generous individuals, businesses, and families save money in taxes and move from thinking about giving on a yearly basis to looking at their giving from a long-term perspective.

A Donor Advised Fund provides a simple way for you to give cash and make gifts of non-cash assets in a way that saves a considerable amount in taxes. That money can instead become a Donor Advised Fund for you to make donations out of, invest in your community, and support causes you’re passionate about for years to come!

    Open a Donor Advised Fund

    If you have specific questions about how to open a Donor Advised Fund or give non-cash assets, call (559) 387-5534 or email info@tentalentsfoundation.org.

    Tax-wise way to donate stock

    Tax-wise way to donate stock

    by | Dec 9, 2022 | Donor Advised Fund, Generosity, Stocks

    Tax-wise way to donate stock

    A simple, quick process.

    The Ten Talents Foundation has a simple process in place to help you transfer your stock into a Donor Advised Fund with a 3-4 business day turnaround!

    To begin the process, contact Ten Talents Foundation and we will provide you with transfer instructions that you can give to your financial adviser.

    The adviser facilitates the sell of the stock and the money can then be transferred directly into your Donor Advised Fund. Therefore, the funds from the sale are not considered income and you do not have to pay income tax on the amount.

    Interested in donating stock to a cause you believe in? Contact the Ten Talents Foundation today and we will help you through the simple process.

    Contact Ten Talents