Requests.

Some Questions and Answers

01

What is a foundation and what objectives does it pursue?

The Foundation is a tool for collecting resources to be allocated to projects and initiatives of high social relevance in the communities of reference, providing technical and operational support both to those who decide to make a donation and to those who receive financial support. Its structure is functional to determine advantages for both donors and beneficiaries. If I am a donor I have the possibility of having guarantees on the correct use of resources, simplified procedures and tax advantages. If I am part of a voluntary association, a parish or a non-profit organization I will be able to have access to new donors, assistance in managing funds and the possibility of managing bequests. The Foundation is a recognized body. It is governed by the management according to principles of transparency and seriousness. Formal positions may be remunerated. Minimum running costs.

02

Who can make a donation?

The following can make donations to the Foundation:  natural persons;  businesses;  other organisations.

The Foundation is first and foremost a tool for the benefit of people in the community; all natural persons who intend to allocate part of their assets and resources for social solidarity purposes can donate: by setting up their own fund, contributing to existing funds and/or supporting the projects of local solidarity organisations; all while taking advantage of the advantages and services of the Community Foundation. People without legitimate heirs can nominate to leave their assets or part of them to the Foundation, tying the inheritance to specific social purposes. All the tools and possibilities proposed by the Foundation are also at the service of the donation of local businesses. They can set up their own dedicated funds or support other local entities by benefiting from the fiscal and operational benefits offered by the Community Foundation. Other local organizations (e.g. trade unions or trade associations, second level bodies, ecclesiastical bodies, non-profit organizations, etc.) can also make donations using the tools made available to them by the Foundation.

03

What are designated capital funds?

They are funds created and wanted by individual donors and aimed at supporting certain activities chosen, even from time to time, by the donor himself. In a certain sense, the donor, by creating a designated patrimonial fund, is as if he were creating his own "small foundation or charitable organization" within the Community Foundation. In fact, through the establishment of a dedicated patrimonial fund, the donor can manage and give continuity, even on a permanent basis, to his/her donation activity. This is an extremely effective alternative to the creation of individual new entities. The designated patrimonial fund is created with a particular donation, called a modal donation. By using the modal donation institution, the donor binds the Community Foundation to respect the principles and rules established at the time of the establishment of the fund. The creation of a designated asset fund can also be done through a will. In establishing the Fund, the donor can establish: the name of the Fund;  philanthropic purposes;  duration (indefinite, definite, perpetual);  how much, how and when to donate;  the role he wishes to have in the life of the Fund;  the subjects who can contribute to the Fund (it can be open to other donations or reserved for the donor who established it);  the destination of the donations;  how any assets should be invested;  how and to whom the sums in the fund must be paid;  the presence, composition and role of any committees for the distribution of availability;  what information must be made public;  how to manage any changes in goals and operating methods. In short, the only thing I "can't do" is... take back what was donated!

04

Who decides what and who to finance?

The foundation decides what and how much to finance. The foundation can:

1) directly support an organization or reality that you know personally;

2) choose, with the support of the donor, an organization that corresponds to the characteristics requested;

3) support one of the projects included in the thematic calls promoted periodically by the Foundation. The Foundation maintains a constant analysis of all the elements in terms of the needs of the territory, the needs of the individual beneficiary entities, commitment and seriousness in the implementation of the projects and declared activities, but also punctuality and precision in the reporting of the resources used by the entities benefiting from the contributions. The constant connection with other philanthropic entities in the area and with public bodies financing services allows the Foundation to avoid duplication or overlapping of contributions to the same entities. All these elements are made available to the donor to define his choices.

05

What services does the Foundation guarantee to the donor?

The Foundation's activity is essentially to support donations; the Foundation is, for the donor, a sort of "gift bank". In this sense, the Foundation mainly carries out the following activities for donors:  Support in the identification of recipients/beneficiaries of donations. Whether it concerns modal donations or simple donations, the Foundation will support the donor in choosing the beneficiary and in the disbursement methods. The donation will always be made formally to the Foundation, with a subsequent guarantee of its destination and success.  Minimization of management costs of funds intended for disbursements, being able to achieve economies of scale and scope greater than those obtainable by individual donors.  Greater remuneration for sums that remain temporarily deposited in managed funds. In fact, the possibility of investing larger sums resulting from the various funds allows for greater returns to be achieved, thus increasing the amount available for disbursements to the beneficiaries.

06

What advantages do the beneficiaries have and what services are guaranteed to them by the Foundation?

Possibility for entities without the qualification of ONLUS to create funds for their projects, providing donors with the opportunity to take advantage of the expected tax benefits.  Possibility for small entities or those subject to particular constraints to accept bequests or donations that involve significant management costs.  Possibility of participating in a Foundation tender and making one's projects known to a wider audience than usual.  Possibility of channeling dispersed donations towards larger objectives and giving continuity over time to specific initiatives.

07

Why make a donation through the Community Foundation tool instead of directly to the beneficiary?
To increase the benefits for both the donor and the beneficiary. If I am a donor, as was highlighted previously, I am certain that my donation reaches the recipients and the purposes that gave rise to it, I have advantages on a fiscal level and also in terms of simplifying procedures and reducing costs. Furthermore, I can separate the times of donation from those of its use and involve different donors on the same project. If I am a beneficiary I can increase the critical mass of my projects, increase the probability of receiving more donations and finding new financiers. I can also make myself known more and better in the community in which I work.

08

Is there really a need for a new Foundation?

Yes why:

  it allows me to give more with less. In fact, due to the tax benefits provided by the current legislation, all things being equal, the value of my donation increases significantly. This is important because not all organizations or bodies are able to activate a tax relief mechanism (think of parishes);

1. because I have the possibility of making a stable and certain donation over time even in the very distant future (for example, creating a fund that can continue my purposes or wishes);

2. because I can also make a donation to organizations that encounter bureaucratic difficulties in receiving a donation (for example a department of a hospital where a loved one of mine was treated, etc.); in these cases, the Foundation will identify the most effective ways to realize my wish;

3. because there is someone who is able to check that the donation is successful and who keeps the activities monitored even after the donation;

4. because making a donation can be complicated and instead doing so through the Foundation is very simple (no unnecessary procedures and absolute transparency of how the funds are used);

5. because the entire sum that I decide to donate will be allocated to the intended purpose (e.g. there are no intermediation percentages); 6. because, with the will, I can allocate my assets (or part of it) to a person who will carry out my charitable wishes.

09

What type of donations can be made?

The types of donations can be defined as follows:  the establishment of one's own dedicated patrimonial funds;  the contribution to already established capital funds;  financing for ongoing projects;  direct support to individual non-profit organizations in the area;  support for the Foundation's assets. Furthermore, bequests may be assigned to the Foundation, just as it may be named "universal heir". I can allocate (whether I am a natural person, company or organization) donations of any amount to my own or other already established funds, to projects of non-profit organizations. Finally, it is important to remember that there are no limits, neither "minimum" nor "maximum" amounts for individual donations.

10

What guarantees does the donor have on the correct use of resources?

By law. The donors themselves appoint the management bodies of the Foundation. The Foundation is required to prepare and publish a balance sheet which clearly shows how individual donations have been used. 

Of "market". The Foundation only makes sense to exist if it manages to support the meritorious action of donors. Any dissatisfaction of donors with its work profoundly undermines the "good name" of the Foundation and its future continuation.

11

What benefits does the donor have?

Making a donation through the Foundation is very advantageous. The tax benefits are very substantial. Basically, whoever receives the donation gets the agreed sum but for whoever donates the outlay is significantly lower. In fact, donations made to a non-profit organization can be alternatively deducted or deducted for income tax purposes, both by private individuals and businesses. Let's take an example: if I want to donate 1000 euros to the Alfa Association and if my annual income is 50,000 euros, I have a tax saving of €380.00. So, in practice, the Alfa Association receives 1,000 euros, but I only spend 620. In detail, the legislation provides in my favor: a) an IRPEF tax deduction, within an overall annual limit of €2,065.83; or b) a deduction from the taxable amount (total income of the donor) within 10% of the total declared income and in any case up to a maximum of €70,000.00 per year.  Simplicity of management All the management costs of the donations (contractual relationships with the beneficiary, analysis of the reporting, etc.) are borne by the Foundation, leaving the donor only with the "pleasure of the gift".  Cost reduction. The management of patrimonial funds destined within a larger container which is the Foundation, significantly reduces costs compared to the creation of many individual organized entities (associations, foundations or other).  Dissociation between times of donation and use of the same. The donor chooses the moment in which he intends to donate. This can happen when the person deems it most convenient and appropriate (financial availability, special anniversaries, positive fiscal impact, etc.), while they can use, and therefore allocate to the final beneficiary, the donated sum (managed pro temporarily by the Foundation) when it deems it to be the most suitable moment (even for example when a certain amount is reached). 

Possibility of involving other donors in your project or joining other projects. The sum allocated by the donor can be increased by the donations of others, in the same way, his donation can be added to that of others to ensure that small donations can support important projects.

12

Who has control over the management of the Foundation?

Donors through the appointment of the majority of the Board of Directors. There are no appointments to the Board of Directors by any public body. The Committee of Guarantors supervises the activities of the Board of Directors: a statutory body, whose members are appointed by the prefect, the college of notaries, and the orders of accountants and lawyers, which has the task and responsibility of checking that the work of the Foundation is consistent both with its aims and with the will expressed by individual donors. All roles within the Foundation are carried out absolutely free of charge.

13

Who can be the beneficiaries of the donations?

Non-profit organisations, all and not just those with the qualification of ONLUS. (for example voluntary associations, parishes, social cooperatives, businesses, private workers, etc.). It is the donor who explicitly indicates who the beneficiaries are. Furthermore, if the donor does not have an initial preference, he can choose among the organizations participating in the Foundation's tenders or be helped by it in identifying an organization that corresponds to his objectives.

14

How are the Foundation's operating costs incurred?

Through specific donations aimed at this objective or through the voluntary allocation of a portion of the overall donation.

15

What happens if the Foundation ceases its activities?

The resources collected and not already assigned to the final recipients and the funds with special destination still managed will be transferred to the Committee for the promotion of the gift, a national structure accredited to manage these resources and to support the planned activities.

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