Quick FAQs

  • Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public charity in 2000
  • Tax ID # 68-0472056
  • Assets over $2.4M
  • Number of paid Foundation employees:  none
  • The Foundation is managed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors who serve three-year terms.  The by-laws require a minimum of eleven Board members and a maximum of fifteen.
  • Funding disbursed since inception:  Over $3.1M
  • Calaveras Community Foundation Investment Policy Statement

Yes. All donations not otherwise directed to a specific use will be utilized for our general grant-giving process. As part of our annual competitive grant process, The Foundation Board will do the work to allocate those funds to an organization that serves Calaveras County residents. Donations of all sizes are appreciated!

Yes, one or more members are available to meet with you at our office in Angels Camp, or any site you choose. We are here to answer your questions.

No — but you might think so, because of its growing popularity in recent years. In fact, the first community foundation was established in Cleveland in 1914. The Calaveras Community Foundation was established in 2000. Today we join a field of more than 700 community foundations across the United States, with combined assets of approximately $45 billion.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, donations of all types to Calaveras Community Foundation are potentially tax deductible, depending on your tax filing status. All donations to Calaveras Community Foundation will be recognized with a written receipt letter to the donor.

Most funds managed at Calaveras Community Foundation are established by groups, families, businesses, community groups or individuals. What these people have in common is a desire to give back to their community — whether it’s protecting the environment, honoring the memory of someone they loved, establishing a scholarship fund to help students in need, supporting local arts organizations, or funding any other charitable cause imaginable.

There are many reasons to give through Calaveras Community Foundation. The Foundation allows groups, families and individuals to establish a customized charitable fund without being burdened by the tax filing responsibilities and administrative challenges associated with establishing a private foundation. Everyone who creates a fund can personalize their giving. At the same time, funds are pooled for investment management purposes to minimize costs and achieve a greater return, making it possible for a smaller individual fund to enjoy the same economies of scale as a large independent foundation.

Creating a private foundation subjects you to a number of regulatory requirements, such as undertaking an exemption application to the IRS, as well as ongoing administrative and fiduciary responsibilities, reduced charitable deductions and a lack of privacy. Calaveras Community Foundation makes philanthropy easy. We are a public charity, so the regulations, taxes and administrative requirements required to establish and manage a private foundation do not apply to us. The Foundation provides cost-effective alternatives to private foundations.

At the Calaveras Community Foundation, we provide much more than the check writing services of a gift fund at a brokerage house. The Calaveras Community Foundation is solely focused on helping residents and organizations of Calaveras County. One of the most significant advantages to establishing a fund with us is our commitment to donors. We provide custom research on nonprofit organizations or issue areas at your request. We will also meet with you individually to help develop a strategic approach to grant making. If you are interested in learning more about these personalized services, please contact us.

Yes. People over 70 1/2 years of age may donate up to $100,000 and avoid paying income taxes on the distribution. For those required to receive a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), you can rollover all or a portion of your RMD directly to Calaveras Community Foundation, without having to pay taxes on the portion rolled over to Calaveras Community Foundation. Contact your IRA administrator on how best to complete the rollover.

One of the distinct advantages of working with a community foundation is our flexibility. As a general rule, a community foundation can accept any type of asset as long it is marketable and is not encumbered by an unusual liability. Most often, funds are started with a gift of cash, real estate or publicly traded stock – but the Foundation may accept gifts of artwork, closely held stock, intellectual property or other assets.

The ability to apply for competitive grants is announced to the local media and through this website. A simple application form is then submitted by a specified deadline. Applications from non-profits, schools and units of government will be considered. Grants cannot be given to individuals.

The Foundation’s Grants Committee reviews the applications and selects the most worthy for competitive grants that year. A simple written agreement is then executed between the recipient and the Foundation and funds must typically be spent within one year of receipt.

In general, the Foundation does not approve grant requests outside the normal grant review cycle. Visit our Applying For Grants or Scholarships page for additional details.

Scholarship applications are submitted directly through the high schools. Please contact your respective high school to learn about the application process. In general, applications are submitted in the fall/winter and awarded each May.

We’re here to help our community! If you have more questions about our projects, scholarships, grantmaking, and donor services, please contact us.