Planning Forever Today

As Dotty and Stan Thurston began the process of developing their estate plan, it was important to them that charitable giving played a part in their overall strategy. “We have a Donor Advised Fund through the Community Foundation we have used to facilitate our giving successfully for years,” says Dotty. “As we talked with our attorney about our estate plans, I felt strongly that we should utilize a Legacy Fund at the Community Foundation to continue our giving beyond our lifetimes.”

By bringing the Thurston’s, their attorney and Community Foundation staff around the table, the couple’s financial and charitable interests could be successfully represented in their estate plans. “Opening a Legacy Fund at the Community Foundation allowed us to create a customized plan for how our charitable interests will be met long-term. A Legacy Fund offers us the opportunity to change our charitable focus in the future, if we feel there are new community needs we want to support, without making revisions to our will,” says Stan.

According to Dotty, “The ability to have both a Donor Advised Fund and a Legacy Fund at the Community Foundation is serving our charitable giving well. We are able to engage in the joy of giving now, with the peace of mind that a plan is in place to continue our charitable support in the future.”


“A Legacy Fund provides us with a personalized way to direct our giving in our estate plan; while offering the flexibility to easily make adjustments as new community needs arise.” – Dotty & Stan Thurston