As a professional advisor, you build your client relationships on trust and mutual respect. The same is true for our relationships with our friends and donors. The Columbia Foundation was established with one purpose in mind: Meeting the current and future needs of our community. We have the connections, nonprofit savvy and planned giving expertise that make guiding your clients’ charitable giving easy.
Why partner with us?
Personalized Service. Our highly personalized service is tailored to each individual’s charitable interests and financial objectives. And we accept a wide variety of assets and can facilitate even the most complex forms of giving.
Local Expertise. We understand the issues and opportunities that shape our community. When your clients have questions about how their gifts can benefit the local agencies and programs they care about most, we can supply the answers.
For 40 years, we’ve been a trusted resource.
Community Leadership. Our board members are community and corporate leaders who understand the issues facing Howard County and the importance all of us place on cultural opportunities. And their diversity in age, gender, ethnicity, talent and expertise can connect you and your clients to every segment of the community.
Starting the Conversation
We can provide the tools you need to begin the discussion with your clients:
- When to give - Does your client want to establish a fund now—or later, through deferred gifts, through a will, or other planned giving?
- What to give - There are many different kinds of assets your client might have with which to start a fund, and the Foundation accepts most of them. We have significant experience accepting real estate, retirement plan assets, closely held stock, cash, publicly traded stock, and life insurance.
- The best way to give - We offer a full range of fund types that allow customized giving to support your client’s favorite nonprofits or causes. Talk with us about which one is right for your client.
Investment Policies
As of year-end 2009, our assets totaled more than $12 million. Our endowment fund is managed by our Investment Committee in consultation with The Jeffrey Group at Smith Barney and Merrill Lynch. All contributions to the endowment fund are invested, and the income generated provides grant funds and supports Foundation operations.
The Columbia Foundation supports organizations that contribute to the quality of life in Howard County in the areas of human services, the arts, education, and community affairs. We do not fund religious or sectarian activities, medical research, or requests from individuals.