Bequests have always been - and always will be - a major lifeline of the Community Foundation.
From 2010 through 2012, the Community Foundation received nearly $1.4 million in bequests. Historically, $1 out of every $4 given to the Foundation has been given through a bequest. This equates to more than $18 million, or (on average) nearly $250,000 every year since 1948!
Unfortunately, planned giving is not included in most not-for-profit development plans. Why not? PlannedGiving.com addressed this omission in a recent article, "But We Need That Money Now."Why should an organization pursue planned gifts when they need cash now? Here is their proposal:
The average time from inception to maturity for a planned gift is 7-10 years (that's only a few years longer than most campaign pledge periods).
The typical capital gift target is 20 times larger than a donor's largest annual fund gift.
The typical completed planned gift is 200 times the size of a donor's largest annual fund gift.
Your planned giving prospect pool may be as much as 5 times larger than your capital pool.
Easier said than done, I know! However, a consistent planned giving program can sustain an organization in years when annual giving is down. Donors religiously support not-for-profit organizations during their lifetimes. Why should their support end upon their death?
The Community Foundation currently has 78 known future bequests. Individuals who leave a bequest to the Community Foundation become members of the Foundation's "Legacy Society" - either publicly or privately. A full list of the public Legacy Society members is available on our website as well as in our Annual Report. We are grateful for the generosity of these individuals who have committed to raising the quality of life for the residents of the Fox River Valley in perpetuity!
In 1990 the Aurora Police Foundation created an endowment within the Foundation for placement of permanent gifts which provide income for special projects outside the normally budgeted programs of the Aurora Police Department.
The Aurora Police Foundation is governed by a board of directors comprised of local community volunteers. Since its establishment, the Police Foundation has awarded numerous grants to serve health and safety issues in the community.
Thank you to the City of Aurora, the Police Department, and all who contributed to the creation of this video!
Aurora Police Department Mission Statement
"We will enhance the quality of life in Aurora through innovation, partnerships and dedicated service to our community."
Kristen Ziman is a Commander with the Aurora Police Department. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Aurora University and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Management from Boston University. Kristen is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (Senior Executives in State and Local Government) and is a proud graduate of the FBI National Academy #249.
Ziman has been with the Aurora Police Department since 1991 where she started as a police cadet. During her 20 year career, Ziman has worked in various divisions including Community Oriented Policing, Domestic
Violence Reduction Unit, Field Training and Patrol.
When not on duty, Ziman enjoys photography and writing for her blog, "Think Different". The Community Foundation is proud to spotlight one of our community leaders who is making Aurora a better place to live, both personally and professionally!
Aurora Rotary John M. Lies Service Above Self Scholarship Endowment Fund
The Rotary Club of Aurora created a scholarship endowment fund in 2013 to honor John M. Lies, a former club president.
Scholarships from the fund are intended to recognize local students who demonstrate a strong commitment of service to their community and a sincere resolve to become exemplary members of society.
John Lies was born in Aurora on June 8, 1946 and lived in Aurora his entire life. He attended West Aurora High School, the University of Michigan and Northern Illinois University. He married his wife Lynn in 1965. The couple has three children - Robert, Michael and Kathy.
Mr. Lies was the president of the Arnold Lies Company. He joined the family business in 1965 and worked at fully developing West Aurora Plaza.