Seeks community support to sustain and grow BEST After School Program which serves over 300 students and families in need at little to no cost. Of the 300 students currently being served, 50% are students of color and 81% are students who receive free and reduced lunch (indication of family living in poverty). Since typically only half of the students in our district's low-poverty schools meet standard tests by 3rd grade, BEST interventions that target students in need of academic support are vital.   

Goal:  $65,000 per school  (4 schools) to leverage the academic investment of Eugene School District funds.   Read Proposal 

The B&G Club seeks funds to provide an enhanced summer program for East Linn County children. The Summer Adventure is designed to engage elementary age children in fun, educational, well-supervised activities that they might not otherwise experience due to lack of affordable care options suitable for this age range, summer learning loss, lack of family resources to pay for "summer fun activities. Goal: $52,786  Read Proposal 

The Friends of the Library (FOL) is seeking funding to purchase eight (8) light-weight portable chairs and a small table to enable people to sit and browse through various sections at their leisure. Goal: $453.00 

The Roy Johnston Sports Field is managed by the Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Santiam.  Two years ago it was decided to close the fields so major renovations could be made. Multiple upgrades have been completed and more are in progress. The Club has partnered with the Sweet Home Rotary Club, Sweet Home Kiwanis Club, and a group from the Ford Foundation East Linn Leadership Cohort. The goal of this partnership is to help complete three projects that will allow the B&G Club to use the four sports fields by the start of this baseball/softball season. Phase 3, to build dugouts for the four fields is left to fund. Goal: $5,843  Read Proposal

Why Include Charitable Gifts in Your Estate Planning?

You see it in the newspaper every few months: a wealthy local donor leaves a portion of his or her estate to local charities, making a big impact in the community. Have you wondered about the benefits of charitable donations in a will or trust? What if you're not a millionaire - are there reasons to include charitable gifts in your estate plan? I believe two reasons are important for everyone to consider: tax advantages of charitable giving, and leaving a legacy of giving to your heirs.

Considering taxes first, any gifts you give to a charity through your estate are given estate-tax free. Currently, if your estate is over $5,000,000 you may be subject to a federal estate tax (40% tax rate), or if your estate is over $1,000,000 you may be subject to the Oregon estate tax (a 10% to 16% tax rate). With the appropriate estate plan, a married couple (and registered domestic partners for Oregon) can pass double that amount estate-tax free. But if your estate is over those limits, any dollars you give to a qualifying charity will pass tax free!

Charitable giving for tax savings can work even if your estate is not subject to estate tax. For example, if you leave money to a child but request that she give the funds to a specific charity, your charitable bequest is made and your child can include the charitable gift on her personal tax return for a deduction. Your child is not legally bound to make the gift, but it may be to her advantage to do so!

On the other end of the spectrum, charitable giving through your estate plan instills in your heirs the legacy of giving and shows them what causes or interests are important to you. Giving a gift to a local nonprofit can start your family on a path of charitable giving and supporting causes important to them. Further, you leave to your family and community a sense of what was important to you during your life.

Whether it's to leave a tax-advantageous gift or demonstrate a legacy of giving, including charitable gifts should be considered when putting together your estate plan.