It’s giving season!
As we approach the end of the year, our team at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation is all-in to help philanthropists establish new charitable funds, contribute to their funds and process year-end grants to nonprofits.
Here are our tips for giving this year-end.
Opening a New Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation
We’re here to help donors open new donor-advised funds and other charitable investment accounts at any time. If you’d like to establish a new fund in this calendar year, we ask that you start the process before Friday, Dec. 22. If you or your clients find yourselves in a special situation at the last minute, we will be available to assist on short notice.
If you’d like to explore our other offerings, check out the other types of charitable accounts you can use to maximize and organize your charitable donations.
Giving to a Fund at the Community Foundation
If your charitable fund’s assets are invested separately in a financial advisor managed account, please work with your financial advisor to contribute to your fund in accordance with these deadlines. Financial advisors should email advisorservices@growyourgiving.org to notify the Community Foundation of incoming contributions.
If you plan to contribute to a donor-advised fund or other charitable investment account at the Community Foundation and would like to qualify for a 2023 tax deduction, we must receive assets by Dec. 31. Use these important dates when contributing to your fund:
| Contribution Type | Info to Know |
|---|---|
| Mutual Funds |
Mutual funds may take up to six weeks to process. We suggest initiating requests by Monday, Nov. 20. Please contact contribute@growyourgiving.org for instructions.
|
| Stocks and Other Publicly Traded Securities |
Stocks and other securities can take up to two weeks to process, so we suggest initiating the contribution by Monday, Dec. 11. If your fund’s assets are invested in the Community Foundation’s investment pools, complete a short online form to receive our instructions. When you fill out the form, it will also notify our team of your intent to contribute publicly traded securities to your fund. If you fund’s assets are invested separately in a financial advisor managed account, the financial advisors should email advisorservices@growyourgiving.org to notify the Community Foundation of incoming contributions.
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| Wire Transfers or ACH |
For us to receive the cash by Sunday, Dec. 31, we suggest initiating the transfer before Thursday, Dec. 28, and taking your bank’s processing time into consideration. If your fund’s assets are invested in the Community Foundation’s investment pools, complete a short online form to receive our instructions. When you fill out the form, it will also notify our team of your intent to contribute via wire transfer or ACH to help us process contributions quickly. If you fund’s assets are invested separately in a financial advisor managed account, the financial advisors should email advisorservices@growyourgiving.org to notify the Community Foundation of incoming contributions.
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| Checks |
Checks must be postmarked by Sunday, Dec. 31. If you plan to contribute to your fund via check, complete a short online form for our mailing instructions. Make checks payable to the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, noting your six-digit fund ID on the memo line. Our mailing address for contributions changed earlier this year. While we’ll still process contributions delivered to our downtown Kansas City office, we ask that you update our mailing address for contributions to our lockbox: Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
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| Credit or Debit Card |
Using the online portal, you can contribute to your fund anytime with your credit or debit card. Log in to the online portal, choose the name of your fund, and complete the form under the Contribute to Fund tab. If you need help accessing the online portal or giving with a credit or debit card, contact Donor Services at service@growyourgiving.org or 816.842.7444.
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Granting from Your Charitable Fund
If you would like your grants to make it to your favorite nonprofits before the year ends, please submit your grant requests as soon as possible to allow ample processing and delivery time. We recommend using the online portal for easy granting, but you can always contact Donor Services at service@growyourgiving.org or 816.842.7444 for help.
Donor-Advised Fund Grant Guidelines
Many nonprofits have year-end fundraising goals, which you may be inclined to help them meet. The good news is that since you’ve already received a tax deduction when contributing to your fund, the timing of your grantmaking is entirely up to you!
Contact Donor Services for Assistance
Our Donor Services team is available to take your calls and answer your emails with questions about your charitable fund. You can reach our team Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central at service@growyourgiving.org or 816.842.7444.
Need help logging in to or navigating the online portal?
Watch our short tutorial, which covers accessing your charitable fund online to view your fund activity, review your giving history and recommend grants to your favorite nonprofits. Donor Services is also here to help.
Our Holiday Special Hours
Our team is taking time off to enjoy the following days:
- Wednesday, November 22 at 12 p.m. Central
- Thursday, November 23
- Friday, November 24
- Monday, December 25
- Monday, January 1
If you need help while we’re away, you are welcome to still contact us. We’ll respond to you as quickly as possible.
Giving Season Tips for Spreading Your Generosity
When gathering with your loved ones this holiday season, you can practice intentionality when spreading your generosity. Here are a few helpful places to start for inspiration:
- Tell Family Stories This Holiday Season
- Connecting With Others This Holiday Season
- Building a Philanthropic Playbook: Three-Part Series
Our Philanthropic Advisors have decades of experience helping individuals, families and others explore, consider and document their charitable goals and priorities. We specialize in facilitating family meetings to establish charitable giving roadmaps as well as private, customized educational programming. If you’re gathering this holiday season and would like to utilize our philanthropic advising services, contact our team at info@growyourgiving.org.
From all of us at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, thank you for choosing us as your partner in charitable giving.