Community Foundation Gets Council Approval

Planning to offer tax incentives for those who make donations to city projects, council members this week gave final approval to a proposal to start a community foundation.

The City Council agreed to file a request with the secretary of state’s office to start a nonprofit, tax-free business in the city’s name. If approval is given, council members will appoint a board of directors that can make recommendations on what to do with funding, said Ann C. Gyben, executive assistant to the city manager and director of the project.

The council declined to hire a professional fund-raiser to run the project, which can cost $30,000 to $60,000 a year.

The purpose of the foundation is to solicit, receive and distribute funds in support of community projects, including park cleanups and neighborhood improvement days.

Residents and businesses can--and do--give to city projects like the Neighbors for Neighbors cleanup days in which residents fix fences and paint houses in low-income areas.

Through the foundation, the city also would be able to offer tax write-offs to donors.