You’re likely aware that many families in our community are struggling, and you may be wondering how you can help most effectively. Whether increased community needs are triggered by a government shutdown that disrupts paychecks, services, and community programs, a natural disaster, or economic factors, the Wayne County Foundation is committed to helping you structure charitable giving plans that make a real difference in the lives of people in our region.
Here are a few examples of how our team can help:
Real-time identification of needs. Our team has its finger on the pulse of which organizations are helping families in crisis. As federal employees and contractors grapple with missing income, and federal benefits become uncertain for families in need, charities in our community can be stretched thin attempting to meet the rising demand for food, rent, and utility assistance. Amid these challenges, it’s been inspiring to see local restaurants and businesses come together to offer free meals and resources to those impacted. To help residents find support, two local organizations have created resource pages: the Richmond/Wayne County, IN Convention & Tourism Bureau has a page dedicated to local resident resources, and the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce has a page for Wayne County food resources.
Offering fast and flexible charitable solutions. If you have already established a donor-advised fund at the Wayne County Foundation, or if you are considering doing so, you can use it to provide support to charities on the front lines of emergency assistance in our community. The Foundation makes it fast and easy for grants to flow out of donor-advised funds to qualified and vetted organizations that are doing the work on the ground.
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 beginning in 2026. That means it may be advantageous to certain donors to “front-load” or “bunch” contributions, such as by giving more this year through establishing or adding to a donor-advised fund, to maximize both tax benefits and impact.
Plan for the future. Unfortunately, community crises are not unusual. The Wayne County 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.