We are committed to involving even more donors in our efforts to improve the health and well-being of Eastern Connecticut residents.

We are able to accept a wide variety of charitable gifts, from simple cash and credit card donations, to charitable IRA distributions, stocks and life insurance policies.

  • We can walk you through the choices and identify the best options for you.
  • Your professional advisor can determine which of your assets are best given to charity, as well as which fund type best meets your personal financial needs. Read more about Types of Funds

A list of the most common types of gifts we accept appears below. Clicking on the name of the gift type will provide you with a brief description.

We can accept cash gifts of any amount by cash, check, money order or credit card.

  • Donate online right now with a credit card
  • Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut and mailed (or delivered in person) to our offices at 68 Federal Street, New London, CT 06320.
  • If you mail your donation, be sure to specify the specific charitable fund you wish to support and let us know whether the gift is being made in honor or memory of someone, and if you would like an acknowledgement sent.

Your retirement assets can be a powerful way to support the causes and communities you care about—whether you choose to make a charitable gift from your IRA today or create a lasting legacy for the future.

Make a Gift from Your IRA Today

A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), also known as a charitable IRA rollover, may be a wonderful opportunity to make a lasting impact through a fund at the Community Foundation.

Individuals age 70½ and older may make direct transfers of up to $111,000 per year from an individual retirement account (IRA) to qualified charities without having to count the distribution as income for federal tax purposes. Because no tax is incurred on the withdrawal, QCDs do not qualify for a charitable deduction, but they may count toward an individual’s required minimum distribution (RMD).*

If you make any additions to your IRA after age 70½ and then wish to make a QCD, please consult with your tax advisor.

What Can You Do with a QCD at the Community Foundation?

Here are some of the ways you can make an impact through a Qualified Charitable Distribution:

  • Establish a permanent endowment fund to support your favorite charity forever. You can use a QCD to establish or contribute to a permanent endowment fund at the Community Foundation designated to support your favorite charity or field of interest. The assets are invested over time, and an annual distribution from the fund is made to the designated charity or charities, creating a lasting source of support in your name.
  • Support emerging community needs. Each year, the Community Foundation receives proposals from nonprofit organizations throughout Eastern Connecticut seeking support for programs and projects that strengthen our communities. Your QCD can help fund this important work. You may also choose to support a particular area of interest, such as the environment, housing and homelessness, arts and culture, or other community needs.
  • Help sustain the work of the Community Foundation. In addition to making grants to nonprofits, the Community Foundation serves as a partner, thought leader and convener working to make Eastern Connecticut a more sustainable and thriving community. You can direct your QCD to our Community Leadership Fund, joining other fundholders and donors who support the Community Foundation’s ongoing work.

Sample IRA Rollover Letter

*Use this link to check the age requirements and other rules that apply to your specific circumstances.

**IRS regulations prohibit Qualified Charitable Distributions from being made to donor-advised funds (DAFs).

Create a Lasting Legacy with Your IRA

Another simple and powerful way to create a lasting legacy is by naming the Community Foundation as a beneficiary of your IRA. Because retirement assets may be subject to taxes when passed to loved ones, designating the Community Foundation to receive all or a portion of your IRA can maximize the impact of your gift while potentially preserving other assets for family and loved ones.

This type of planned gift requires no changes to your will, can be updated at any time, and costs nothing today. Your gift can ensure that the causes you care about continue to make a difference for generations to come.

For more information about giving through your IRA, please contact development@cfect.org.

We can accept gifts of publicly traded stocks and bonds, including appreciated securities and closely held stocks.

  • Gifts of appreciated stocks qualify for an income tax deduction equivalent to current market value of the stocks (as determined by IRS rules and regulations).
  • The date for establishing the gift value of a stock is the day the shares enter our foundation’s account.
  • There is no capital gains tax when appreciated stocks are transferred.
  • Gifts of closely held stocks are subject to the review and approval of our Development Committee, and enjoy the same tax benefits as publicly traded stocks.
  • Gifts of publicly traded stocks held at a brokerage can be electronically transferred to us by your financial agent or bank using the DTC automated transfer system. Click here for the information your agent will need to perform the transfer.
  • For stocks held in certificate form, please contact CFECT for instructions.
  • To ensure proper receipt and acknowledgement of your gift of stock, please contact Lauren C. Parda, Director of Development, at lauren@cfect.org or 860-442-3572 or Geoffrey Taylor, Director of Donor Relations, at geoffrey@cfect.org or 860-442-3572.

One of the simplest ways to make a Planned Gift is by including a provision in your will called a bequest, which states that a specific share of your estate will be distributed to our foundation for the charitable fund or purpose that you name. Examples of Bequest Language.

  • You can make a specific bequest, where you bequeath us a specific item, a specific dollar amount or a specific percentage of your estate.
  • You can make a residuary bequest, where you bequeath the remainder of your estate to us, after providing for your family and other heirs.
  • You can make a contingency bequest, where you bequeath a gift under certain terms or conditions – for example, only if you outlive your spouse.
  • We recommend that donors consult with their professional advisors on bequests to determine which of your assets are best given to charity and which are best given to heirs; which provide the best tax advantages; as well as which type makes the most sense for your financial situation.
  • We recommend that donors keep the bequest language that describes your charitable intentions as general as possible and indicate that the specific details on your intentions are on file with our foundation. That way, you can make updates at any time, without incurring the expense of rewriting your Will.

We can accept gifts of existing or new life insurance policies, subject to the review and approval of our Board or related committees.

  • Donors can deduct the premiums for their life insurance policy if they designate our foundation as the owner and beneficiary of the policy.
  • When the policy is redeemed, we will establish a permanent fund that reflects your charitable wishes.

We can accept gifts of real estate that have a fair market value of $100,000 or more, subject to the review and approval of our Board or related committees.

Real estate gifts can be complex and of substantial value. Please contact Lauren C. Parda, Director of Development, at lauren@cfect.org or 860-442-3572 to discuss a proposed real estate donation.

We can accepts gifts of certain personal property, subject to the review and approval of our Board or related committees.

Personal property gifts can be complex and of substantial value. (Most such gifts are deductible only at cost basis.) Please contact Lauren C. Parda, Director of Development, at lauren@cfect.org or 860-442-3572 to discuss your proposed donation.

Individuals or families who run a private foundation and wish to be freed from burdensome administrative, regulatory and tax requirements can donate their foundation’s assets to us – yet retain all the essential prerogatives of their private foundation. Read more about How We Help Private Foundations

The Foundation’s Gift Acceptance Policy is available upon request. Please email Development@cfect.org to obtain a copy.

We are ready to assist you.

We can help you have a meaningful impact on the issues and communities you care about.

Please contact us for a confidential conversation.

Geoffrey Taylor
Director of Donor Relations

Lauren C. Parda
Director of Development

Email the Development Team