Getting teens involved, charitable giving plans, MCF Trustee transitions, and ACH donations
Hello from the MCF!
We’re halfway through 2026 already! For many people, summer offers a welcome opportunity to slow down, spend time with family, and reflect on what matters most. The MCF is happy to share ideas to help you strengthen your charitable giving to make an even bigger difference—and make it more enjoyable for you.
Charitable giving: Ten ways teens can get involved
Many parents and grandparents want to pass along values of generosity and community involvement, but they are not always sure how to begin. The Morton Community Foundation offers ten ideas for helping teenagers explore causes they care about, learn from local nonprofits, and begin developing lifelong habits of charitable giving. READ MORE
Checking in on your charitable plan
Life changes, families grow, and community needs evolve, which means your charitable plan may deserve an occasional review. Check out key questions to consider as you revisit your giving goals, beneficiary designations, family involvement, and opportunities to make your philanthropy easier and more meaningful. READ MORE
MCF housekeeping items –Trustee transitions and ACH donations
In addition to thanking 3 Trustees rolling off the Board and announcing officers for 2026/2027, we welcome 3 new Trustees to the Board of the Morton Community Foundation, one brand new, and two returning veterans. READ MORE
Good news for donors who want more of their gift to go further: our online donation platform now accepts ACH (bank transfer) donations. ACH gifts carry lower processing fees than credit cards, meaning more of every dollar reaches the causes you care about. READ MORE
As always, thank you for allowing the MCF to be part of your charitable plans! We love working with you and we encourage you to reach out anytime.
Scott Witzig, Executive Director
Darcy Roecker, Administrative Manager
Contact us at: email: info@mortoncommunityfoundation.org • phone: 309-291-0434
Charitable giving: Ten ways teens can get involved
At the Morton Community Foundation, we are honored to work with many families across multiple generations. Quite frequently, parents and grandparents share with us their hopes of passing along to the next generation more than just financial assets. They want to pass along values, encourage generosity, and foster a lifelong commitment to community.
In many of these conversations, parents and grandparents ask how they can get teens involved. "The teenage years can be tricky," they tell us. "But we also know this is an important time to begin conversations about philanthropy." And that’s certainly true! Teens are old enough to understand community challenges, form opinions about issues they care about, and make thoughtful decisions about how they want to help.
For parents, it’s likely worth exploring the research behind the benefits of getting teens involved in the community. In particular, a landmark study published eight years ago (and still relevant) in the Journal of Adolescence found that altruistic behaviors—such as learning about and assisting strangers—not only appeal to adolescents, but actively raise their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.
No matter how compelling the strategy may be, however, getting teens involved is often easier said than done. The team at the MCF is happy to help. Here are ten suggestions for simple ways to start the process.
1. Ask what they care about
Many adults begin by talking about charities they support. Instead, start by asking your teen what issues matter to them. They may be passionate about animals, the environment, education, healthcare, mental health, or helping neighbors in need. Listening first can create a stronger foundation for future conversations and ultimately deeper community engagement.
2. Volunteer together
Giving involves more than writing checks. Spending even just an hour volunteering as a family can help teens see firsthand how nonprofit organizations serve the community and why charitable support matters.
3. Let them help make giving decisions
If your family uses a donor-advised fund at the Morton Community Foundation, consider inviting teens to recommend a portion of the annual grants to nonprofit organizations they believe in. Even small decisions can help them gain confidence and feel invested in the family's philanthropy. Some families even choose to establish a donor-advised fund for a child or grandchild when they reach adulthood, using cash or appreciated assets to help launch a lifetime of charitable giving.
4. Visit local nonprofits
Many nonprofit organizations welcome visitors and offer tours or informational meetings. Seeing an organization's work in action often leaves a lasting impression and helps young people understand the impact of charitable giving. Again, this does not need to take a lot of time. Even a 20-minute visit can be eye-opening. The MCF team is happy to offer suggestions and make connections.
5. Encourage teens to research charities
Ask your teen to identify a cause they care about and jump online to learn more about organizations addressing that issue. This can help develop critical thinking skills and introduce concepts such as nonprofit missions, effectiveness, and community impact. Feel free to ask the Morton Community Foundation team to suggest websites, books, and other educational resources if your teen wants to learn more.
6. Talk about family values
Charitable giving often reflects deeply held beliefs and priorities. Sharing stories about why your family supports certain causes can help teens understand that philanthropy is about more than money—it's about making a difference. For example, if your family has supported a particular nonprofit for many years because of a personal connection, take the time to explain to your teen the history and original connection.
7. Help them give their own money
Whether it is a portion of an allowance, earnings from a summer job, or birthday money, encouraging teens to make their own charitable gifts can be a powerful learning experience. It always feels more “real” to spend your own money, and charitable giving is no exception.
8. Introduce teens to community leaders
This suggestion surprises many parents and grandparents who wish they would have thought of it sooner! Think of all the people you know who are making a difference every day in the community, whether working at a nonprofit, serving in a civic leadership position, or leading philanthropy efforts for a business. These conversations can inspire teens by showing them how individuals—real people—can create meaningful change.
9. Invite teens to Morton Community Foundation events
Many events hosted by the MCF may be well-suited for your teen to attend, especially when our team is presenting information about community needs or celebrating a community milestone. The next time you plan to attend a MCF event, consider asking our team whether it might be appropriate to bring a teenage child or grandchild. We are also happy to suggest upcoming events that may be especially engaging for young people.
10. Focus on progress, not perfection
To state the obvious, there is no single right way to raise charitable children and grandchildren! The goal is not to create experts overnight. Instead, focus on creating opportunities for curiosity, learning, and participation. Small—even very small—experiences can help teens build lifelong habits of generosity and civic engagement.
One of the greatest gifts you can give the next generation is an understanding that they have the power to make a difference. The MCF would be delighted to help!
Contact us at: email: info@mortoncommunityfoundation.org • phone: 309-291-0434
Checking in on your charitable plan
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." — John Lennon
You’ve certainly heard that well-known quote. But have you thought about it in the context of your charitable giving? It’s common to create a charitable giving plan during a particular season of life. Perhaps you established a donor-advised fund after selling a business, included charitable gifts in your estate plan when your children were young, or began supporting favorite causes after retirement.
Over time, however, your life changes—and so does the community around you. Families grow, financial circumstances shift, priorities evolve, and our community faces new challenges. Organizations you care about may expand their missions or collaborate with other nonprofits tackling similar needs. Just as financial and estate plans benefit from periodic review, your charitable plan deserves an occasional checkup as well.
If it has been a few years since you've revisited your charitable goals, consider reaching out to the Morton Community Foundation team. We’d be happy to serve as a sounding board as you ask yourself a few questions. Examples include:
Are the causes I support today the same causes I cared about ten years ago?
Many donors find that their interests evolve over time. You may have become passionate about education, environmental conservation, healthcare, animal welfare, faith-based initiatives, or other causes that were not top priorities years ago.
Does my charitable plan still reflect my family's values?
Children and grandchildren often develop interests and perspectives of their own. Many families discover that charitable giving provides a meaningful opportunity to discuss values, generosity, and community impact across generations. The result is that families want to adjust their charitable priorities to reflect the interests of the family’s next generation.
Have I reviewed my retirement account beneficiary designations recently?
Perhaps you’ve already worked with your advisors to update beneficiary designations of your retirement plans. Even so, it’s a good idea to take a look at those documents every few years to be sure nothing is missing. And if you’ve not yet named your fund at the Morton Community Foundation or another charity as a beneficiary of IRAs and other retirement accounts, it’s worth exploring because of the potentially meaningful tax benefits of these arrangements. Be sure to ask your tax advisor about whether this technique could be a fit for you, and reach out to the MCF team to help set your intentions in motion.
Do I know how local needs have changed?
Communities are constantly evolving and ours is no exception. While many longstanding needs remain, new challenges and opportunities often emerge over time. New opportunities to make a difference pop up every year, and learning about them can inspire you to get involved. The Morton Community Foundation is a valuable resource to provide not only the big picture of what’s going on in our region but also specific examples of how nonprofits are meeting the most pressing community needs.
Am I making this as easy on myself as possible?
You want to experience the joy of giving—not add administrative layers! Many donors appreciate opportunities to simplify their philanthropy. Whether through a donor-advised fund, another type of fund at the MCF, or a combination of funds designed to achieve different goals, the right structure can make giving more organized and enjoyable.
Remember that updating your charitable plan does not necessarily require major changes. Sometimes a simple conversation with the MCF team is enough to confirm that everything remains on track. Other times, donors discover opportunities to strengthen their impact, engage family members, or support causes in new ways.
The Morton Community Foundation is always happy to help you review your charitable goals and explore ways to ensure that your philanthropy continues to reflect your values, your family, and your hopes for the future. We look forward to our next conversation!
Contact us at: email: info@mortoncommunityfoundation.org • phone: 309-291-0434
2026 MCF Board Trustee transitions…
This month we recognized three outgoing trustees — Dr. Dejan Maksimovic, Chris Rajkumar, and Emma Sanford — for their dedicated service on the MCF Board. Community foundations depend on volunteers who are willing to give their time, share their expertise, and help guide important decisions, and all three did that beautifully. We are grateful for their commitment.
At the same time, we're excited to welcome some familiar and new faces to the board. Joining us for the first time is Tami Meister, an attorney with Butler, Giraudo & Meister, who brings legal expertise and extensive board experience to her new role as an MCF Trustee. Cindy Honegger and Stacy Litersky are returning for a third and final three-year term — we're thrilled to have them back.
The board also approved our 2026/2027 fiscal year officer slate, with Justin Sidney serving as President, Laura Luginbuhl as Vice President, Cindy Honegger as Secretary, and Jeff King continuing as Treasurer.
What a blessing to have so much talent and strong leadership serving on the MCF Board. Learn more about these individuals and the rest of our Board leadership HERE.
Contact us at: email: info@mortoncommunityfoundation.org • phone: 309-291-0434
ACH Donations now made possible for online donations
We're excited to announce that our online donation platform now accepts ACH donations in addition to credit and debit cards. ACH payments transfer funds directly from your bank account, and because they carry significantly lower processing fees than credit cards, a larger share of your gift goes directly to the causes you support rather than to transaction costs. ACH is also a great option for recurring donors—bank account information doesn't expire the way a credit card does, so your regular gifts keep flowing without interruption or the hassle of updating card details. Whether you're making a one-time gift or setting up ongoing support, ACH offers a simple, secure, and cost-effective way to give.
Contact us at: email: info@mortoncommunityfoundation.org • phone: 309-291-0434
The team at the MCF 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.
