Ways to Give through the Branford Community Foundation

A gift to the Branford Community Foundation is an investment in our town. Our endowed funds produce revenue to support local programs and agencies that provide assistance to Branford residents. Your tax-deductible donation of any size makes a positive impact on our community.


Create a Charitable Fund
Donors can create a personal legacy in Branford by establishing a named fund—for themselves, their family, or a loved one. A named fund can be one of four kinds:

  • Unrestricted – helps meet ever-changing community needs, including future needs that often cannot be anticipated at the time a gift is made. This fund is used to make a difference when it is needed most.
  • Field of Interest – the donor identifies a need of an important area of community life, such as youth, education, individuals with disabilities, or the environment (to name a few). BCF then awards grants to community agencies and programs that are making a difference in that field.
  • Designated Fund – earmarked for a specific nonprofit organization or purpose, such as a local welfare fund or the local library, or established to create a scholarship fund.
  • Donor Advised Fund – a special type of fund for donors who want ongoing involvement in the use of their gift.

The minimum amount required to establish a fund is $10,000. To help reach your philanthropic goals, we offer a “Build a Fund” option, which allows interested donors 5 years to reach the $10,000 minimum. In addition, we have a limited number of incentive opportunities available.

Give a donation to an existing Charitable Fund
If you are not ready to create a charitable fund but want to contribute to our efforts to enrich the quality of life in Branford, provide a direct donation of any amount at any time to one of our existing charitable funds.

How to Give

The Branford Community Foundation has several options for contributions, depending on your personal situation, including:

  • Outright gifts of cash, stock, or other assets (all of which qualify for maximum tax advantage).  Click here for information on how to donate gifts of stocks and securities.
  • Bequests, through estate planning.
  • Planning a future gift, such as naming the Branford Community Foundation as a beneficiary of an IRA or insurance policy.

To learn more, contact Liza Janssen Petra, Executive Director, lpetra@branfordcommunityfoundation.com or (203) 444-4898.


Download a Donation Form (PDF)


Photo by Bill O’Brien