Why should I use ETCF to help with my charitable giving?
There are several reasons. With ETCF you can give forever,
qualify for tax savings, receive management and investment
services, rely on full accountability and have access
to resources that will help identify grant recipients
that best match your interests. Giving through the Foundation
also allows you to give with an East Texas focus.
What are the tax benefits of giving with ETCF?
Because we are a community foundation, ETCF is a fully
tax-exempt nonprofit under Section 501(c)(3), a publicly
supported organization under Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
and "not a private foundation" under Section
509 (a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code. This creates
the potential for the greatest possible charitable
deductions. As a community foundation, funds managed by ETCF are consolidated for reporting purposes, and therefore are not
subject to excise taxes and other management and
reporting requirements which apply to private foundations.
How do I know that ETCF is financially accountable?
An independent audit of the Foundation is conducted annually and presented to the Board of Directors for discussion and approval. The Foundation also files an information return annually which is available for public inspection. Aggregate financial information
is publicly disclosed, which allows individual donor
financial information to remain confidential.
As an advisor to your fund, you receive a financial
report on your fund quarterly.
What kinds of funds can I create with ETCF?
This depends on many factors, including whether or
not you would like to have an ongoing involvement
in the distribution of your fund, and whether your
charitable interests are broad or specific. It also
depends on how permanent you wish your fund to be.
Please see Fund Types for descriptions of the various
types of funds available at ETCF.
What is the difference between a permanent fund and
a pass-through fund?
In a permanent endowment fund, principal remains in
the fund to generate earnings for distributions year
after year. A pass-through or impermanent fund permits
principal as well as earnings to be distributed from
time to time. You can always change an impermanent
fund's status to permanent later.
Who administers these assets?
Under the authority of the Board of Directors, responsibility
for investment policy and manager selection rests
witht he Foundation's Investment Committee. Click
here for detailed information on ETCF's investment
policy and the current allocation of assets to the
Foundation's investment portfolios. 
What fees are charged to the funds?
Fees depend on the nature and size of the fund. Please
call or email us to request a fee schedule.
What information do donors receive?
Donors who create funds at ETCF receive the Foundation's
Annual report and newsletters as well as regular
statements showing income to and grant payments from
the funds they have established with us. They may
also meet with members of our staff and consultants
to discuss any aspect of charitable giving.
In what ways are funds distributed from individual
component funds to the community?
The Foundation distributes funds through competitive
grants, nonprofit endowment funds, scholarships and
at the recommendation of donor advisors.
