CFHZ Receives $1.5M Estate Gift

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area (CFHZ) recently received an almost $1.5 million estate gift from a local donor! Established in 1951, CFHZ builds our Community’s Endowment for impact, helps donors achieve their charitable goals, and collaborates on community-level initiatives to help the greater Holland/Zeeland area thrive.

The donor of the gift disclosed their commitment during the Today. Tomorrow. Forever campaign in 2015, which raised awareness of the Community’s Endowment and the accessibility and long-term impact of estate gifts. The campaign ultimately created over 100 new legacy commitments for the Foundation.

“We are grateful to the donor of this estate gift for their incredible support of the Community’s Endowment. As an organization, we rely upon the resources available in the Endowment to create impact by responding to our community’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities, even as they change over time. This individual’s gift is so meaningful, because we know that as our Endowment grows, so does our impact,” said Patrick Cisler, President/CEO.

CFHZ is on track this year to distribute more than $1,023,000 from the Endowment to benefit the Holland/Zeeland area. Recent grants have created positive, lasting impacts in the areas of housing, human services, youth, and education, along with increased investments to strengthen capacity across our whole local nonprofit sector.

Seeking to help educate donors about the options available to them for legacy gifts, the Foundation also offers charitable estate management. This service allows individuals to create a highly customized plan for the charitable portion of their estate, ensuring their wishes are met beyond their lifetime. CFHZ works with individuals and families, as well as their professional advisors, to help donors with minimizing their tax burden, supporting their family, honoring their loved ones, preserving their legacy, and ensuring their personal values are reflected in their plans.

“Every October, we recognize National Estate Planning Awareness Month. It’s estimated that approximately 50% of Americans do not have an up-to-date estate plan. We believe that it’s important to support your family, and meaningful to consider providing for the greater community through your estate plan,” said Colleen Hill, Vice President of Development & Donor Services. “Our goal at the Community Foundation is to walk alongside donors and help them turn their charitable passion into a lasting legacy.”

For more information about the Community Foundation, its charitable estate planning services, and other programs, visit www.cfhz.org.