Become A Donor — Advantages

How the "Community Foundation For The Oceans" Can Help Your Philanthropy

The interests and needs of our donors are as diverse as the issues that their funds support. They all have a common goal, however, in seeking to help conserve and protect our oceans. Whether you are celebrating a special ocacasion or giving in memory of a friend or loved one, or you are creating a donor-advised fund to engage several generations in your grantmaking, we want your giving experience with TOF to be rewarding and easy.

Flexible Funds
As an individual, a family, or a business owner, you will discover that we can design a philanthropic fund that is customized to your interests and charitable giving goals. We have a suggested minimum pay out that is equivalent to 5% per year, averaged over 4 years, so that there is time to reflect on decisions. We can manage almost any gift for any charitable purpose.

Choices
You have a number of choices for giving. Your first choice is to decide whether to give to an existing TOF Ocean Fund or to create your own fund with TOF. If you decide to give to an existing fund, we offer several. Each Ocean Fund focuses on a different aspect of ocean conservation. If you decide to create your own fund, you can structure it in one of several ways to best meet your own needs. And finally, you can choose to simply make a general gift to TOF, either to be granted to a project of our choice, or to support the work of TOF itself.

Simplicity
Once you make the decision to move forward, a TOF fund can be established easily in a day. The complexity and cost of a private foundation is avoided, and the fund is exempt from all private foundation excise and administrative requirements.

Community Impact
You may come with a definite idea about whom you want a fund to benefit, or we can help you by sharing many years of experience in investigating ocean conservation needs, designing solutions and targeting dollars for the greatest impact.

Involvement
You can choose your level of involvement in the grantmaking process. Some donors want to be active participants in each step of the process, while others designate specific charities or name particular areas of interest to receive grants from their named funds. Others establish unrestricted funds which allow the TOF Board of Directors to select appropriate grant recipients where the need is most critical.

Permanence
You can choose to permanently endow the fund you create, and it can benefit the community, in your name, for purposes you specify, in perpetuity. Several generations can be involved in the grantmaking, and family members can be named as advisors to the fund. If the original purpose of the fund becomes obsolete, TOF's Board of Directors has the authority to redirect the fund to the closest-related possible use without a lengthy or costly court proceeding, assuring that your basic intent will be fulfilled even if circumstances change.

Tax Benefits
As a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization, TOF offers the highest level of tax benefits for charitable giving. Donors can give any type of property including cash, long-term appreciated publicly-traded stock, closely-held securities or real estate, and receive maximum tax benefits.

Cost Effectiveness
TOF funds generally incur lower setup and annual administrative costs than those required for establishing private foundations. Because we manage a number of funds, we can pool investment and administrative resources and still provide full services to each fund at a fraction of the cost of administering each fund separately.

Recognition or Anonymity
We want to recognize donors and grantmaking from each named fund in our newsletters, on our web site and in our annual report, but we also honor the wishes of donors who, for any reason, might want to remain anonymous.

Responsible Stewardship
All aspects of the Ocean Foundation, including administration and grantmaking, are overseen by an active volunteer Board of Directors made up of ocean conservation leaders. They are directly accountable to our donors and the broad community of ocean supporters whom we serve.

1. Search for talent to assist you.
TOF has the expertise, track record, and ocean knowledge to help you transform your charitable passion into results.

2. Philanthropy is hard work.
You have many commitments and responsibilities. Our staff researches nonprofits, community needs, and real-life solutions. The Foundation helps you help others through the most effective philanthropy possible.

3. Give while you’re still around to enjoy it.
With a major gift during your lifetime, rather than a bequest, you can witness the results of your philanthropy. We are here to help you make the difference you want to make.