Check out our 2026 Q2 Newsletter
A Record Year for Grantmaking
Foothills Community Foundation had its biggest year yet. In fiscal year 2023 to 24, the Foundation distributed $3,571,888 through 550 grants. In 2024 to 25, that grew to $6,453,293 through 653 grants. This year, unaudited totals show $10,279,844 distributed through 883 grants.
Behind those numbers are fund holders who decided a cause mattered, and nonprofits across Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties putting those gifts to work.
Starting a fund is simple. You can begin with as little as $10,000, and you decide how and when to support the charities you care about. Unlike a private foundation, there is no minimum annual payout required, and the Foundation’s low fees go back into local nonprofits.
What the New Tax Rules Mean for Your Giving
Tax law has changed how charitable gifts are deducted, and timing now matters as much as the amount you give.
If you itemize, charitable giving is subject to a new threshold equal to 0.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. A portion of your giving up to that amount is not deductible; only what you give above it qualifies.
If you take the standard deduction, there is a new above the line charitable deduction: $1,000 for single filers, $2,000 for married couples filing jointly, for direct cash gifts to qualified public charities.
Many donors will benefit from bunching, combining several years of giving into one year to clear the new threshold. A fund at Foothills Community Foundation can help with this: make a larger contribution in one year to maximize your deduction, then continue supporting your causes on the same schedule as before.
We are not tax advisors, and every donor’s situation is different. Talk with your tax advisor, attorney, or financial planner, and we are glad to work alongside them on how your fund fits in.
Save the Date
The Grant Distribution Event is Thursday, October 15, at Anderson University. If you would like to make a grant from your fund during the event, contact Mary Pickens at [email protected] or 864.222.9096. And please remember that all fund holders are invited to attend.
Read the full second quarter newsletter [here] for more on the tax changes and this year’s grantmaking numbers.
Because here, giving doesn’t just happen. Giving grows here.
Contact us at [email protected]