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Creating Big Changes with Small Giving

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Non-Profit: The Fowler Family Fund supports PNW charities

Founded in 2007, Wilsonville-based The Fowler Family Fund began as a small giving platform primarily focused on providing volunteer and in-kind support to Pacific Northwest charitable organizations whose missions focused upon animal welfare and financial literacy.

Since then, The Fund continues to evolve to include small grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations focused upon The Fund’s five pillars of giving: sustainability, self-sufficiency, lgbtqia+ community, animal welfare and financial literacy.

A proud member of Philanthropy Northwest and Nonprofit Association of Oregon, The Fowler Family Fund will launch its new website, www.TheFowlerFamilyFund.com, in March. The site will contain details about The Fund, resources that will help visitors connect to the Pacific Northwest nonprofit sector, and information about volunteerism and leaving an impactful legacy with charitable organizations that align with one’s own personal giving aspirations.

Resources Every Donor Should Know

As The Fowler Family Fund continues to align their charitable support with nonprofit organizations and their leaders interested in demonstrating a transformative impact through their organization mission, The Fund routinely refers to a variety of resources to help them stay abreast of the changes impacting the giving sector. In fact, the best starting point for those interested in learning more is to conduct a search of the IRS website www.irs.gov/charities-and-nonprofits, which provides a comprehensive overview surrounding the nonprofit sector. One can also search their national database to confirm the 501(c)(3) status of any nonprofit entity, access IRS Determination Letters, and ensure an organization is acting as a public charity and not a private foundation. A recent explanation of public vs. private charitable entities can also be found at www.501c3.org/private-foundation-vs-public-charity.

Start Small & Find Your Fit

Charitable giving is more than just writing a check aka “checkbook philanthropy.” It is an opportunity to connect with a nonprofit that is aligned with one’s values, interests and capacity for sharing time and resources. There are four easy ways to think of charitable support:

1. Volunteerism; 2. In-Kind Support; 3. Financial Giving; and 4. Leaving a Legacy.

Volunteerism

According to Independent Sector, volunteers to charitable organizations in the United States uphold the foundation of civil society. They help their neighbors, serve their communities, and provide their expertise. No matter what kind of volunteer work they do, volunteers contribute in invaluable ways. The estimated value of one volunteer hour was a whopping $33.49 in 2023 representing a 5.3% increase from 2022. To learn more about the value of volunteer time, visit: bit.ly/4fJv6qo.

In-Kind Support

In-kind support is essential and offers support through the following:

Goods — Items like raffle donations, clothing, office equipment, computers and building materials.

Services — Professional services include legal help, accounting, IT work or marketing services.

Expertise — Advice from a professional such as tax advice, event planning or corporate communications.

Financial Giving

Financial giving, whether program specific or for general operating, helps fund a wide range of needs, including staff salaries, equipment, program development, emergency situations and general operating costs. Donors who are uncertain about how they wish their financial support to be designated, should work directly with the nonprofit development staff to identify a good fit for their funding gift.

Leaving a Legacy

Legacy charitable giving is also known as planned giving and serves as a way for donors to leave money to a charity after they pass away. Legacy gifts are often larger than typical donations and may come from a variety of resources including wills, retirement accounts, life insurance policies and other assets. They are routinely coordinated with a professional advisor, an attorney, and the nonprofit organization.

Practice Gratitude

For The Fowler Family Fund, 2025 will present continuing opportunities to support the important work of animal welfare organization Portland Dachshund & Friends Rescue, help individuals obtain self-sufficiency through Blanchet House & Farm, and financial literacy through Dress for Success Oregon. It also serves as an exciting time for The Fund to identify new opportunities supporting Frances Changed My Life and Elijah’s Heart House in their dedicated support to children and families during some of life’s most challenging moments.

No matter how one chooses to practice gratitude, a recent article published by AARP Magazine — bit.ly/3AXxxGK — captured 10 reasons for giving back in your community.

We encourage everyone to join The Fowler Family Fund in discovering how small giving can lead to big change that grows into a lasting charitable legacy.

Frances Changed My Life
Create Big Change with Small Giving
The Fowler Family Fund supports PNW charities
The Trevor Project
 Dress for Success Oregon
Flap Jack and Elle encourage adoption through Portland Dachshund & Friends Rescue
Blanchet House & Farm