The concept of a community foundation is as ingenious as it is simple – it is a means to build, over time, substantial endowment funds for a community through contributions large and small. Because the contributions are endowed, they are never spent. Instead, they are permanently invested to produce income. The income earned is then used to help meet the community’s charitable needs, according to donors’ interests and the current needs and opportunities in the community. So gifts to a community foundation continue to benefit your community forever. This is philanthropy in its broadest sense.
Benton Community Foundation, founded in 1998, is governed by a local board of directors chosen for their knowledge of the community and designed to be representative of a broad cross-section of the community. The directors possess expertise in the many areas of management necessary to carry out the stewardship functions of the foundation.
The Community Foundation is a public non-profit corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions are tax deductible to the maximum amount allowable for gifts to a public charity.
Benton Community Foundation practices non-discrimination in all Foundation activities including Board governance, donor services, grant making, and convening the Benton community for problem solving. Specifically, the Board makes decisions without discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disabilities, and familial relations. Benton Community Foundation gives preference to persons with clear links to the County through residence, education attendance, and place of employment and to programs that serve Benton County residents, students, and employees.
