Community Foundation Produces Unique New Fundraising Tool For Local Nonprofits

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- California Community Foundation (CCF), one of the largest and most respected charitable organizations in Southern California, has announced the availability of a new no-cost toolkit for local nonprofit organizations to help their donors provide greater financial support through planned gifts. Because most nonprofits have no planned giving programs in place, millions of charitable dollars available now and in the foreseeable future are not being captured for local needs and worthwhile causes. Many nonprofits that are vitally important to the community are struggling to meet the increased need for services and may be unsustainable over time.

"Planned giving is a misunderstood part of fundraising. The bottom line is that most nonprofits are missing out on planned gifts because they perceive planned giving to be too complex, too technical, and less productive. Our new Planned Giving Toolkit demystifies planned giving and provides simple steps to integrate it into fundraising programs of any size," said John Kobara, executive vice president and chief operating officer of CCF.  "This toolkit eliminates the excuses and procrastination of not pursuing planned giving."

The Planned Giving Toolkit is the direct result of conversations between CCF and a number of local nonprofits, and among the recommendations in a report recently published by CCF.  The report, The Future of Philanthropy in Los Angeles: A Wealth of Opportunity, revealed new facts and figures about the extraordinary growth in wealth in the form of accumulated assets among households in L.A. County, principally fueled by entrepreneurs and educated immigrants to the region. Equally important, the report highlighted the vast amount of personal wealth being transferred between generations and the unprecedented opportunities for philanthropy in nine communities of the county, from the Antelope Valley to the South Bay.   

Between now and 2020, for example, $114 billion is forecast to be transferred between generations living in L.A. County. If only five percent of that amount was dedicated to charitable giving by individuals and families, an estimated $5 billion could be invested in local needs and nonprofits. 

The Planned Giving Toolkit will be distributed free of charge to any nonprofit, beginning at a series of seminars on planned giving, to be held in the following locations:

• On the Westside, at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, on Friday, March 9, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
• In the Pomona Valley, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel and Conference Center in Pomona on Thursday, March 15, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
• In the South Bay, at the Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership in Long Beach on Tuesday, March 20, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
• In the San Fernando Valley, at the Hawthorne Building of California State University Northridge on Monday, March 26, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
• In the Hollywood area, at the Sheraton Universal at Universal City on Wednesday, April 4, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Registration for the seminars is open to any nonprofit in L.A. County that sends a CEO or executive director, development director, and board chair or other key members of the board.  To register to attend a seminar, visit www.calfund.org/pg2012.  To request a Toolkit, visit www.pgtoolkit.org.  

The community foundations of Long Beach, Pasadena and the Verdugos are co-hosting the planned giving seminars with CCF.

California Community Foundation (CCF) is a public, charitable organization serving Los Angeles County since 1915.  It provides expertise and support in philanthropy to individuals, families, companies and organizations, stewards charitable funds and legacies, provides grants and other forms of support to nonprofits in order to address the needs of vulnerable members of the community, and engages in community problem with business, civic, government and other organizations.  For more information, visit www.calfund.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/calfund.

Media Contact: Barbara Lee
Phone: (213) 413-4130 ext. 258
E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE California Community Foundation