2010 Message from the Director
The Benton County Foundation is Benton County’s “community foundation.” What is a community foundation?
Community foundations are independent, public charities that manage endowment funds created by individuals, families, and local organizations to support student scholarships and non-profit organizations. Community foundations strengthen communities by enabling people to create charitable funds that address a wide range of personal interests. There are more than 700 community foundations operating in urban and rural areas throughout the United States, but, in my opinion, what we have in Benton County is pretty unique.
Our county is blessed to have an asset like the Benton County Foundation. Benton County benefits each year from the vision of the Rotarians who created the Benton County Foundation back in 1953. Since that time, the Foundation has grown to over 211 individual endowment funds and over $13.5 million in total assets. This growth has enabled the distribution of more than $1.8 million in support of local students and non-profit organizations in just the past five years!
The Benton County Foundation offers donors many advantages. We work with individuals, families, local organizations and their boards, attorneys, and estate and financial planners to create endowment funds that are tailored to meet the long term needs of the donor. We offer a community service that creates a lasting legacy for the donor and annual benefit for our youth and community.
The Foundation is in compliance with the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) enacted by the State of Oregon in 2007 (HB 2905). UPMIFA adopted prudent standards that give governing boards of endowments more flexibility for investment and expenditure decisions. Prudence, current economic conditions, and our donor’s intent continue to guide the Foundation’s distribution policy.
Our goal is to build community philanthropy by working with individuals, families and organizations to create new endowment funds and establish legacies. Donors chose the Benton County Foundation as the best way to meet their long term philanthropic goals. I feel truly honored to live and work in a community where the support is so generous.
If you would like to discuss how you can make a difference and leave a lasting charitable legacy in our community, please give me a call.
Dick Thompson
Executive Director
Benton County Foundation