Ways to Give
The Foundation provides an opportunity for citizens to contribute to and invest in the long-term fulfillment of community needs. Funds from the Foundation will be used to support worthwhile community projects organized by charitable organizations within St. Albert, Sturgeon County, and surrounding area.
You can donate to an existing fund or can establish your own fund.
When you’ve made the decision to develop a fund, you’ll want to consider the options that work best for you and your situation.
If an endowment fund isn’t a right fit for you, we can connect your gift to the growth of existing endowments.
This way, we can ensure your one-time gift is making the most impact as possible for causes and charities important to you.
Whether you are establishing a named fund, working towards an Emerging Fund or contributing to an existing fund, we have several donation options available:
Cash / Cheque
You can direct cash gifts of any amount to any existing fund or to establish your named fund. Please make cheques payable to “The St. Albert Community Foundation” and include a notation as to which fund you would like your gift to support.
Credit Card
Whether you are wanting to make a one-time donation or set up monthly giving, you can do this through our CanadaHelps page.
Gifts in Wills
Leaving a gift to SACF in your will is an easy way to leave a lasting legacy. After you have taken care of your loved ones, leaving a small percentage of your estate for your endowment will make a huge difference to the causes and charities important to you. It will also provide valuable tax savings. You don’t have to let us know in advance that you have named SACF in your will, but doing so will ensure we build your legacy exactly as you intended.
Publicly Traded Securities
Donors are discovering their publicly traded shares and mutual funds may hold the key to helping them realize their dreams of giving back to the community. They are able to put tax savings to work, as a special tax incentive exists for gifts of publicly traded securities made to Canadian registered charities. If you give publicly traded securities in-kind to SACF, you are not required to pay tax on any capital gain that results from the gift. You also receive a donation receipt for the fair market value of the securities on the day we receive them in our account.
In Alberta, in-kind gifts of shares and mutual funds may provide up to $240 of additional tax savings for every $1,000 of capital gain than would be the case if you sold the shares and gave the proceeds to charity. This tax incentive is also available for “in-kind” gifts of publicly traded securities made in your will.
Life Insurance
If you are holding a life insurance policy that is no longer needed for its original purpose, you may be able to turn it into a valuable charitable gift. Alternatively, purchasing a new policy to create an extraordinary gift later may be surprisingly affordable. We can help you find many innovative tax saving ideas for using life insurance to create support for the charities and causes dear to you.
Types of Charitable Funds
Create a Name or Family Fund
Through the St. Albert Sturgeon Community Foundation, you have an opportunity to make a lasting difference in your community and to help shape its future. The donation you make, whether received during your life time, or afterward through a bequest in your will or a life insurance policy, will be invested as permanently endowed funds to generate income for charitable purposes in the community, year after year.
A Named or Family Fund can be established with a minimum donation of $10,000. For those who are interested in working towards a Named or Family Fund, we offer an Emerging Fund which allows for the fund to be built up to the $10,000 mark over a period of up to ten years.
Community Fund
The Community Fund provides the Foundation with the flexibility to decide where the earnings can be used most effectively each year to meet the community’s needs as they change from generation to generation.
Donor Designated
Donors may specify one or more charitable organizations or institutions to be perpetual beneficiaries of the net annual income from their fund.
Field of Interest
Donors may request that the Foundation direct the earnings from their fund to a particular area of interest; i.e. youth programs, social programs, the performing arts, seniors, etc.
Donor Advised
Donors may advise the Foundation each year as to which charitable organizations are to benefit from the earnings of their fund.
Under these programs, the Foundation manages the funds administration, evaluation and granting to charities under the guidelines mutually agreed upon between the donor and the Foundation.
Registered Charity Fund
Any non-profit agency or group must also be a Registered Charity under the Canada Revenue Agency to establish an endowment fund with the St. Albert Sturgeon Community Foundation. The total value of a pool of assets enables the Community Foundation to diversify investments much more readily than smaller endowments, thereby allowing maximized total return and reduced investment charges. The St. Albert Sturgeon Community Foundation acts as a buffer between the Registered Charity and its endowment fund, reducing the cost of administration while maximizing the investment return.
Corporate Name Fund
Each year there is an increasing number of requests for corporate giving. More administrative effort is required to track these requests and to respond in a cost effective and equitable manner. With the establishment of a Corporate Named Fund, the Community Foundation will manage the investment and administration of the fund for corporate giving under pre-arranged conditions.
The Corporation establishes an endowment fund for the purpose of generating income each year to match the corporate giving budget. This fund could be Community Based, Donor Designated or Donor Advised.
How Funds
Work
Learn how funds work—from defining your vision and establishing your fund to making your gift and determining your level of involvement. Explore the simple step-by-step process of creating a lasting legacy that supports the causes and communities you care about most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about how the St. Albert Sturgeon Community Foundation works or how you can make an impact? From understanding endowment funds to exploring flexible giving options, our FAQs provide clear answers to help you get started. Visit the FAQ page to learn how you can create a lasting legacy in your community.