Wealth transfer and community foundations could be a solution

    America is in the midst of the greatest transfer of wealth in history, as more than $40 trillion will pass to the next generation between 2016 and 2055. Much of this wealth was generated in rural America, including eastern Colorado, and will be transferred to younger generations who have moved to urban settings to pursue education and careers.
    The continuing out-migration of residents and wealth is one of the greatest threats to the economic viability of eastern Colorado. The Eastern Colorado Community Fund was created to address this challenge, providing a mechanism for donors to think strategically about the future of our region.
    The ECCF functions under the umbrella of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, which provides an established infrastructure, proven expertise and economies of scale.
    A community foundation is an independent philanthropic organization working in a specific geographic area to manage a collection of endowed funds from many donors in the community. Community foundations inspire and facilitate local philanthropy, encouraging people to give back, dream big and work together to make a difference.
    It’s a proven model that dates back to the early 1900s; today, there are more than 700 community foundations nationwide that collectively manage more than $40 billion in charitable assets.

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