How to give
The Foundation was established to give individuals and families a way to give back to the community. For so many, it’s important to make sure their charitable contributions make a real and lasting impact. That is why we offer a broad range of giving options to meet the donor’s needs.
Establish a new or named fund with as little as $10,000 (payable over four years). An individual donor, family, corporation, or organization may establish a named fund with a gift of cash, securities, or other property. The donor is able to name the fund and choose its grantmaking purpose.
Contribute to an existing fund
The foundation has established the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts General Endowment Fund and four regional, general purpose funds which donors may contribute gifts of any size. They are the Greater Gardner, Nashoba Valley, North Quabbin and Twin Cities Regional Funds.
The power of endowment
A half century ago, Paul Cesarz made a choice that continues to benefit his community today. He created an endowed fund in 1952 with $150,000 in assets. The fund immediately began earning income and distributing grants to causes important to him. Fifty years later and 35 years after Paul’s death, the Cesarz Fund had grown to $1,066,003. And in that 50th year, it generated more than $50,000 in grants, supporting a range of community needs — a park renovation, a museum exhibit, cancer research, and more. Because Paul chose to endow his gift, he has enabled more than $1.1 million in grants to go to his community — almost eight times the impact he would have made by giving the original gift to charity all at once. And though Paul has passed away, the fund in his name will go on supporting his community, leaving a lasting legacy.
