The Community Foundation: A Vehicle for Good

“DeWitt has always been blessed with folks who have been generous and supportive of the community, and I think sometimes we have to remind them that they can help out here and that it's nice to keep the money that you've made at home at home.” – Roger Hill

Roger Hill has lived on his family farm east of DeWitt his entire life.  

As a trust officer for DeWitt Bank and Trust for more than 47 years and a founding board member of the LincolnWay Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Roger Hill has seen firsthand the benefits of working with the Community Foundation for his clients and his community.

“As a trust officer, you help people achieve their goals and sometimes you have to help them define what those goals are,” he says. “It might be that they have an interest in the community or some other charity or cause that they want to benefit. I think by having the resources of the Community Foundation at our disposal we can be pretty creative.” 

In working with the Community Foundation, Roger has been able to help donors of all financial means support their community and lower their tax liabilities.

“When my father died, there was a great deal of federal estate tax,” says Roger. “I never appreciated that and I still don't. The Community Foundation is a wonderful way to give back without having the expense of being a private foundation with the tax returns and the excise tax that's sometimes required. It's going to be here, it's going to honor the wishes of the donor and it's going to go on for a long time. It keeps your name alive and it can help people down the line you would never know.”

Roger also adds that there are other benefits for donors like the  25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit and IRA Charitable Rollover, a federal legislation that allows donors 70 ½ to make donations from their required annual minimum distribution from their retirement account without a tax penalty. 

“You can use the required minimum distribution for charitable purposes, which is a double benefit really because the Community Foundation knows how to accept it,” he says. “The money gets to the cause you want, you're saving yourself some income tax, and the Foundation has the ability to expedite those gifts in a very effective way.”

Five Ways the Community Foundation Can Help You

1. Give Back
There are many options to choose from when giving to the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and its affiliates. You can start creating a philanthropic legacy now with an outright gift, or do so later with a planned gift in your will.

2. Establish a Fund
Charitable funds at the Community Foundation provide a simple, powerful and highly personal approach to giving. The process is easy and we offer a variety of fund types to meet your specific needs.

3. Honor a Loved One
Create a lasting memorial in honor of someone you’ve lost.

4. Leave a Legacy
Making a bequest reflects your ongoing commitment to your community and the causes you value most. It enables you to act on your convictions and make a difference for others many years from now.

5. Discover a New Cause
Visit the Community Foundation’s website to learn more about nonprofits working on issues that matter to you. 

VIDEO: Roger Hill and the LincolnWay Community Foundation

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