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The Florida Dental Health Foundation Endowment Program

In 2002, as part of its development mission, the Florida Dental Health Foundation established a statewide Endowment Program. This professionally managed endowment is the financial nest-egg that will permit the Florida Dental Health Foundation to provide Florida citizens with advanced dental-health programs and initiatives on a perpetual basis.

The Florida Dental Health Foundation is a fund-raising organization as well as a grant-making organization. It brings together those who have a need and those who have a need to give. During 2001, more than 500 individuals, corporations and nonprofit agencies contributed to the FDHF.

FDHF Provides Free Planning Assistance, Endowment Development Seminars and Other Helpful Tools for Four Important Constituencies:

Donors: Primarily members of the Florida Dental Association. To help them meet their charitable objectives with maximum impact.

Corporations and other business sponsors and supporters of oral health care initiatives.

Components, affiliates, and other nonprofit organizations that serve the dental health needs of Floridians.

Professional Advisors: to provide information about the many ways making tax wise charitable gifts through the FDHF can benefit their clients.

Why use the Florida Dental Health Foundation?

The Florida Dental Health Foundation serves the charitable interests of individuals, corporations and organizations. Those who give through the Florida Dental Health Foundation want the impact of their contributions to be felt not only today, but for generations to come. Because each donor's fund is one of a number of funds invested and administered as a group, investment management and administrative fees are considerably lower than those required to maintain a private foundation.

We routinely will work with families, individuals, businesses, estate planners and attorneys to design gift plans that fit every economic situation so donors can maximize the family and philanthropic benefits from their charitable contributions. Individuals, corporations and businesses serving the dental health community can show their support for dental health initiatives by making direct gifts to FDHF. A non-profit organization may establish an agency account as an alternative to creating and managing its own endowment.

Advantages of Giving Through FDHF

Simplicity

It is easy to give to and through the Florida Dental Health Foundation. You may contribute to an existing fund or create a fund of your own. You may give during your lifetime or include the Florida Dental Health Foundation in your will. Contributions qualify for maximum deductibility for tax purposes.

Convenience

It can take less than 15 minutes to create a fund with Florida Dental Health Foundation. Continuing a working relationship with us remains easy after the fund is established. We monitor the investments, pay out grants from the income and handle all administrative and legal requirements.

Flexibility Return to Top

The Florida Dental Health Foundation is unique in its ability to offer highly individualized giving programs. You may designate one or more areas of focus. The donor designates where the income will be spent. If the intended purpose of your fund should ever become unnecessary or incapable of fulfillment, Florida Dental Health Foundation Board can direct the funds toward a similar intent or purpose within the donor-designated geographic region.

Permanence

A gift to the Florida Dental Health Foundation through our Endowment Program is perpetual. Donors can be confident that their gifts will always be available to meet the needs they designate. For those who wish, grants will be made in their name as a lasting symbol of their caring and concern.

Choice

You may direct your gift to the dental program, initiative or interest of your choice.

Accountability Return to Top

The Florida Dental Health Foundation makes a full accounting on a regular basis through comprehensive reports certified by independent auditors.

Tax Benefits

The Florida Dental Health Foundation qualifies as a public charity under the Internal Revenue Code, thereby offering donors the maximum charitable tax deduction allowed.

Satisfaction

Most people have a desire to make their mark and to fulfill the visions in their hearts. FDHF seeks to implement and perpetuate these visions and to satisfy the donor's humanitarian goals.

Creating the Endowment Return to Top

The first step in establishing an endowment is selecting the type of fund that best matches your interest. We offer many types of funds to meet your charitable objectives.

The Family Named Endowment Account

"I think it's wonderful that I can create a perpetual fund in my family name. By creating this account I give each member of the family (along with the businesses they own) an opportunity to channel their philanthropy in a meaningful way. It also means I can teach my nieces and nephews the value of philanthropy through a vehicle that will continue after my death."

All funds at FDHF are established by a donor agreement. This easy-to-understand letter of agreement names the account and clearly states how the income will be spent. Attorneys and Financial Advisors like this agreement because it clearly establishes a donor's charitable intent, which is required by the IRS to authenticate a charitable income tax deduction. The family named endowment account is flexible and can take on any of the following characteristics:

Legacy Accounts

"Is there a special fund for those of us who want to leave something after we die?"

The Legacy Society is comprised of individuals and business leaders who have made plans to leave gifts to FDHF after their deaths or have irrevocably committed $50,000 or more to the trust's permanent endowment. Usually these are gifts of life insurance or some other deferred gift strategy like a bequest or charitable trust.

Discretionary Fund Return to Top

"I think that a group of living men and women will always be able to better assess current needs than any written document from the past, no matter how perceptive its writer may have been."

A discretionary gift offers FDHF the greatest flexibility to respond to the dynamic dental-health environment. This type of fund allows the professional grant-making staff and the governing board an essential degree of flexibility in meeting contemporary statewide dental-health needs.

Field of Interest Fund

"There are some particular causes I want to benefit, but I am concerned about committing my resources to a particular organization(s) since time changes all things."

Donors may prefer to direct their support to a particular area or concern. For example, a donor may wish to set up a fund to provide for long-term support of children's dental health. Or, a donor might wish to continue dental-health initiatives within their hometown or county. A donor also may leave his or her fund open-ended to accept additional gifts from others who share similar interests.

Donor Advised Fund

"I want to establish a charitable fund, but I want to stay involved with decisions related to grant distributions from my fund. I also want to avoid the restrictions placed upon private foundations."

Many donors find it meaningful to participate in the grant-making process. Using a Donor Advised Fund, your family or agency can remain actively involved in giving through recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding distributions from your fund.

Designated Fund Return to Top

"I have been supporting my favorite charities with annual gifts for decades. I would like to have this support continue in perpetuity through a bequest. While I am confident in the charities' current management and mission, I understand that this quality administration and focus might not continue indefinitely."

You may name one or more particular charitable organizations to receive income from your fund. FDHF regularly reviews a designated charity to ensure that each continues to serve the purposes and functions donors considered worthy of support.

Scholarship Fund

"I would prefer to establish a scholarship fund; however, I am not sure of the best way to administer this type of program. I also want my scholarship to conform to strict standards of impartiality and integrity."

Donors can create a scholarship fund that identifies the type of student - dental, dental hygienist, dental assistant, dental laboratory technician - and the criteria used for selection. The donor, a designee, or a committee may participate in the program design and the recipient selections. FDHF handles any necessary paperwork with the academic institutions.

Memorial Fund

"I am saddened by the death of a dear and valued friend. I wonder what should be done to preserve that person's memory and the good that flowed from her life."

A memorial fund of any type can be established within FDHF. Grants from this fund will perpetually memorialize the departed loved one. This type of account is usually named for the person memorialized.

Agency Endowment Funds Return to Top

"As an FDA component, we already have established an endowment. We might be interested in affiliating with FDHF to achieve a greater or more diversified return on our assets. We believe FDHF would give us a greater exposure throughout Florida."

As a patron or board member of a component or affiliate dental association, you will want to see the good work of that organization continue and you want to establish a vehicle for building sustaining income to ensure the organization's future. You can suggest that the organization create an endowment fund at FDHF.