Triple Your Impact with a Permanent Legacy for Barrow County
Some opportunities don’t simply multiply a gift—they multiply its impact for generations.
At Barrow Community Foundation, we believe charitable giving should do more than meet today’s needs. It can strengthen our community for decades to come, creating resources that continue supporting the people and causes we care about long after we’re gone.
Today, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of an anonymous donor, there has never been a better time to create that kind of lasting impact.
Introducing the Inspire Generosity Catalyst Fund
Barrow Community Foundation is excited to announce the Inspire Generosity Catalyst Fund—a $1 million matching initiative designed to help individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations establish or grow permanently endowed charitable funds.
Through December 31, 2026, qualifying gifts will receive a 2:1 match, while matching funds remain available.
That means:
- A $10,000 gift becomes a $30,000 permanent endowment.
- A $25,000 gift becomes a $75,000 permanent endowment.
Interest has already been strong, and approximately one-third of the available matching funds have been committed. Once the remaining funds are allocated, this opportunity will come to an end.
What Is Fundholding?
If you’ve ever wondered how community foundations work—or what it means to have a charitable fund—you’re not alone.
We’ve created a new short whiteboard video that explains fundholding in a simple, fun way. In just a few minutes, you’ll learn:
- What fundholding is
- The difference between endowed and non-endowed funds
- The five types of charitable funds offered through Barrow Community Foundation
- How individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations can create a lasting charitable legacy
▶ Watch the video below to learn how fundholding works.
One of the biggest misconceptions about charitable funds is that they’re only for large foundations or extraordinarily wealthy families.
They’re not. Fundholding is for anyone who wants their giving to be more intentional, organized, and meaningful.
Whether your passion is helping students succeed, supporting a favorite nonprofit, strengthening your church, improving parks, caring for animals, or responding to future community needs, there’s a way to create a lasting charitable resource that reflects your values.
Why Endowment Matters
The Inspire Generosity Catalyst Fund applies only to permanently endowed gifts.
An endowment is designed to last forever. Rather than spending the original gift, the principal is invested permanently while annual earnings are distributed to support charitable purposes.
In other words, your generosity continues working year after year.
A newly established $30,000 endowment could provide approximately $1,200 in grants every year forever.
A $75,000 endowment could distribute approximately $3,000 annually in perpetuity.
Over time, additional contributions and investment growth can increase that impact even further.
What Can Be Endowed?
The matching program can be used to establish new or strengthen existing permanently endowed charitable funds, including:
- Donor Advised Funds keeping the donor involved in grantmaking
- Scholarship Funds supporting the education of local students
- Agency Endowment Funds for nonprofit organizations
- Designated Funds supporting a specific charity
- Field of Interest Funds supporting broad causes such as education, healthcare, housing, the arts, or environmental stewardship
Each option provides a different way to support the causes that matter most to you while creating a permanent charitable legacy.
A Special Opportunity to Join the Founders Circle
The Inspire Generosity Catalyst Fund also makes membership in the Founders Circle more accessible than ever before.
The Founders Circle is Barrow Community Foundation’s permanent operating endowment. It exists to ensure the Foundation will always have the resources to steward charitable gifts, administer scholarships and grants, convene community leaders, and serve Barrow County for generations to come.
Ordinarily, Founders Circle recognition begins with a gift of $25,000.
Because qualifying gifts are currently matched 2:1, a gift of just $10,000 becomes a $30,000 endowed contribution, making donors immediately eligible for permanent Founders Circle recognition.
It’s a unique opportunity to become part of the legacy that sustains the Foundation itself while tripling the impact of your investment.
Immediate Impact. Lasting Legacies.
Whether your goal is to help students earn a college education, strengthen a nonprofit you love, create a family tradition of giving, or ensure Barrow Community Foundation remains a permanent resource for our community, this matching opportunity can help you accomplish more than ever before.
We invite you to begin the conversation while matching funds remain available.
To learn more about fundholding, visit:
- Fundholding with BCF: https://barrowcf.org/fundholding-with-bcf/
- Giving Through Barrow Community Foundation: https://barrowcf.org/giving-through-us/
Or contact us directly at (770) 410-8655. We’d be honored to help you explore the charitable giving options that best reflect your values and your vision.
Together, we can create immediate impact and lasting legacies for Barrow County.
