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HAPPY DECEMBER
November was a big month at ACCF, filled with celebration, learning, and community impact.
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60th Anniversary Celebration: We gathered donors, partners, and friends of the Foundation to celebrate 60 years of philanthropy in Allegan County, revealing the BEST KEPT SECRET. The evening honored our history, highlighted stories of impact across the county, and invited guests to imagine what the next 60 years of community-driven generosity can make possible. See our 60th anniversary video HERE and look at the gallery of pictures from the celebration HERE.
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Advocacy Bootcamp: We hosted an advocacy bootcamp to equip local leaders and nonprofit partners with practical tools to tell their stories, influence systems, and speak up effectively for the people and causes they serve. Participants left with clearer messages, stronger confidence, and new connections. See more below
- Poverty Simulation: ACCF partnered with community organizations to facilitate a poverty simulation experience, helping participants better understand the daily challenges faced by neighbors living with limited resources. The day sparked important conversations about empathy, access, and how our systems can better support families.
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Youth Conference: We also invested in the next generation of leaders by supporting a youth-focused convening where students could learn, share their perspectives, and explore how they can shape the future of Allegan County. Their energy, ideas, and passion were a powerful reminder of why our work matters. See more below.
Taken together, November reflected who we are as a community foundation: celebrating our legacy, strengthening voices, deepening understanding, and lifting up young people as key partners in building Allegan County’s future.
Positively Impacting Allegan County,
Stephanie
President/CEO
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Big news for Allegan County!
ACCF is taking philanthropy to the next level — committing up to 5% of our endowment (nearly $1.5 million) to impact investing right here at home. That means more resources for affordable housing, local business growth, and community innovation.
Want to help build Allegan County’s future? Join us through the Building Allegan County Fund.
| | A huge thank you to St. Julian Winery for generously supporting our Wine Pull at our 60th Anniversary Celebration! Thanks to your partnership, and the enthusiasm of our guests, we raised nearly $800 for Imagination Library, helping bring free books into the hands of young readers across Allegan County. | | What an energizing day of Advocacy Bootcamp! On November 20th, local leaders and community members came together to build their advocacy skills and learn how to make an even greater impact in Allegan County. Thank you to the Michigan League for Public Policy for leading this powerful day of learning, connection, and action! | | Thank you, Apex Clean Energy, for providing ACCF with a grant that helped make the Allegan County Cohort of Advocacy Bootcamp with the Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) possible! | | |
The Allegan County Community Foundation is deeply grateful to Huntington Bank for their generous support of the Allegan County Housing Initiative.
This investment strengthens our countywide efforts to expand housing options, support smart development, and remove barriers that prevent families from finding safe, stable places to live. Huntington’s commitment to community growth and economic opportunity aligns powerfully with our mission and their partnership brings us one step closer to a stronger, more vibrant Allegan County.
Thank you, Huntington Bank, for believing in this work and helping us build a brighter future for our residents and communities. Your support truly makes a difference.
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Looking to Make a Difference in Allegan County?
Do you believe in the power of philanthropy to bring people together and spark lasting change? Are you passionate about creating opportunities and tackling challenges that impact our entire community?
We need leaders like you.
The Allegan County Community Foundation is seeking individuals who want to make a meaningful, long-term impact on the region we all call home. Whether you're interested in serving on our Board of Directors, joining a committee, or contributing your time and talent as a volunteer, there’s a place for you here.
If you're ready to use your unique skills to support the greater good, we’d love to connect. Please apply below.
Together, we can positively impact Allegan County.
| | Scholarship Season is here! Applications open December 10th for high school seniors and adult learners in Allegan and Van Buren counties. Using ACCF’s scholarship software, students complete one general application to see which scholarships they’re eligible for and learn the next steps. Whether they are pursuing college, skilled trades, or furthering their education later in life, this tool helps them plan their next steps. Learn more at alleganfoundation.org/scholarships. | | | | At their most recent meeting, the TAG team focused on their upcoming grant cycle, exploring what it means to invest in their community and support local projects with guidance from ACCF Community Impact Manager Lauren Hunt-VanderPloeg. Afterward, they rolled up their sleeves to assemble shelf-stable “cozy meal kits” for a local food pantry, bringing a little warmth and comfort to families this holiday season. | | |
2026 Local Unit Breakfast Schedule
Following up on last year’s lunchtime discussions around housing with local municipal leaders, a survey was sent out in early October to continue the conversation with breakfast meetings.
Reflective of the different concerns and needs across the county these meetings have taken place in each quadrant using M89/124th St and #6th Ave as the dividing lines. Local municipal leaders may attend the meeting(s) that work best for them.
While locations have yet to be determined, this years schedule is;
Northwest: Jan 20
Northeast: Feb 2
Southeast: Mar 5
Southwest: April 2
Invitations will be sent to local leaders in December, for questions contact housing@alleganfoundation.org
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The Allegan County Community Foundation’s Grant Catalog highlights real, local projects seeking support from youth and veterans to health, housing, and food security.
Browse the catalog, choose a cause that matters to you, and make a direct impact right here in Allegan County. Every gift helps strengthen our community.
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Across Michigan and right here in Allegan County, food pantries are seeing a sharp rise in demand as recent events leave more families struggling to afford groceries. When federal support decreases, the burden shifts to local organizations and many are now facing record need with limited resources. The Allegan County Community Foundation is working alongside our community partners to meet this challenge by supporting food pantries, emergency food assistance, and basic-needs programs. Together, we can make sure no neighbor goes hungry. Support our Pantry Partners here.
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Thank you for the opportunity to work together! It is our honor to celebrate and recognize the conclusion of another year full of stories and examples of people like you who make a difference every day in our community through your advocacy, volunteerism, and financial support of our community’s charities.
As we reflect on 2025, we’re sharing three insights that have resonated with many charitable individuals and families, many of whom have established a fund at the Allegan County Community Foundation or are in the process of doing so right now!
—It’s not over until it’s over, and we’re taking this opportunity to share practical year-end reminders, especially considering that, for taxpayers who itemize deductions, 2025 may be the best tax environment to maximize your charitable giving by donating appreciated stock to a donor-advised fund. And of course, if you are over the age of 70 ½, don’t forget to consider QCDs from IRAs as you check your beneficiary designations. ACCF is here to help!
—Unrestricted gifts are a powerful way for you and other donors to invest in long-term support for ever-evolving community needs. As a permanent, flexible, and trusted institution, ACCF is here to help you evaluate how unrestricted gifts might be the perfect complement to your portfolio of giving, alongside your donor-advised fund and legacy gift, for example. QCDs are a particularly important way to support an unrestricted fund if you are 70 ½ or older.
—People who don’t have children often embrace intentional planning about their legacies and are statistically more likely to include charities in their estate plans. If you’re one of these people, reach out to ACCF. We’ll help you set up charitable giving strategies to express your identity, integrate philanthropy into your estate and financial plans, and involve your extended family or younger relatives along your journey.
Whatever causes you support and wherever your charitable interests lie, the community is here for you. We are honored to serve as your home for charitable giving to help you organize your support for favorite charities and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people who live in this wonderful place we call home. We wish you all the best for the season!
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You are likely aware that many families in our community are struggling, and you may be wondering how you can help most effectively. Whether increased community needs are triggered by a government shutdown that disrupts paychecks, services, and community programs, a natural disaster, or economic factors, the Allegan County Community Foundation is committed to helping you structure charitable giving plans that make a real difference in the lives of people in our region.
Here are a few examples of how our team can help:
Real-time identification of needs. The team at ACCF has its finger on the pulse of which organizations are helping families in crisis. As federal employees and contractors grapple with missing income, and federal benefits become uncertain for families in need, charities in our community can be stretched thin attempting to meet the rising demand for food, rent, and utility assistance. ACCF knows where dollars are most needed and how those dollars translate into immediate impact.
Offering fast and flexible charitable solutions. If you have already established a donor-advised fund at ACCF, or if you are considering doing so, you can use it to provide support to charities on the front lines of emergency assistance in our community. ACCF makes it fast and easy for grants to flow out of donor-advised funds to qualified and vetted organizations that are doing the work on the ground.
Leverage important timing. The urgency of community needs in late 2025 coincides with an important window of opportunity for people who itemize their income tax deductions. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), limits on charitable deductions will tighten beginning in 2026. That means it may be advantageous to certain donors to “front-load” or “bunch” contributions—such as by giving more this year through establishing or adding to a donor-advised fund—to maximize both tax benefits and impact.
Plan for the future. Unfortunately, community crises are not unusual. ACCF works with you and other donors and fund holders to strengthen our community’s ability to respond to urgent needs, regardless of when and why they occur. For this reason, many donors not only give to their favorite charities through donor-advised funds, but they also use their donor-advised funds to give to ACCF’s dedicated response funds to ensure that dollars are in place to support people in need the moment the next crisis hits.
At ACCF, we encourage you to reach out anytime. At this moment, though, when urgent needs and tax opportunities are occurring simultaneously, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible. It is our honor to work with you and your fellow donors who care so deeply about our community.
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As year-end approaches, your thoughts might naturally turn to charitable giving—both as a way to support favorite causes and to make the most of available tax benefits. Recent changes in the tax laws have caused many people to reflect on their own understanding of the rules for deductibility, starting with a very fundamental question about what the IRS considers deductible—and what falls outside that category.
Here’s a quick three-point refresher:
–In general, contributions are eligible for the most favorable tax deduction when they are made to organizations that have received tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. So-called “public charities” with 501(c)(3) status must operate exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, scientific, or similar purposes. Gifts to these organizations are eligible for a deduction if you itemize deductions on your income tax return.
–Beyond 501(c)(3) public charities, there are other types of organizations that do important community work but are not eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. Civic groups, social welfare organizations, and neighborhood associations—while vital to the community—are usually classified under different IRS categories, such as Section 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6). Gifts to these organizations are typically not deductible, even though the organizations serve valuable purposes.
–It’s also important to keep in mind that “nonprofit” and “tax-exempt” do not always mean the same thing. Nonprofit status is a matter of state law, while federal tax-exempt status requires specific IRS approval. “Tax-exempt” means that the organization itself does not pay taxes. Only a subset of tax-exempt nonprofits qualify as “charitable,” enabling them to receive deductible contributions.
Sounds complicated, right? It is! The good news is that your Allegan County Community Foundation is here to help. Our team works with community organizations every day and can help you confirm which gifts are eligible for a deduction and which are not. More importantly, we can help you make sure that your support—whether or not it qualifies for a deduction—makes the greatest possible impact in the areas you care about most.
At the end of the day, while the tax deduction can be an added bonus, what matters most is the good your generosity accomplishes. As you plan your year-end giving, please reach out to our team. We’re here to help you give confidently, wisely, and in a way that makes a lasting difference in the community you love.
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Many people establish a donor-advised fund at the Allegan County Community Foundation to simplify their giving, stay organized, and even engage the next generation in philanthropy. And, for some families, 2025 is the year when the donor-advised fund takes on an even bigger role in aligning charitable giving goals with changing tax laws. Even families who are not impacted by changing tax laws are beginning to view their donor-advised fund with more admiration for the variety and abundance of purposes it can serve. Let’s take a look:
–Evaluate “bunching” in 2025. If you itemize deductions on your income tax return, you might have heard that things are changing in 2026 when both a floor and a cap on itemized charitable deductions kick in. This means 2025 offers a unique opportunity to “front-load” or “bunch” charitable contributions into your donor-advised fund before the tax landscape shifts. By making a larger contribution in 2025—perhaps representing two or three years of anticipated giving—you can maximize your tax deduction under the current rules while continuing to recommend grants to charities in 2026 and beyond.
–Organize your giving. Your donor-advised fund at ACCF already serves as a useful hub to organize your giving. You make tax-deductible contributions of cash or appreciated stock, and then recommend grants to your favorite organizations over time. With this in mind, make sure your fund is the center of your charitable activity—not a side account. In other words, consider making all of your charitable contributions through your donor-advised fund to streamline recordkeeping and tracking of your annual giving footprint.
–Adopt a portfolio approach. Alongside your donor-advised fund, you can establish a designated or field-of-interest fund at ACCF to expand your charitable giving portfolio. A designated fund supports a specific charity for the long term, while a field-of-interest fund focuses on an area of community need, guided by ACCF’s deep local knowledge. If you are over age 70½, your IRA’s Qualified Charitable Distributions can go directly to field-of-interest and designated funds—reducing taxable income while supporting the causes you care about.
–Establish a legacy. Of course, you can include your charitable funds in your estate plan. Many people name donor-advised funds or other ACCF funds as beneficiaries in their wills, trusts, or retirement accounts. Retirement plans such as traditional IRAs, for example, can be tax-efficient assets to give to your fund through your estate because the gift bypasses income and estate tax.
As you begin to view your donor-advised fund in a new light, remember that ACCF team is here to help you make the most of it, whether that means exploring how to “bunch your giving” in 2025, creating complementary funds, or planning your charitable legacy. We are honored to work together to ensure that your philanthropy continues to make a lasting difference in our community, today and for years to come.
| COUNTDOWN TO 2026: 10 TIPS FOR CHARITABLE GIVING | |
At the Allegan County Community Foundation, we are honored to work with you and so many other families, individuals, and businesses to help organize your charitable giving and support favorite charities that make a difference in our community. As the year winds down, keep these 10 tips in mind:
–Remember that 2025 is a pivotal year for charitable planning. With more stringent charitable deduction limitations taking effect in 2026 under new tax laws, this year may offer a favorable tax environment for your giving depending on your personal situation. Talk with your tax advisors as soon as possible.
–Work with your tax advisors to evaluate the benefits of “bunching” multiple years of charitable gifts into 2025. By front-loading contributions—especially into your donor-advised fund at ACCF—you may be able to exceed the standard deduction this year and maximize your tax benefits.
–Use your donor-advised fund to simplify year-end giving. You can make one tax-deductible contribution now, receive the deduction in 2025, and recommend grants to nonprofits over time, even throughout 2026 and beyond.
–Give appreciated stock instead of cash. Donating long-term appreciated securities to your fund at ACCF may eliminate capital gains tax and in turn increase your charitable impact. Talk with your tax advisors as soon as possible so that these gifts can be processed well before the end of the year.
–Explore giving from your IRA if you’re 70½ or older. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) can reduce taxable income and, if applicable, satisfy required minimum distributions—to the tune of $108,000 per taxpayer in 2025. IRS rules allow you to make QCDs to a wide variety of funds at ACCF (but not to your donor-advised fund).
–Check to see whether you’ve met your charitable goals for 2025. Don’t wait until late December to review your plan. Our team can help you think through options for this year and begin to coordinate more complex gifts for next year.
–Support the community overall by making gifts to ACCF's special funds or operations. 2025 has been a tough year for many people in our community, and our team can help you support families in crisis both now and in the future.
–Review your beneficiary designations. Naming your donor-advised fund or another ACCF fund as a beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement account can create meaningful future gifts while reducing the tax burden on heirs.
–Avoid last-minute surprises. Gifts of complex assets—such as real estate or closely-held stock—require additional steps and a lot of lead time, so contact ACCF early if you’re considering these options. Even if it is too late to complete these gifts in 2025, start working with ACCF on options for 2026 gifts.
–Above all, lean on the ACCF team! We are here to help you explore the most tax-efficient ways to meet your charitable goals, whether you’re planning year-end gifts, updating a legacy plan, or thinking ahead to the changes coming in 2026.
It is our honor to work with you! Thank you for the opportunity. We look forward to supporting your charitable goals this year and for many years to come.
| UNRESTRICTED GIVING, QCD's, AND WHY THEY MATTER FOR YOUR PHILANTHROPY | |
As someone who cares deeply about our community, you already understand how important charitable giving is to improving the quality of life. Every year, Americans give nearly 2% of our nation’s GDP to charitable causes—a remarkable level of generosity that supports more than a million nonprofits across the country. At the same time, trust has become one of the most important factors donors consider when deciding where to give. We are honored that so many of you place your confidence in the Allegan County Community Foundation to steward your philanthropy with care and integrity.
ACCF is your home for charitable giving, no matter what causes you support. Simultaneously, we are committed to understanding the needs of our community and sharing that information with you and other donors to help ensure that charitable dollars are invested where they can do the greatest good. Some needs are urgent, such as immediate assistance in response to a crisis. Other needs are long-term, such as building educational opportunities, strengthening health and human services, or expanding economic stability. Because the community’s needs evolve over time, ACCF is focused on identifying what matters most at any given moment and helping you ensure that your generosity has a meaningful impact both immediately and across generations.
For donors aged 70½ and older, one of the most effective and tax-savvy charitable giving tools available is the Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD. A QCD allows you to direct up to $108,000 in 2025 from your IRA to a qualified public charity—bypassing taxable income. If you are already taking required minimum distributions (RMDs), a QCD will count toward that amount without increasing your adjusted gross income, which can be especially helpful for managing tax brackets, Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and other income-related considerations.
QCDs cannot be directed to donor-advised funds. So, many donors choose to use their donor-advised fund to support their favorite charities through regular annual gifts, and then use their QCDs to support an unrestricted fund at ACCF. An unrestricted fund enables ACCF’s board and staff to deploy dollars toward the most pressing and emerging needs right here at home. It is one of the most powerful ways to support your community, both now and in the future.
Be sure to talk with your tax advisors about whether a QCD fits into your 2025 charitable giving plans. Looking ahead, with new tax laws taking effect in 2026, QCDs may become even more valuable, so be sure to discuss next year’s opportunities, too.
No matter which tools you use—your donor-advised fund, a QCD to an unrestricted fund, or other giving strategies—ACCF is here to support you. Please reach out anytime. We are honored to partner with you to ensure your generosity continues to make a meaningful difference in the community we all love.
| NO KIDS? THREE CALLS-TO-ACTION FOR CHARITABLE PLANNING | |
Many people without children wonder how their legacy will take shape. Rather than focusing on biological heirs, they often find freedom to channel their resources, time, and values toward the broader community. Indeed, Americans over age 50 without children are more than four times as likely as parents to have a charitable estate plan. If you fall into this group—or advise family members who do—take a moment to consider adopting an intentional philanthropic strategy.
The Allegan County Community Foundation is happy to help. Reach out anytime for a conversation! Here are three themes we’ll consider as we begin our dialogue:
Treat charitable giving as an expression of identity. For people without children, the causes they champion often become extensions of their values and impact. A fund at ACCF can bear the name of its donors or something else entirely to represent the priorities of its founders. Examples of fund names include “Smith Family Fund,” “Sally Smith and Joe Brown Foundation Fund,” “Building Stronger Communities Fund,” “Animal Welfare Innovation Fund,” or anything else meaningful to the donors who create it. The choice is yours!
Integrate charitable planning into estate planning. People who do not have children often have greater flexibility in determining how their wealth will create lasting meaning and impact beyond their lifetimes. By integrating charitable planning into their estate and financial strategies, they can direct resources toward causes that reflect their values and ensure their legacy benefits the broader community. Without the need to provide for heirs, charitable planning offers a thoughtful way to give purpose to accumulated assets and make a difference for future generations. We will discuss ways to involve your estate planning advisors in structuring charitable plans with ACCF's help.
Branch out to extended family. Without the generational handoff of children, people without children might have flexibility most donors don’t. This can mean involving nieces, nephews, other younger relatives, or community members in the philanthropic journey, building a multi-year giving plan, or shifting giving based on changing community needs. Remember, when you establish a donor-advised fund at the community foundation, you can name successor advisors to take your place in recommending charities to receive distributions.
Whether or not you have children, ACCF is a sounding board and resource every step of the way. Please reach out to learn more about how we can help you and your family build a charitable plan that is tailored to both your personal and family goals, as well as your goals for making a difference in the causes you care about.
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Want to hear about the incredible work our nonprofit partners are doing in the community? Check out our Nonprofit Spotlight!
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Don't forget to check out our Community Calendar for upcoming events and opportunities in Allegan County! It's a great resource for staying informed and getting involved. You can also add your group or business event's to it - for free!
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Many of you have reached out with questions about the uncertainty surrounding Federal grants and what this may mean for Allegan County.
The National Council of Nonprofits has created a helpful chart tracking Executive Orders issued since January 20th that may affect nonprofits directly or indirectly. Some of these orders will take time to go into effect, while others are expected to face immediate legal challenges. Because this landscape is evolving quickly, the chart will be updated frequently.
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