Anne C. Fulwiler is no dreamer. She knows she'll never match Warren Buffett's philanthropic largess, but this mother of two young children is still doing her part to help support local charities.
"We are not Warren Buffetts by any means," Fulwiler said. "I mean, we live very modestly. My kids go to public schools. But the community foundation leverages the funds that you would give, and it frankly makes it fun and easy."
Community foundations - nonprofits that help individuals and families make gifts - have been around for years but witnessed a surge in popularity near the turn of the 21st century, a time when a buoyant U.S. economy allowed many Americans to look for new ways to put their money to work.
The foundations make giving easy by providing staff members to help givers identify social needs that interest them and helping them connect with strong charities. In some cases, fund creators let the foundation decide how to spend their money; it depends on how involved the donor wants to be.
"What is so great about [the Buffett] gift and the exposure that has come from it is that it will serve as an incentive for all people, in all income brackets, to make a mark," said the communications director for the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers.
[The Baltimore Sun]
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