Area Foundation Announces Donation Match Program
KSCB News - December 16, 2012 9:13 pm
The High Plains Heritage Foundation (HPHFndn) announced a charitable giving match program for endowed funds benefiting southwest Kansas and the panhandle region. In announcing the matching donation program Foundation Chairman John Smith said, “This is a great opportunity the Foundation has for donors to leverage their charitable contributions for this tax year.”
The HPHFndn, a community foundation, has been joined by the generosity of sponsors and anonymous donors to provide over $10,000 to be used for this matching donation program. Permanently endowed funds held by the HPHFndn may be eligible for the matching funds. These include existing funds or new funds started or placed with the HPHFndn before year end.
The HPHFndn primarily serves the Kansas counties of Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Morton, Stevens, Seward & Meade, and Cimarron, Texas and Beaver counties in the panhandle. Smith said, “It’s important to understand that the Foundation serves the area and all of its citizens can benefit from its services.” The newest fund with the HPHFndn, the Heritage Community Fund , is one such example. “The Heritage Community Fund exists so that the earnings from this fund may be distributed for various programs, projects or activities which benefit the citizens and improves the quality of life of our area, to encourage others to contribute to community needs, and to invest in the future of the entire region,” Smith said.
In explaining endowed funds, Smith stated, “Unlike some direct gift donations that are dollar-goal oriented or help organizations and projects with their operating expenses to get though their current years budget, endowed funds are permanent. The endowed donations are not used up; it’s just that their earnings are used for budgets, projects and operations for years to come.” He added, “Direct giving for operations is important and is like the ‘checking account’ for the community; endowment giving is like the ‘savings account’ for the community, it keeps on giving year after year.”
The largest fund with the HPHFndn is the Living Legacy Founder’s Endowment Fund . It was established so that its earnings are used to insure the future of the Foundation itself to serve the area citizens.
Donations to both of the Legacy Founder’s Fund and the Heritage Community Fund are matched on a 50% basis. A contributor to those funds has their donation matched 50 cents to the dollar on a first-come first-served basis.
Other endowed funds with the HPHFndn are matched on a 25% basis. These funds may include Field of Interest, Designated, individual area Community Funds, and unrestricted giving. A contributor to those funds has their donations matched 25 cents to the dollar. The “other” endowed funds, or unrestricted giving, can also include new funds established or transferred to the HPHFndn. Details on the match program are available from the HPHFndn.
The deadline for qualifying match donations is that they be received by the HPHFndn by December 31. Smith commented, “Remember, this is a match program while the match funds last. They are matched on a first-come first served basis. But all funds received before year end are still tax deductible and will benefit our regional community even if the match limit is reached before the end of the year.” The HPHFndn is a recognized 501(c)3 recognized entity.
Contributions can be sent to the HPHFndn at PO Box 1278, Liberal, KS 67905. For questions or additional information contact the HPHFndn through its web site www.hphfoundation.org or by email at [email protected]. The HPHFndn phone and fax is 620-626-7733 or mobile 620-655-8532.