News

Missed May's Spotlight Newsletter?

At the Community Foundation of Southwest Indiana, we often talk about the power of endowment. Every endowed fund tells a story. A family honoring a loved one. A donor investing in opportunity. A business giving back to the community that helped it grow. These gifts create lasting annual support for the causes donors care about most, not just today, but for generations to come. For many of our fundholders, that legacy has already begun. Over time, many donors choose to build on that impact by including the Community Foundation in their estate plans. For families and individuals who care deeply about Southwest Indiana, planned giving often becomes a meaningful extension of the charitable legacy they have already created. Now, the Community Foundation is proud to launch our new Legacy Society, recognizing individuals and families who have chosen to make that lasting commitment through a planned gift. Introducing the Legacy Society The Legacy Society honors donors who are making a long-term investment in the future of Southwest Indiana through their estate planning. These gifts help ensure that charitable support continues for generations, strengthening the communities, organizations, and causes donors care about most. Whether a donor’s passion is education, health, economic mobility, community development, the arts, or another charitable purpose, a legacy gift creates enduring impact beyond a lifetime. More and more donors are choosing legacy gifts to ensure the values that shaped their lives continue to make a difference far into the future. What Is a Legacy Gift? A legacy gift is a charitable gift made through your estate plan. This may include: A provision in a will or trust A beneficiary designation on a retirement account A beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy Another formal estate gift arrangement Many planned gifts are simple to establish and can often be completed by updating existing estate documents or beneficiary forms. Building on the Legacy You’ve Already Created For donors who already hold an endowed fund at the Community Foundation, planned giving is often a natural next step. An endowed fund provides annual impact today. Including that fund in your estate plans helps ensure that impact continues to grow far into the future. Many fundholders choose to strengthen their endowed funds through a future estate gift, increasing the long-term resources available each year for the causes and community needs they care about most. Over time, these additional resources can expand annual grantmaking, respond to emerging community needs, and continue a donor’s charitable vision for generations. Recently, we have been honored to share stories from individuals and families who have made this kind of commitment. While every story is unique, they share a common belief: that the values and causes that shaped their lives should continue strengthening Southwest Indiana for generations to come. We Can Work with Your Professional Advisors The Community Foundation works closely with donors and their trusted advisors to make the process simple, flexible, and aligned with personal financial goals. Our team can collaborate directly with attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, and trust officers to help structure charitable plans that reflect each donor’s wishes and long-term vision for community impact. Become a Founding Charter Member As part of the launch of the Legacy Society, we are inviting individuals who have already included the Community Foundation in their estate plans, as well as those who formally document a planned gift during our inaugural charter period, to become Charter Members of the founding class. This founding group represents the first generation of donors helping establish a lasting tradition of legacy philanthropy across Southwest Indiana. Together, Charter Members will help shape the future of the Legacy Society while ensuring charitable impact continues for generations to come. Charter Members will receive: Recognition as inaugural founding members Legacy Society lapel pin Optional recognition in Foundation Impact Reports Invitations to Legacy Society gatherings and impact briefings Updates highlighting how endowed legacy gifts are strengthening our region  The Charter Member period will remain open through June 30, 2027. Creating a Legacy That Lasts While the official name of the Legacy Society is still being finalized, its purpose is already clear: honoring individuals and families whose generosity will continue shaping Southwest Indiana long after their lifetimes. If you would like to learn more about planned giving opportunities or including the Community Foundation in your estate plans, our team would be honored to help you explore options that align with your charitable goals, values, and long-term vision for community impact.