What Is Planned Giving and How Does It Create a Legacy?

Planned giving creates an opportunity for people to support the causes and organizations they care about long after their lifetime.

Through the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, donors can structure charitable gifts that align with their personal values, financial goals, and long-term community impact.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about planned giving and leaving a legacy through philanthropy.

What is planned giving and what types of gifts can donors make through the Community Foundation?

Planned giving refers to charitable gifts arranged as part of a donor’s financial or estate planning process.

These gifts can include:

• Bequests through wills or trusts
• Charitable gift annuities
• Retirement assets
• Appreciated securities
• Real estate
• Charitable trusts

The Community Foundation works with donors and professional advisors to structure charitable plans that support both immediate and long-term community impact.

“Estate planning seems overwhelming to some people,” says Nick Grimmer, Chief Development Officer at the Community Foundation. “But when they sit down and really talk about what they’re trying to accomplish, it gets much easier to back into those goals.”

How do planned gifts strengthen the community and create lasting impact?

Planned gifts create long-term stability for nonprofits and charitable initiatives throughout the Mohawk Valley, ensuring that vital services can continue for generations to come.

One powerful example of a planned gift is an endowed fund, which is a permanent charitable fund established with a gift that is invested over time. Only a portion of the fund’s earnings are distributed each year, while the principal remains intact, allowing it to grow and provide support indefinitely. This approach creates a reliable, ongoing source of funding.
 
“When an endowment is established at the Community Foundation, it’s going to be invested, it’s going to grow, and it’s going to disperse grants every single year,” says Grimmer. “That helps nonprofits focus on their mission instead of constantly worrying about fundraising.”

These long-term funds support a wide range of community needs, including scholarships, educational programs, healthcare initiatives, food security efforts, animal welfare organizations, arts and cultural programs and many other community needs.

How can donors structure planned gifts to reflect their personal values and create long-term community support?

Planned gifts allow donors to continue supporting the causes they care about far into the future, creating a lasting impact that extends well beyond their lifetime. By thoughtfully including charitable giving in their long-term plans, donors can help ensure that the organizations and issues they value remain supported for generations to come.

Some donors choose to expand educational opportunities, while others focus on strengthening healthcare services, addressing food insecurity, supporting animal welfare, advancing the arts, or helping local nonprofits that serve families and children. Each planned gift reflects a deeply personal story—what matters most to that individual and the legacy they hope to leave behind.

Community Foundation staff work closely with donors to document charitable intentions clearly so future generations understand how funds should continue supporting those priorities.

Learn more at foundationhoc.org. 

Article originally published in the Daily Sentinel on June 22, 2026.