FAQs

Donors, which include individuals, corporations, and families to the Adams County Community Foundation, Inc. range from people of relatively modest means to those with significant financial resources.
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There is no cost / fee to set up a fund at the Foundation (aside from the initial contribution to establish the named fund). The first step is determining what you would like to accomplish and the title of the fund. To do this, it may be helpful to learn more about some of our existing funds (see 'Funds').
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Some people prefer the simplicity of cash or check but there are many other ways to give, including securities and real estate. Plus, all gifts receive the maximum deduction allowed by law. Please call the ACCF at 260.724.3939 or email accf@adamscountyfoundation.org for more information.
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The Foundation's approach to planned giving offers a number of important benefits to donors. Because we manage a large number of discretionary funds, administrative costs and custodial fees for any one fund are minimized - meaning less overhead cost to the donor's fund. Another important advantage is that the federal tax code provides significant incentives for contributions to the Foundation. The Foundation also has a number of different types of funds to accommodate donors who prefer the long-term strategy of endowments or those who want to give more actively each year. Donors may choose to establish one of these funds or choose to contribute to an existing fund that is flexible in response to emerging needs in our local community.
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Potential applicants can request a grant application by emailing a request to grants@adamscountyfoundation.org, by calling (260) 724-3939 or by accessing the application on the ACCF website. Only nonprofit organizations that serve Adams County, Indiana residents may apply. Grant procedures and deadlines are found in the 'Grant Info' tab on this website. The ACCF's Grants Committees review all applications on a quarterly basis with the ACCF Board of Directors having final approval.
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The Adams County Community Foundation (ACCF), Inc. makes grants to nonprofit organizations that serve Adams County, Indiana residents. Often these organizations work in one of the following areas: economic development, education, community betterment, the arts, culture, and human services. The ACCF offers four granting cycles: Winter (January), Spring (April), Summer (July), and Fall (October). Applications are due in the ACCF office by 4 pm on the second Thursday of each month listed. No exceptions. Postmarks are not considered.
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The Adams County Community Foundation, Inc. (ACCF) located in Decatur, Indiana, is one of approximately 700 community foundations in the United States. Community foundations are set up by individuals, corporations, and families that are dedicated to improving the quality of life in a specific region. All community foundations share the common goal of serving donors, nonprofit organizations, and the community as a whole. The ACCF is a tax-exempt public charity that allows people to establish permanent endowment funds within the scope of one large foundation. We also offer an inexpensive, value-added way to establish a named family fund. The distributions from these separate funds - and the principal if the donor desires - are available to respond to emerging opportunities and needs in our local community.
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The primary work of a community foundation is to inspire and work with donors to design gift plans that fit their charitable wishes and make responsive grants to nonprofit organizations working within the community. The Adams County Community Foundation (ACCF), Inc. was established in 1991 to encourage philanthropy and assist donors in building an enduring source of charitable assets. The distributions generated by the investment of these funds is used to make grants to qualified nonprofit organizations whose programs serve the needs and enhance the quality of life for present and future residents of Adams County. Since 1991, the ACCF has granted more than $2 million in the form of scholarships for college students or to organizations working in arts, culture, economic development, education, community betterment and human services.
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Simply, to support your community and the things you care about. The ACCF offers considerable expertise regarding the needs and opportunities within Adams County, Indiana. This expertise helps people who care about the community find the best way to direct their funds. Our donors appreciate the speed, flexibility, and ease of using the ACCF to establish their charitable giving. Because the legal tools are already in place and existing forms are available, a fund can be established -and all applicable tax advantages can be obtained - in a very short time.
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The Foundation is governed by a thirteen-member committee called the Board of Directors. These members are all volunteers and are comprised of local business leaders, business owners, educators, and other various professionals from within our community.
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Both organizations are important resources for our local community. Some have described the differences by suggesting the United Way is more like the community's checkbook, raising and distributing money annually, while the ACCF is more like a savings account, distributing grants from a long-term fund in perpetuity. In addition, the United Way primarily focuses on health and human services, while the ACCF's scope of funding is much broader and includes areas such as economic development, education, community betterment, the arts, culture, and human services.
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No donation is too small. Gifts of any size make a difference and are always appreciated. By combining resources with others with shared interests, donors can maximize the impact of a modest contribution. For example, during the Christmas / Holiday season, the ACCF invites donors to consider purchasing a personalized ornament for one of two ACCF-sponsored trees: The ACCF Angel Christmas Tree and the Tree of Valor. Both trees recognize a donor's friends and family with the Tree of Valor recognizing those in the military. Ornaments range in price from $10 to $100 and may be 'In Honor' or 'In Memory' of a loved one. While one $10 ornament may not seem like much, when combined with hundreds of other donations of similar size, the impact is great.
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The Adams County Community Foundation, Inc. serves all the communities located in Adams County, Indiana. Some donors, however, have interests elsewhere which they can support through their donor advised funds at the Foundation. Please contact the ACCF for more information.
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Yes. The ACCF honors all requests for privacy. If a donor wishes to remain anonymous, the ACCF must be notified at the time the gift is made. A request for anonymity means, among other things, that the donor's name will not be published in any public document.
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