By Angie Thompson — Fundraising Strategist & Storytelling Specialist
With insights from Laura Jensen, CEO, Bartlesville Community Foundation
Most people want their giving to matter.
They want generosity to stretch farther, last longer, and strengthen the community they love.
Yet many donors admit they’re unsure where to begin.
How do I give in a way that truly makes an impact? How do I know my gift will be used well? How can I create something lasting?
Through my years working with nonprofits across northeast Oklahoma, I’ve seen one answer rise again and again:
community foundations help turn good intentions into lasting good.
Across the country, these foundations serve as trusted stewards of generosity — helping donors support the causes they care about, guiding philanthropy with transparency and expertise, and building long-term stability for local nonprofits.
To deepen this conversation, I asked Laura Jensen, CEO of the Bartlesville Community Foundation (BCF), to share insights from her work with fundholders and nonprofit partners. Her reflections offer a powerful window into why community foundations matter — and how partnering with them can turn generosity into legacy.
1. What a Community Foundation Really Does
At its heart, a community foundation is simple:
It strengthens a community by strengthening the nonprofits that serve it.
While foundations vary in size and reach, their purpose is consistent — and deeply local. Research from the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Council on Foundations shows that community foundations offer donors something rare:
stewardship, stability, personalized philanthropy, and a clear line of sight to impact.
Laura puts it this way:
“The BCF is a charitable partner. Our fundholders choose us because we offer philanthropic partnership, long-term community investment, and flexibility with oversight.”
Community foundations get to know their donors — not just their dollars. When a community need arises that matches a donor’s passion, they help make the connection and facilitate thoughtful, meaningful support.
2. Why Donors Choose to Partner with a Community Foundation
Donors tell national researchers — including Chronicle of Philanthropy, Blackbaud, and AFP — that they want three things above all else:
trust, transparency, and a direct path to local impact.
BCF offers precisely that. Laura explains:
A philanthropic partner, not just a fund manager
“We get to know our donors’ interests. When a need in the community aligns with those interests, we can bring that opportunity to them.”
A long-term commitment to community well-being
Unlike corporate giving platforms or national donor-advised fund providers, community foundations have one priority: local people and local needs.
Laura notes:
“Our mission is simple: to provide a simple way to do good works. Every dollar entrusted to us is invested back into this community.”
Flexibility — with oversight donors can trust
BCF is one of only three nationally accredited community foundations in Oklahoma.
That accreditation matters. It ensures:
high standards of due diligence
- transparent investment practices
- protection of donor intent
- community-centered stewardship
In Laura’s words:
“Donors can customize their charitable goals while knowing every grant meets rigorous standards. It’s the balance donors want — flexibility with confidence.”
3. What Surprises Donors Most About Working with a Community Foundation
In a word?
How easy it is.
“People are often surprised at how quickly they can open a fund,” Laura says.
“Some funds start with as little as $2,000 — and can be opened within a week.”
Many people assume charitable funds or donor-advised funds are only for the wealthy. But community foundations are built on accessibility.
Once a fund is created, donors can begin making grants immediately or invest the funds to grow their charitable capacity. They can also involve their children or grandchildren in giving decisions — often creating a multi-generational legacy of generosity.
This is philanthropy made possible, not intimidating.
4. How Giving Through a Community Foundation Works (Narrative Overview)
Rather than navigating complex paperwork or managing charitable giving alone, donors work with a foundation that guides the entire process.
A donor might begin by opening a fund — perhaps a donor-advised fund, a scholarship fund, or an endowment supporting a favorite nonprofit. Their contributions can take many forms: cash, stock transfers, IRA charitable distributions, real estate, or estate gifts.
Once established, donors simply recommend where they want grants to go.
The foundation handles everything else: vetting the charity, ensuring compliance, issuing the grant, tracking impact, and managing reporting.
It’s philanthropy that feels clear, thoughtful, and stress-free — letting donors focus on what they care about most: the difference their giving makes.
5. How Community Foundations Strengthen Local Nonprofits
For nonprofits, community foundations are both partners and protectors
BCF strengthens nonprofits by helping them build endowments — long-term funds that provide annual revenue, year after year, forever.
But Laura emphasizes that the foundation’s role goes far beyond grants:
“We build relationships across the nonprofit landscape, connect organizations to one another, and convene leaders when collaboration is needed most.”
Community foundations also serve as resource bridges, helping nonprofits access:
- training
- state and federal information
- capacity-building opportunities
- donor networks
- crisis support
In short:
they help nonprofits survive today and thrive tomorrow.
6. Why Giving Locally — Through Your Community Foundation — Matters
When donors give through a community foundation, something remarkable happens:
their generosity is maximized.
Laura describes it perfectly:
“Giving through BCF empowers people to take action in their own community. We provide a pathway that might not otherwise exist — especially for people who assume philanthropy is only for the wealthy.”.
Community foundations turn moments of giving into long-term opportunity.
They safeguard donor intent.
They protect charitable dollars.
And they multiply community impact for generations.
Final Thoughts: Strong Communities Grow From Strong Partnerships
Community foundations are one of the most powerful — and often overlooked — tools for meaningful giving.
They help donors become changemakers.
They help nonprofits become stronger.
They help communities become more resilient, more connected, and more hopeful.
If you’re considering a transformational gift — large or small — your local community foundation is one of the most strategic places to begin.
It’s more than a place to give.
It’s a place to build a legacy of hope.
About Angie Thompson
Angie Thompson is a fundraising strategist, brand storyteller, and creative consultant who helps nonprofits and purpose-driven leaders communicate with clarity and heart. Her work blends message design, storytelling for impact, and brand-forward content shaped by award-winning experience in film, television, philanthropy, and community development. She is the creator of the Pivot Pulse™ storytelling method, the founder and principal consultant of Angie Thompson Consulting LLC, and an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, ASCAP, and the Society of Lyricists & Composers. She believes words and images can spark transformation.
Disclaimer
This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended as financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult a qualified financial or tax professional regarding charitable giving strategies. Angie Thompson is an independent consultant, fundraising strategies, and brand storyteller. Insights from Laura Jensen were contributed for informational context only and do not constitute an endorsement by either party.