FAQ

Yes, we are an exempt public charity recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, with EIN 88-0241420. We are incorporated in Las Vegas, Nevada, and adhere to the charitable laws of the State of Nevada. Your contributions are eligible for tax deductions as permitted by law.

When embarking on your philanthropic journey, you may consider various well-known and impactful causes, such as supporting food banks, animal welfare initiatives, environmental conservation efforts, or contributing to medical institutions. Alternatively, you might be drawn to a particular cause or inspired by the impactful work being done within your community.

At NCF, we provide access to invaluable resources through our Philanthropic Advisory Council (PAC) and dedicated researchers. Our PAC consists of esteemed community leaders in Nevada who are experts in their respective fields, offering real-time insights and expertise. They collaborate with NCF and our donors in an informal capacity, enriching our understanding of community needs and opportunities.

Additionally, our researchers are available to provide you with top-notch research, policy recommendations, and comprehensive analysis addressing a wide range of community challenges. With their assistance, we tailor our approach to help you select where your charitable gift can have the most significant and meaningful impact.

As individual donors, you may have limited influence over an organization’s mission, as U.S. charitable law mandates a degree of separation and independence for all charities. In the event that an organization changes its mission, we recommend engaging directly with the charity to understand the reasons behind this shift and how it aligns with your values. If the new mission does not align with your philanthropic goals, you may consider redirecting your support to a different charitable organization.

U.S. charitable law and IRS regulations provide charities with significant flexibility to fulfill their charitable missions. While this flexibility is beneficial, it also means that charities may evolve away from your original vision.

We are dedicated to safeguarding “donor intent.” We employ several effective tools to ensure your philanthropic vision endures:

• Grant Parameters and Agreements: We can establish grant parameters and require the recipient charity to sign a grant agreement. This approach places some reporting responsibilities on the charity but is a common and reliable method to ensure that your funds are used in alignment with your specific intentions.
• Endowed Funds: Alternatively, we can create an endowed fund benefiting the recipient charity and dedicated to a specific cause. This strategic approach allows us flexibility to redirect funding should the charity ever deviate from your intended mission, ensuring your vision remains intact.

We’re committed to providing cost-effective fee structures for our various funds. To learn more about our fees and how they apply to your specific situation, please contact us directly.

A Donor Advised Fund operates like a charitable checkbook, offering you an immediate charitable deduction with the flexibility to make grant recommendations to charities you care about whenever you’re ready. The way it works is that you get a charitable deduction as soon as you set up the fund.  Then, whenever you’re ready, you start to make grants to the charitable causes you care about.  And we can help!  Whether it’s finding the best way to support at risk youth or veterans or arts and culture, our team is ready to help! 

What’s more, establishing a DAF is easy and can be done in a day!  All we need is the name of the fund (whatever you’d like to call it) and the people you’d like to make grant recommendations from the fund.  We’ll do the rest!  Whether you’re an individual, a family, or a business, a donor advised fund is a flexible, efficient, cost-effective way to do your charitable giving.

There is also no better tool for you to create a family legacy.  Establishing a donor advised fund at NCF and naming your children and grandchildren as successor advisors is a great way to pass on the invaluable gift of giving and create a lasting legacy of good in your name.

An endowed fund is one of the most powerful tools in philanthropy for two reasons: first, it benefits charitable causes in perpetuity, ultimately providing more money for good over time than a non-endowed fund; second, it preserves and protects a family’s charitable legacy for generations to come– indeed, forever.  Long after the original donors have passed, their children and grandchildren (and so on) will reap the benefit of being associated with “doing good”, forever. 

When you create an endowed fund, you ensure lasting community impact through a permanent charitable fund. Your gift is invested over time, and a percentage of the fund’s market value is used annually to make charitable grants. Your gift is preserved forever, with the funds pooled for maximum benefit and invested to achieve long-term capital growth.

Your gift—and all future earnings from your gift—are a perpetual source of charitable community capital. And your legacy is preserved for generations to come.

A charitable gift made today can significantly multiply in value if established as a permanent endowment.  For example, a $50,000 gift can grow exponentially in just 50 years. 

By year 50, this endowed fund’s cumulative charitable impact would increase from $50,000 to almost $325,000, tripling in size and having granted to the community more than three times its original fund value!

*Assuming a 4% annual spending rate and a 7% rate of return.

So, when you’re thinking about impact, think about endowment!

Absolutely. Many donors find it highly rewarding to engage directly with the organizations they support. NCF can help facilitate this process by arranging introductions and participating in visits and meetings with you.

We also recognize that some donors prefer to maintain a lower profile or utilize our services as “gatekeepers” to manage and reduce unsolicited donation requests from charities. This approach can help preserve anonymity and align with your preferences for engaging with recipient organizations.

Whether you choose direct engagement or prefer a more discreet approach, we are here to support your philanthropic journey and ensure that your giving experience aligns seamlessly with your preferences and values.

Typically, the process of opening a fund at NCF takes approximately 2-3 weeks from the date we receive a completed fund application. It’s important to keep in mind that in some cases, additional complexities or the need for clarifications identified during the application review process may extend the timeline for fund establishment. Rest assured, our team is committed to expediting the process while ensuring accuracy and compliance with your unique preferences.

NCF offers trust, transparency, and innovation as the cornerstones of our commitment to nonprofit excellence. With us, launching and managing your nonprofit is seamless and efficient. Here’s why you should choose NCF:

Leverage our Proficiency: Benefit from our expertise in legal and best practices, ensuring comprehensive compliance and sparing you from potential headaches.

Cost Efficiency: Experience lower operational costs with our dedicated and experienced team.

Turnkey Solution: Enjoy ready financial, operational, and technical expertise, streamlining your operations effortlessly.

National Fundraising Reach: Expand your fundraising opportunities with Charitable Solicitation filed in all states, enabling nationwide fundraising and gift receipt.

Experienced Leadership: Trust our leadership team with decades of collective experience in the community foundation space, providing seasoned guidance and support for your charitable endeavors.

Typically, the process to establish a fiscal partnership at NCF requires a minimum of 10-12 weeks. However, please be aware that the timeline may extend based on the complexity of your specific project and its unique requirements. Our aim is to ensure a thorough and efficient setup process that aligns with your project’s needs and objectives.

We understand that every organization has unique needs and aspirations. That’s why we offer four tiers of services designed to cater to your specific requirements. Our tiers encompass a comprehensive suite of services, including financial management, event partnership, grant management, and technical support.

Explore our four tiers of services designed to accommodate organizations at various stages, whether you’re at the inception stage, seeking expansion, or contemplating a transition. NCF stands ready to provide essential administrative infrastructure and expertise in the business aspects of nonprofits.

Please contact us directly to discuss the available packages and the associated costs. We’re here to work with you to ensure that your fiscal partnership arrangement aligns perfectly with your organization’s goals.

Philanthropic alpha refers to a strategic shift beyond traditional grant-making and transactional philanthropy. It involves the pursuit of greater impact by actively engaging in innovative and collaborative community investments. Philanthropic alpha aims to optimize the effectiveness of philanthropic efforts, often by taking a more proactive, forward-thinking, and holistic approach to addressing social issues and achieving meaningful change.