Contact us at:
amy@juneaucf.org or (907) 523-5450
to discuss your legacy!
Help us give $1 million to your favorite local nonprofits!
The Juneau Legacy Challenge is a Southeast Alaska community-wide matching campaign by the Juneau Community Foundation to build $20 million in permanent endowment funds.
These "forever funds" ensure our communities have the resources to meet changing needs for generations to come. We’re thrilled to offer you an opportunity to see the impact of your philanthropy today through the Juneau Legacy Challenge.
By documenting and sharing your future estate plans now, you can unlock immediate funding for our community’s current needs with no out-of-pocket cost to you.
How the Immediate Grant Works:
This incentive program applies exclusively to gifts directed to our permanent endowed Field of Interest Funds, which support broad community causes rather than a specific, agency or donor advised fund.
1. Pick Your Giving Options:
You can participate in this Challenge by giving in one or both of these ways before June 30, 2028:
Make a Bequest Commitment of $25,000 or more
Outline a Multi-Year Pledge of $100,000 or more today using cash, appreciated stock, or IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
2. Document Your Plan:
Name the Foundation in your estate plans for $25,000 or more for an eventual contribution to a permanent Field of Interest Fund or make a current pledge for $100,000 or more.
3. Submit Your Form(s):
Complete our single-page, confidential Bequest Intention Form providing a conservative, good-faith estimate of your future gift's value in today's dollars. Or document your immediate outright contribution with a Multi-Year Donation Pledge Form.
4. Activate the Match:
The Foundation calculates 5% of your estimate and immediately sends a check for that amount (up to $20,000 per household) to the qualified Juneau or Southeast Alaska nonprofits of your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions about the Juneau Legacy Challenge that aren't answered here, please reach out to us directly at:
(907) 523-5450 or info@juneaucf.org . We're always happy to help!
What is the Juneau Legacy Challenge?
The Juneau Legacy Challenge is a Southeast Alaska-wide campaign designed to secure funds to meet future needs. We incentivize individuals to complete their estate plans and share their estimated future gift value with the Juneau Community Foundation. In return, the Foundation distributes an immediate grant to your favorite Southeast nonprofit(s) today, at no cost to you.
What is this campaign's goal?
Our goal is to build $20 million in permanent endowment funds to support Southeast Alaska's communities forever. To jumpstart this effort, a special matching pool will distribute $1 million to local nonprofits before June 30, 2028.
What is an endowment, and what does it do?
Endowments are permanent "forever" funds. Donations are invested professionally and kept intact. The earnings from those investments fund annual grants that support the changing needs and opportunities of Juneau and Southeast Alaska today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Can I establish an endowed Field of Interest Fund?
Yes. You can establish and name a new endowed Field of Interest Fund with a commitment or pledge for $200,000 or more to support areas of the community that matter to you.
To qualify for the 5% matching program, the selection of future nonprofit grant recipients must be made by committee. Grants can be directed to any qualified nonprofit serving your chosen geographic or focus area.
Which options qualify for the immediate 5% matching grant?
The 5% matching grant only applies to gifts designated for permanent Field of Interest Endowments.
Which options are not eligible for the 5% matching grant?
Non-matching grant options include:
- Donor Advised Funds- you make annual grant recommendations yourself
- Agency Funds- nonprofit endowed or stewardship funds
How does the 5% grant work?
- Notify the Foundation that you have included a qualifying comittment or pledge by submitting either a confidential Bequest Intention Form or a Multi-Year Donation Pledge Form.
- Provide a good-faith estimate of your future gift’s value in today’s dollars on the
- The Foundation calculates 5% of your qualifying pledge amount and sends a check for that amount to your recommended Juneau or Southeast Alaska nonprofit(s), up to a maximum of $20,000 per household (subject to matching pool availability).
Does the 5% grant reduce the eventual size of my gift?
No. Your gift remains 100% intact. The immediate 5% grant is paid today using a dedicated matching pool established by the Foundation. This matching pool is currently funded at $750,000, and our goal is for this matching pool to reach $1 million to meet campaign demands.
What happens if the matching pool funds run out?
The 5% immediate grant program is available on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the availability of challenge match funds. We encourage donors to submit their forms early to secure their match.
What if my estate plan uses a percentage rather than a fixed dollar amount?
Most legacy gifts are designated as percentages (e.g., "10% of my remaining estate"). Because asset values fluctuate over time, we ask you to provide a conservative, good-faith estimate of what that percentage is worth in today’s dollars.
What kind of assets can I donate?
For future legacy gifts, you can name the Foundation in your will or trust. You can also name the Foundation as a designated beneficiary on retirement accounts (IRA, 401(k), 403(b)), Donor Advised Funds held at a financial institution, bank account (Payable on Death/Transfer on Death), taxable brokerage accounts, life insurance policies, real estate (via a Transfer on Death Deed). If you prefer to donate now during your lifetime, we accept cash, checks, stocks, bonds, real estate, and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs.
Is my legacy commitment tax-deductible?
A legacy commitment made through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation does not provide an immediate income tax deduction during your lifetime, as the gift will be transferred later. However, it might reduce or eliminate future estate taxes for your heirs. Lifetime gifts made to the Foundation now may be eligible for immediate charitable income tax deductions under current IRS rules. Please consult a financial or tax advisor regarding the tax efficiencies of your specific gift.
Do I have to show you my private will or legal documents?
No. We deeply respect your privacy and the Foundation operates entirely on trust. We do not require copies of your will, trust documents, or financial statements. Your signature on our single-page, confidential Bequest Intention Form or Multi-Year Donation Pledge Form are all that are required to activate the grant. Besides you, only our Executive and Operations Directors will see these forms.
Why must my future gift go into a permanent Endowed Fund to recommend the 5% to nonprofit now?
Permanent endowments, such as Field of Interest Funds, are the bedrock of Juneau's financial future. Because the principal of an endowed fund is never spent, your gift creates a predictable, permanent stream of support. This ensures Juneau will always have resources to address changing future challenges long after we are gone.
Who decides the grants made by our Field of Interest Funds?
Grants are evaluated and recommended by volunteer committees composed of board members and community champions who possess specific interest and expertise in the fields each fund supports.
Can I split my 5% immediate grant among multiple local charities?
Yes. You can direct the entire 5% match total to a single local organization or divide it among a few qualified Southeast Alaska nonprofits.
Is the Bequest Intention legally binding if my family's financial situation changes?
No. We understand that family needs evolve; health, and financial situations may change. The Bequest Intention Form is a non-binding statement of your current philanthropic intent. It creates no legal or financial liabilities for you, your estate, or your heirs. The Multi-Year Donation Pledge, on the other hand, is binding.
If my estate plan is non-binding, what happens to the 5% match if I alter my will later?
Once the Foundation contributes the 5% to your designated nonprofit, that distribution is final and will not be recalled if your circumstances change. The Juneau Legacy Challenge operates entirely on a system of mutual trust and good-faith intent. We ask that donors participate with a sincere intention to maintain their legacy gift to the Foundation.
What if I want to make a legacy gift right now instead of waiting for my will?
We welcome lifetime giving. If you prefer to see the impacts of your philanthropy during your lifetime, the same 5% matching incentives applies to all two-year pledges of $200,000 or more made directly to a permanent Field of Interest Fund using cash, appreciated stock, or Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) from your IRA.
If my lifetime gift is less than $200,000, do you still want to know my intention?
Absolutely. It is helpful for the Foundation to know what your intentions are. We are grateful for your gift.
What are the fees charged by Field of Interest endowments?
The Juneau Community Foundation charges an annual administrative fee on assets held in Field of Interest funds. We use a tiered schedule based on the total amount in the Fund.
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- Up to 1,000,000: 00%
- $1,000,001 to $2,000,000: 85%
- $2,000,001 to $4,000,000: 75%
- $4,000,001 and above: 65%
