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At Berks County Community Foundation, we are honored to work with you and so many other families, individuals, and businesses to help organize your charitable giving and support favorite charities that make a difference in our community.  

As the year winds down, here are 10 giving tips to keep in mind: 

1. Remember that 2025 is a pivotal year for charitable planning. With more stringent charitable deduction limitations taking effect in 2026 under new tax laws, this year may offer a favorable tax environment for your giving depending on your personal situation. Talk with your tax advisors as soon as possible. 
2. Work with your tax advisors to evaluate the benefits of “bunching” multiple years of charitable gifts into 2025. By front-loading contributions, you may be able to exceed the standard deduction this year and maximize your tax benefits. 
3. Use a donor-advised fund to simplify year-end giving. You can make one tax-deductible contribution now, receive the deduction in 2025, and recommend grants to nonprofits over time, throughout 2026 and beyond. 
4. Give appreciated stock instead of cash. Donating long-term appreciated securities may eliminate capital gains tax and in turn increase your charitable impact. Talk with our team and your tax advisors as soon as possible so these gifts can be processed well before the end of the year. 
5. Explore giving from your IRA if you’re 70½ or older. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) can reduce taxable income and, if applicable, satisfy required minimum distributions—to the tune of $108,000 per taxpayer in 2025. IRS rules allow you to make QCDs to a wide variety of funds at the Community Foundation (but not to your donor-advised fund). 
6. Check to see whether you’ve met your charitable goals for 2025. Don’t wait until late December to review your plan. Our team can help you think through options for this year and begin to coordinate more complex gifts for next year. 
7. Support the community overall by making gifts to existing funds at Berks County Community Foundation. 2025 has been a tough year for many people in our community, and our team can help you support families in crisis both now and in the future.  
8. Review your beneficiary designations. Naming your fund as a beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement account can create meaningful future gifts while reducing the tax burden on heirs. 
9. Avoid last-minute surprises. Gifts of complex assets—such as real estate or closely-held stock—require additional steps and a lot of lead time, so contact us early if you’re considering these options. Even if it is too late to complete these gifts in 2025, start working with our team on options for 2026 gifts. 
10. Above all, lean on the team at the Community Foundation! We are here to help you explore the most tax-efficient ways to meet your charitable goals, whether you’re planning year-end gifts, updating a legacy plan, or thinking ahead to the changes coming in 2026. 

Thank you for the opportunity to work with you. We look forward to supporting your charitable goals this year and for many years to come.  

This solicitation is valid only for residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

You are likely aware that many families, organizations, and agencies in our community are struggling, and you may be wondering how you can help most effectively. Whether increased community needs are triggered by a budget impasse, government shutdown, or other economic factors, the Community Foundation is committed to helping you structure charitable giving plans that make a real difference in the lives of people in Berks County. 

Here are a few examples of how our team can help: 

Real-time identification of needs.  

The program team at the Community Foundation has its finger on the pulse of which organizations are helping families in crisis, and which organizations are hurting the most due to state and federal funding gaps. Nonprofits in our community can be stretched thin by attempting to meet the rising demand for support. The foundation knows where dollars are most needed and how those dollars translate into immediate impact. 

Offering fast and flexible charitable solutions.  

If you have already established a fund at the Community Foundation, or if you are considering doing so, you can use it to support charities on the front lines in our community.  

Leverage important timing.  

The urgency of community needs in late 2025 coincides with an important window of opportunity for people who itemize their income tax deductions. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), limits on charitable deductions will tighten in early 2026. That means it may be advantageous for certain donors to give more this year-by establishing or adding to a fund—to maximize both tax benefits and impact. 

Plan for the future.  

The Community Foundation works with you and other donors and fund holders to strengthen our community’s ability to respond to urgent needs, regardless of when and why they occur. 

We encourage you to reach out anytime.

At this moment, when urgent needs and tax opportunities are occurring simultaneously, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible. It is our honor to work with our community members who care so deeply about Berks County. 

It is our honor to work with so many families and businesses to structure and implement your charitable giving plans.

What’s perhaps most rewarding to the team at the Community Foundation is the overwhelming sentiment among our donors that, despite changes in the tax laws over the years, you are committed to making a difference by supporting the causes you love. Although tax benefits of charitable giving ebb and flow, showing your support for our community and the charities you love through estate planning remains steadfast.  

August is National Make-A-Will Month, which means it’s the perfect time to review your estate plans with your attorney and our team at the foundation to ensure your philanthropic intentions are up to date. Even a quick check-in now can maximize the impact of your legacy and help ensure that your wishes are clearly carried out to support the causes you care about for generations to come. 

If you are a business owner, the concept of succession/estate planning is nothing new. But succession planning isn’t just for business owners–it’s also important for leaving a charitable legacy. The team at the Community Foundation can help capture your intentions, and we make it easy to involve your family members so that the causes you care about are supported for generations to come.  

We look forward to talking with you soon about how you can deepen your involvement with your favorite charities. Our team is here to help. 

Ed Lombardo has a connection to Berks County Community Foundation that goes back many years. A lifelong Berks resident, high school football coach, community volunteer and investment advisor, Ed recognizes the importance of philanthropy.  

Earlier this year, Ed reflected on his history of giving, which includes the Lombardo Family Scholarship Fund and the Lombardo Family Memorial Fund. To learn more about Ed’s connections to Muhlenburg, read his feature in this year’s edition of our annual magazine, 237 Court. Click here to view the magazine; Ed’s story begins on page 3. 

To learn more about establishing a fund at Berks County Community Foundation, click here or email mollyr@bccf.org.  

Tax Law Changes – Time to study up?

Spark Notes is a monthly blog post, providing relevant information to current and future donors and fundholders.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, after the House of Representatives approved the Senate’s changes to H.R. 1, which passed the House by a narrow margin in May.

The OBBBA, with nearly 900 pages of provisions, reshapes policy across major sectors of the U.S. economy. Included in the OBBBA are several provisions that impact philanthropy. Three major insights are of particular importance to the Community Foundation. We help donors, fund holders, nonprofits, attorneys, CPAs and financial advisors navigate charitable planning opportunities.

(Notably, the OBBBA omits several provisions that appeared in previous versions of the legislation. These provisions include a proposed increase to the net investment income tax on private foundations.)

Insight #1: Standard deduction goes higher

What’s in the OBBBA?

The new law makes permanent the standard deduction increases under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), increasing the standard deduction for 2025 to $15,750 for single filers and $31,500 to taxpayers who are married and filing jointly. The new law also expands the “bonus” deduction for taxpayers 65 and older through 2028.

Under the new law, individuals who itemize may take charitable deductions only to the extent the charitable deductions exceed 0.5% of adjusted gross income. Furthermore, taxpayers in the top bracket can only claim a 35% tax deduction for charitable gifts instead of the full 37& that would otherwise apply to their income tax rate. Note also that the final bill extended the 60% of adjusted gross income contribution limitation for cash gifts made to certain qualifying charities.

What does this mean for charitable giving?

With even fewer taxpayers eligible to itemize and deductions capped for high-income earners, it’s likely we’ll see the continuing, chilling effect on charitable giving that occurred through TCJA.

What can you do?

If you regularly support charities, continue to do so whether or not you’re benefiting from a tax deduction. Our community needs you, now more than ever. If you’re a nonprofit, attorney, CPA or financial advisor, remember–people do not give to charity solely for tax deductions. Keep in mind that many other factors motivate charitable giving, and philanthropy is an important priority for many families. (This article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review has stood the test of time.)

Insight #2: Deduction for non-itemizers

What’s in the OBBBA?

The new law includes a provision, effective after 2025, allowing non-itemizers to take a charitable deduction of $1,000 for single filers. Charitable deductions for taxpayers who are married and filing jointly are $2,000. As has been the case in the past, gifts to donor-advised funds are not eligible. Unlike a previous (but smaller) similar provision, though, this law is not set to sunset.

What does this mean for charitable giving?

After the TCJA went into effect, households that itemize deductions dropped to under 10%. Parallel to this trend, the number of U.S. adults who give to charity in any given year has dropped over the last 20 years from nearly two-thirds to less than half. Against this backdrop, the OBBBA’s deduction for non-itemizers has the potential to re-motivate charitable giving among a significant number of households.

What can you do?

Now is the time to review your charitable giving plans and support the causes you love. This is especially important if you are early in your career and not yet itemizing deductions. If you’ve already established a fund or already working with the Community Foundation, please reach out. We can help you make the most of the new tax laws, and even get your children and grandchildren involved. If you’re a nonprofit, now is the time to attract and engage brand new donors. If you’re an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor, talk about charitable giving with your clients who don’t itemize. A $1000 or $2000 deduction could be just the motivation they need to begin a journey of philanthropy.

Insight #3: No sunsetting estate tax exemption

What’s in the OBBBA?

For affluent taxpayers and the attorneys, CPAs, and wealth managers advising them, the last couple of years have been turbulent. The looming possibility that TCJA’s increase to the estate tax exemption would sunset by 2026 created a lot of stress. Finally, there is clarity: Under the OBBBA, the sunset will not happen. The new law makes permanent the increase in the unified credit and generation-skipping transfer tax exemption threshold. The 2025 exemption is $13.99 million for single filers and $27.98 million married filing jointly. In 2026, these numbers increase to $15 million and $30 million respectively.

What does this mean for charitable giving?

Purely estate tax-based incentives to give to charity continue to apply only to the ultra-wealthy. This behavior likely resulted in a continuation of the taxpayer behavior triggered by the TCJA. In other words, most people will give to charity for reasons other than a tax deduction.

What can you do?

There is no guarantee that the estate tax exemption will stay high forever. As families work with their financial advisors, the next two years are an important window to plan ahead. The upshot of the new law is that high net-worth taxpayers now have more time to thoughtfully consider estate planning strategies, including charitable giving. For nonprofit organizations, this means continuing to focus on long-term planned giving strategies is wise.  

The team at the Community Foundation is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.

Maggie Lewis does not currently live in Berks County, but her connections to home run deep. Maggie grew up here and now returns regularly to participate as a member of the Power of the Purse (POP) women’s giving circle.  As a working mother living outside Philadelphia who is busy with her husband and twin toddlers, Maggie makes time to come to Berks County regularly for POP meetings and events, because she believes the mission of POP and the grantmaking facilitated by the Community Foundation is a meaningful way to give back to the community in which she was raised. While she lives in Aston, PA with her family, her connections to her home stay strong.

The Power of the Purse (POP) Fund of Berks County Community Foundation was established in 2012 and currently boasts over 60 members. POP members meet four times per year and attend optional site visits to determine recipients of grant funding through an application and review process. The Community Foundations manages the application and review process.

To read more about Maggie, click here to view the 2025 edition of 237 Court, the official magazine of Berks County Community Foundation. Her donor highlight story is on page 14. 

To learn more about the Power of the Purse Fund of Berks County Community Foundation, please click here. 

Power of the Purse in Berks County Fund Awards over $70,000 in Grants 

Reading, PA – May 15, 2025 – The Power of the Purse in Berks County Fund of Berks County Community Foundation recently awarded $70,899 in grants to seven organizations. The Power of the Purse Fund supports programs that help break the cycle of poverty by eliminating or addressing barriers for Berks County girls and/or women who want to enter or re-enter the workforce or seek the education to do so.  

The following grants were awarded: 

• $15,000 to Safe Berks to help eliminate barriers that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault face in obtaining and/or maintaining employment by providing direct support and financial assistance for education and employment needs. 
• $15,000 to Helping Harvest to focus support on low-income women during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum to provide a box of healthy, vitamin-rich foods. 
• $15,000 to Reading Science Center to provide access to a wide spectrum of hands-on science investigations, professional female role models and field trips that inspire young women with the confidence and skills to prepare for careers in the sciences. 
• $8,000 to Literacy Council of Reading-Berks to help female residents of the community participate in the Gateway to Citizenship Program.
• $8,000 to Hannah’s Hope Ministries to provide career guidance, skills training, and mentorship and to introduce women to industries and roles that align with their interests and abilities.
• $6,399 to Co-County Wellness to help educate teens to make healthy and informed choices to postpone pregnancy and plan their futures.
• $3,500 to John Paul II Center for Special Learning to provide female students ages 10-45 with any disability category a safe space to talk about their bodies, rights, safety, and self-advocacy with staff and community experts. 

“From an outsider’s perspective, you think that there are these big mountains that you have to go over, but sometimes it’s a small amount of money or just a small gesture that can make the difference for someone being successful and getting out of poverty or getting a job,” said Chiara Renninger, founder of Power of the Purse. “I learned that small things can really make a huge difference to people.” 

“Being able to engage the collective giving of the Power of the Purse (POP) is really empowering for the women in our community,” said Cindy Milian, health and human services program officer. “POP funding for these organizations supports the belief that woman play a pivotal role in driving change and shaping the future of Berks County.” 

Power of the Purse Fund was created in 2012 as a women’s giving circle. For more information, visit https://bccf.org/funds/power-of-the-purse-in-berks-county-fund/ or email Molly McCullough Robbins, Vice President for Philanthropic Services, at mollyr@bccf.org. 

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Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing, and distributing charitable funds to improve the quality of life in Berks County, PA. More information is available at www.bccf.org. 

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READING, PA (April 9, 2025) – Berks County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the conclusion of its 1st quarter grant cycle for calendar year 2025, which has successfully distributed vital funding to local nonprofits and initiatives dedicated to improving our community.   

 In this quarter, the Foundation awarded grants to a diverse range of projects focusing in areas of environment and energy, education, health and human services, arts and culture, and neighborhoods and economic development; supporting the impactful work of local organizations that improve the lives of Berks County residents.    

These numbers are a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to its mission to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County.   

• Q1 total grants awarded: 190   

• Q1 total dollar amount awarded: $1,152,270 

• Q1 number of organizations impacted: 142 

  

“Grants awarded are made possible by generous donors who give back to the community they love,” stated Molly McCullough Robbins, Vice President for Philanthropic Services.   

  

Moving forward, community members are invited to join the Community Foundation in sparking change. Here are two ways to get involved:   

  

1. Give to an Existing Fund: Your contributions can help sustain the important work of established funds addressing specific needs within Berks County.   

2. Create Your Own Fund: Whether you want to honor a loved one or support a particular cause or organization, the Foundation can help you to create a fund that reflects your passions and philanthropic goals.   

  

For more information on how to give or create a fund, please visit www.bccf.org, email Molly McCullough Robbins at mollyr@bccf.org, or call (610) 685-2223.   

  

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Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing, and distributing charitable funds to improve the quality of life in Berks County, PA. More information is available at www.bccf.org. 

On March 29, 2025, approximately 145 guests gathered at the Berkshire Country Club to honor Ramona Turner Turpin with the 2025 Thun Award. The Thun Award was created in 1988 to honor Louis R. Thun and Ferdinand K. Thun, local industrialists and philanthropists, in recognition of their long-standing record of civic and community service. The award is presented to Berks County residents whose commitment of time, leadership, and philanthropy exhibits the enduring sense of community reflected by the high ideals of the Thun family.  

Fulton Bank and Berks County Community Foundation proudly presented the 2025 Thun Award to Ramona Turner Turpin for her extraordinary community contributions, engagement, and philanthropy in Berks County. Ramona is an Instructor at the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks. Early in her career, Ramona was employed by Berks County Intermediate Unit – first as a teacher, then as an early childhood education coordinator. She served as the Dean of Leadership and Director of Funds Development for the I-LEAD Charter School in Reading. Ramona’s banking career began as the Community Reinvestment Act Director for Bank of Pennsylvania before she was named Community Relations manager for Sovereign Bank in 1999, a position she held for almost ten years. In addition, she held the role of Small Business Specialist for three years.  

Ramona has served on numerous boards, including Berks County Community Foundation, Reading Musical Foundation, Olivet Boys and Girls Club, BCTV and United Way of Berks County. She has volunteered her time with Berks Intercultural Alliance. Ramona is a long-time member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church where she has shared her time and talents as a teacher, choir member, and Christian education director; she presently sits on the steward board. Ramona has received numerous awards, including the Athena Award, the Outstanding Woman award from Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, the Amiga Award from the Latina Gathering, and the NAACP Image Award. 

Previous Recipients of the Thun Award:  

Thun Award recipients are community advocates who are leaders in commerce and industry. This year’s award recipient embodies the passion for and investment in this community, qualities that are found in all the recipients of the Thun Award. 

Berks County Community Foundation established the Thun Award Fund from which honorees recommend grants to organizations of their choice. Ramona selected The Sisterhood of Reading to receive this year’s grant. The Sisterhood of Reading strives to foster a kindred and caring spirit among African American women. Their goal is to mentor young women for the betterment of our community. 

Click here to view event photos from the Celebration of Giving and Thun Award presentation. To view the video which highlights Ramona’s contributions to the community, visit our YouTube page here. For more information about the Thun Award, please email me at mollyr@bccf.org.

Individuals hold the power to spark real change in their communities.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, Berks County Community Foundation now manages nearly 400 funds totaling over $140 million. Since we were founded in 1994, donors have worked with us to establish these funds to support the causes and organizations that are most important to them. Are you interested in giving back to your community? Sparking change in Berks County starts with defining your charitable goals to create a fund. We can help you achieve those goals, no matter the cause or motivation. Let us help make a difference to what matters most to you. 

One way to spark change is to determine how you want to support the community. What causes interest you most? We have created a short questionnaire to set your journey of generosity in motion. The questionnaire starts by asking, “What do you hope to achieve with your fund?” 

Different funds fulfill different charitable goals. When you create a fund with Berks County Community Foundation, do you want grants from your fund to support: 

• A variety of community needs as determined by the Community Foundation 

• A specific organization (or multiple organizations)  

• A cause I care about, not a specific organization 

• Different nonprofits that I select each year 

• Individuals seeking an education 

• Individuals who excel at something 

Once you’ve narrowed down your goals, it’s time to talk to us. We will work with you to draft a fund agreement which details your wishes and eligibility parameters for future grant recipients from your fund.

In this three-part series, we will explore endowment funds, sparking change, and grantmaking. At Berks County Community Foundation, we do all three. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, philanthropist, or community advocate, this series will provide insight into how strategic funding can shape a better future. 

If you have questions, please email me at mollyr@bccf.org or call 610-685-2223. I look forward to hearing more about you and how you would like to spark change in our community.