A donor advised fund is one of the easiest ways to make a charitable impact for the causes you care about most. Individuals can give to these types of funds and receive tax advantages while supporting nonprofits in their local community. Think of it like a dedicated account for charitable giving – you can donate to the fund for an immediate tax deduction and recommend grants to the charities of your choice when you’re ready. 

While many commercial companies are capable of handling donor advised funds, Arkansas Community Foundation has provided financial tools like DAFs for more than 41 years. Our experience in the charitable landscape in Arkansas can give you an extra hand in making smart giving decisions to improve local communities.

Here are five reasons why creating a donor-advised fund with Arkansas Community Foundation makes good giving sense:

  • When you work with the Community Foundation, you receive recommendations based on your personal charitable interests. Because of our local and statewide knowledge about programs working to improve local communities, we’re equipped to give you specific information to help with your giving decisions.
  • The minimal fees you pay support the communities you love. No matter who a donor chooses as their investment manager, there will be a fee associated with managing that fund. As a nonprofit grantmaking organization (rather than a for-profit investment firm), our “shareholders” are Arkansans themselves. The minimal fee we collect is turned around and re-invested in our state through foundation-directed grants and initiatives. Learn more about our Aspire Arkansas report, a county-by-county look at the quality of life in Arkansas. 
  • Our organization works with local leaders who understand Arkansas. The Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization; our operations are not dictated by shareholders. Instead, we work under the leadership of a board of volunteers who represent the entire state with our citizen’s best interests in mind.  Read more about our bylaws. 
  • We take a local approach to giving. Local people, local decisions, local impact. Arkansas Community Foundation is a statewide organization serving all 75 counties in Arkansas. Each of our 29 affiliates has a staff person and local advisory board to help us understand the special needs of each town and city. Our affiliates also provide in-person support for the you and nonprofits we partner within each community. Learn more about our local Giving Tree Endowments.
  • Not only do we promote Smart Giving, we practice it. Helping generous people like you give through vehicles like donor advised funds is one of the many services we offer. The Community Foundation also uses its own foundation-directed dollars to meet community needs. By making grants and sharing knowledge, we support programs that work and we partner to create new initiatives that address the gaps. 

In Central Arkansas, contact Ashley Coldiron to discuss how a fund can help you support the communities you love.
In Northwest Arkansas, contact Jody Dilday. Or give us a call at 501-372-1116.

It seems like just a few years ago that Arkansas Community Foundation’s central office moved from the beautiful historic house on Rock Street to Union Station. Much has changed since then, but our commitment to serving our donors, professional advisors, community leaders and nonprofits remains the same.

Today we’re preparing to move away from the train station to the Riverdale neighborhood in a building overlooking the Arkansas River. The new location provides plenty of space for our growing staff, reliable infrastructure and easy access off Cantrell Road from either I-430 or I-30. With plenty of free parking near the building, we welcome you to visit us in the coming months at our new location:

5 Allied Drive
Suite 51110
Building 5, 11th Floor
Little Rock, AR 72202

The Community Foundation is now one of the 75 largest community foundations in the country based on assets, and with continued growth bringing new requirements, we’re excited for what the next chapter holds. With expansive views of the Arkansas River, both northwest to Fort Smith and southeast to Helena, we’ll have a constant reminder of our work promoting smart giving to improve communities throughout our great state.

In service,

Heather Larkin,
President & CEO

Misti and Will Staley are creators. Misti, a freelance artist and creative director of Reclaimed Helena, found herself in Arkansas by way of Douglassville, Georgia, alongside her Arkansas-native husband, Will, co-founder and creative director of Thrive Helena. The Staleys formed the Freeman Foundation after their son, Freeman Ellis, passed away in 2015.

Freeman’s life, although short, was inspirational beyond measure. Reflecting the Freeman Foundation’s mission, the Freeman Playground was created when the community joined together to raise funds for a playground to serve children of all backgrounds and abilities.

The playground met its budget after a successful 2017 ArkansasGives, and construction to provide a place of fun and laughter in downtown Helena began. “There’s no way we could have built the Freeman Playground without the support of community members, family and donors,” Misti said. “We’re so thankful for them.”

Misti and Will created a fund at Arkansas Community Foundation to ensure the mission of the Freeman Playground would last forever. The spendable amount each year will provide permanent resources to ensure the space is maintained. “Freeman’s life was much bigger than himself, and his impact will be felt for years,” Will said. “This playground is a testament to the strength of this community and how everyone recognized the need for it.”

Dr. Carolyn Blakely, retired professor of English and founder of the Honors College at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, learned the practice of giving early. Her grandmother instilled in her the joy of giving. “I think that is why she lived to be 105 — she was always doing something for others,” said Carolyn. “That’s what we do at Arkansas Community Foundation — we identify the needs in a community and then give to organizations that can meet those needs.”

Carolyn was particularly impressed when she was on the Board of Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation with the development and growth of their Youth Advisory Council. “These young people work together to earn money and make grants to organizations that can help others,” she said.

Now a member of the state board of directors, Carolyn believes individuals and organizations give to the Community Foundation because the Foundation creates endowments, manages the investments wisely and helps them direct the income from their funds.

“The Community Foundation is one of our state’s greatest assets because of our passion and compassion,” she said. “I have been fortunate to meet people throughout our state that recognize we are not in this alone. Together we can improve our communities.”

Jennifer Pierce, a member at Mitchell Williams law firm in Little Rock, is a third degree black belt in taekwondo and has hiked trails from Newport to Nepal. Knowing her options is one key to her success. So when her clients come to her with questions about starting a family foundation, she often offers another solution for smart giving.

“Clients are not always aware of the extensive reporting requirements and IRS regulations that I consider to be negatives of private foundations. They just know their friends set up a foundation and they are interested in doing the same,” she said.

After listening to her client’s needs, Jennifer schedules a meeting with Arkansas Community Foundation staff members who can help the clients create an endowment fund that allows them to direct the income from the fund to the charities they choose.

“It’s a partnership. We work together to make sure clients’ charitable giving goals are achieved,” said Jennifer. “The Foundation assists attorneys with options that help clients make the best giving decisions.”

Jennifer believes in the Community Foundation’s ability to serve the whole state and benefit the charities that are important to her clients. “I’d recommend working with the Foundation to my peers,” she said.

Visit Advisor’s Corner for more news, tips and tools for professional advisors.

“Oaklawn has been a part of this community for more than 100 years,” said Hot Springs native Eric Jackson, senior vice president and former general manager. “Generations of Hot Springs residents have worked at Oakawn and made their careers here. We feel it is our corporate responsibility to give back.”

Eric’s mentor, the late Herschel Friday, taught him to be on the front row of community involvement, to stay involved and to make a difference. Through its owners, the Cella Family, Oaklawn has long been a force for corporate philanthropy. More than a decade ago, Eric was instrumental in creating the Oaklawn Foundation with Cella Family funds.

He worked with the Chamber and community leaders to form a board that determines how the money donated by Oaklawn is spent. Dennis Smith, chair of the Oaklawn Foundation Board, said Arkansas Community Foundation manages and invests their funds. “The Community Foundation staff members have been great to work with,” Dennis said. “We are using a new electronic tool for scholarship applications this year that will improve our process.”

The Oaklawn Foundation supports Garland County nonprofits like the UAMS Schmieding Care Giver Training Center; seven Garland County school districts; Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts; Garvan Woodland Gardens; the Garland County Historical Society and many more.

Thanks for Spreading the Love!

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’d like to say THANK YOU for spreading love across the state of Arkansas.

YOU have a heart for giving. We have a heart for YOU!

At Arkansas Community Foundation, we’re in the business of building relationships. Our work to responsibly steward our investments and to build stronger communities – would mean nothing without the relationships we’ve built over the last 42 years. We strive daily to connect with people and help them connect with other people and opportunities. We are so grateful for these relationships and to those who have partnered with us.

To our generous donors who are constantly looking for ways to improve our state: THANK YOU! Your commitment to a better Arkansas inspires us daily! Through smart investing and contributions, you’re providing an ongoing source of funding for charitable causes making Arkansas a better place to live.

To our nonprofit partners who are working tirelessly to make life better for all Arkansans: THANK YOU! We are honored to support your life-changing programs that improve our communities statewide. We find your determination inspiring, and we want to continue connecting you with people who want to support your work.

To our media partners who help us spread the message of smart giving: THANK YOU! Your dedication to providing meaningful content to your viewers, readers and listeners reminds us that we can rely on you to help share information about smart giving. We couldn’t do our work without you.

To our nearly 500 board members investing their time, talent and treasure: THANK YOU! You make our organization uniquely strong. Your expertise and community knowledge fuel our local efforts and allows us to have a greater impact statewide. YOU are what make our relationships statewide so meaningful.

It is no mystery that Arkansas is among the top tier of states when giving is tallied nationally! What a source of pride we have when we think about the meaningful relationships we’re able to form with our generous friends, donors and staff.

Thank YOU –

Heather

Good news! Not all New Year’s Resolutions involve joining a gym! This year, we invite you to consider making a resolution to practice Smart Giving to Improve Communities. Here’s how:

Be Intentional

Your charitable giving is an expression of who you are so it’s important to make sure your philanthropy matches your values. Ask yourself:

  • What issues facing our world am I most passionate about?
  • Where am I already spending my time and energy?
  • Who are the people and what are the experiences that helped shape me?

Once you’ve answered these questions, identify any common themes. Now you’ve got a starting place to guide your giving. For those who have already established a fund with the Community Foundation, remember that our Development Team is always here to help!

Be Informed

Read the newsletters, subscribe to emails and “like” the Facebook pages of the nonprofits you support. By doing so you’ll see how your investment is being used to change lives, and you’ll also learn about any ongoing or unmet needs. Ask for a personal tour or consider volunteering for the agency. Nothing could be more informative than an up-close and personal experience working alongside the program’s staff and clientele.

Arkansas Community Foundation can also provide you with tools and resources to help you stay informed:

  • ENGAGE is a quarterly publication highlighting issues facing our state.
  • The ASPIRE report provides a county-by-county look at the challenges facing our state and the programs hard at work to find solutions.

Be Strategic (and SMART!)

Set a goal for your giving, create a plan, and follow it. And remember we’re here to help! Whether you care about a particular issue – hunger, access to the arts, animal welfare – a specific community, or an issue WITHIN a particular community, there are several ways to help:

  • Program Support – helps nonprofits fund the services they provide.
  • Operating Support – provides agencies the resources they need (facilities, equipment, staff) to get the job done.
  • Endowment – ensures the long-term sustainability of an organization.
  • Unrestricted Support – empowers the organization to use the funds where they are needed the most.

Keep in mind that there are many ways to give to charity besides writing a check, and by doing so, there are often significant tax advantages. Gifting highly appreciated stock, a paid-up life insurance policy, or an IRA rollover are just a few options. Visit with your professional advisor to find out what is best for you. You and your professional advisor can take advantages of the smart giving resources available on our website.

Be Contagious

Many people choose to quietly support the nonprofits in their community. And while that humility is admirable, we encourage you to consider it like this: When you see a great movie, experience a fantastic restaurant, or fall in love with a book – you tell your friends. Shouldn’t you do the same when it comes to philanthropy? Your support might just inspire others to join in!

Arkansas Community Foundation is your partner in Smart Giving. Call us anytime, we’re here to help!

  1. Make sure you’re using the right application. This year, in addition to our usual Giving Tree process focusing on a broad range of community needs, a few of our Community Foundation affiliates are also inviting proposals with a special emphasis on early literacy and grade-level reading (birth through Grade 3). Applicants who fit into the Grade Level Reading focus area should first contact the executive director in their local area to determine the local application process for that affiliate, and then apply online using the Grade Level Reading application form available at arcf.org/apply. Look for the application form titled “Grade Level Reading.”
  2. Begin your application early. Allow plenty of time to gather required information and submit well before the deadline. Sometimes unexpected circumstances can arise and could prevent an application being submitted on time. By submitting early, you can confirm with the grants administrator that your application was received and rest easy.
  3. Carefully read the instructions. By following the instructions in the application and providing necessary information in the correct order and place, the grant application reviewing committee will have a much easier time reviewing your application and understanding your program needs.
  4. Keep your audience in mind. The reviewing committee will use only the information contained in the application to understand your programs and why you’re requesting funding. Be sure the application and responses to the program requirements are complete and clearly written. Remember that reviewers are not familiar with your organization, service area, or what your program hopes to accomplish and through your application, you’re telling the story of your organization and the work it’s doing to make your community better. Finally, keep the review criteria in mind when writing the application.
  5. Be brief, concise, and clear. Clear, understandable applications are much more likely to be considered for funding. If you can provide accurate and honest information, including candid accounts of problems and realistic plans to address them. If any required information or data is omitted, explain why. Make sure the information provided in each table, chart, attachment, etc., is consistent with the proposal narrative and information in other tables. Your budget should reflect the proposed activities, and all forms should be filled in accurately and completely.
  6. Organization is key. If the reviewers can follow the thought process of the applicant or if all parts of the application fit together, you are more likely to receive a higher score.
  7. Show evidence of fiscal stability. Your application should demonstrate your ability to be a responsible steward of public funds.
  8. Take care when attaching documents. Before you attach additional required documents, it’s a good practice to name and file them on your computer accordingly. That way, when you go to attach the document, there’s a smaller chance of attaching something by mistake. After you attach your required documents, be sure to cross-reference all tables and attachments to the appropriate text in the application. Be sure to upload the attachments in the requested order of the forms.
  9. Print out, and carefully proofread and review your electronic application to ensure accuracy and completion. When submitting electronically, it would benefit you to print the application before submitting to ensure that formatting and information are correct. Check to ensure that you included all attachments before submitting the application.
  10. Submit all information at the same time. We will not consider additional information and/or materials submitted after your initial submission, nor will we accept e-mailed applications or supplemental materials once we receive your application.

If a local Community Foundation affiliate is accepting grant applications, you can begin your application by clicking below! Not sure where we’re granting? You can find out here.

Apply Now

Our funds and endowments help you invest in causes you care about. Here are four easy steps to set up a donor-advised fund with the Community Foundation:

Step 1 – Determine your charitable goals.

Consider how you want to make a difference. Are you passionate about a specific service area or are you more concerned about taking care of your local community for the long-term? We’ll start by asking you questions to create a plan according to your personal charitable goals.

Step 2 – Choose a name for your fund.

The name of the fund can include your name, a family name, or a meaningful word or phrase that allows you to be anonymous.

Step 3 – Contribute to the fund.

Because we are a 501c3 public charity, contributions to your fund are deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Arkansas Community Foundation also has the capability to receive complex assets and handle planned gifts.

Step 4 – Start making grants and improving your community.

Login to the online portal and easily submit a grant recommendation to the causes you care about.

Ready to get started? Call Ashley Coldiron or Jody Dilday at 501-372-1116 and they will walk through the steps with you.