FAQ

You can find out more about the UPF from its web site, by contacting any member of its Board of Trustees, or by contacting the Urbana Park District Development Manager by phone at (217) 367-1536 or by email at info@urbanaparksfoundation.org.

Tax funds provide basic support for all that the Urbana Park District does, from maintaining Urbana’s wonderful parks and facilities to providing programs for residents and visitors. Tax dollars are used to ensure adequate parks and programs for all of Urbana. Private gifts supplement tax dollars and can be used for special enhancements or improvements for individual parks or programs. Additional support is necessary for acquisition of land for new parks, for developing new parks, for enhancing existing parks with new facilities, and for supplementing programs sponsored by the park district. Contributions to the UPF help provide this support.

That depends entirely on you. If you specify how the money is to be used, then it will be used for the purpose you specify, whatever that may be, when the park district requests it. If you give money without indicating a specific purpose for it, the UPF may use part of it to add to an endowment for the benefit of the Urbana Park District, may transfer part of it to the park district when the district requests it, or may use part of it to help solicit additional donations.

You may contribute directly to the Urbana Park District if you prefer. Those who wish to contribute to a current, ongoing park district need may find this preferable. Contributing to the UPF, on the other hand, may be better for those who wish to contribute to aid a long-term need, because the UPF is better able to invest money donated to it and hence allow it to grow before transferring it to the Urbana Park District. Furthermore, the UPF is able to receive donations of land, securities, and in-kind gifts without the restrictions that legally constrain the park district.

Not at all. Many who regularly enjoy Urbana’s parks live outside the City of Urbana. In fact, more than 50% of all participants in programs of the Urbana Park District are not residents of Urbana, so making a contribution to the Foundation is a wonderful way for those outside Urbana to help enhance the parks they enjoy.

Yes, the UPF can accept any type of asset that has value. One of the advantages of contributing to the UPF is that the foundation can accept and manage or sell valuable property in ways that the Urbana Park District is not allowed to do. If you wish to make a non-cash contribution, please contact the Urbana Park District Development Manager by phone at (217) 367-1536 or by email at info@urbanaparksfoundation.org to discuss your proposed gift. You may also wish to talk with your tax advisor if you plan to make this kind of gift.

The UPF is organized as a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code and gifts to the UPF are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. You should consult with your accountant or tax attorney to see what deductions are allowed in your particular circumstances.

Yes, you can. Individuals who notify the foundation that they have set up a bequest to the UPF are automatically enrolled in the UPF Blair Society. Contact the Urbana Park District Development Manager by phone at (217) 367-1536 or by email at info@urbanaparksfoundation.org to obtain more information. The UPF will work with your attorney to ensure that you have the proper language in your will.

Yes. The UPF will normally acknowledge its donors publicly to honor them for their contributions, but if you wish to remain anonymous that can be arranged.

The UPF pays for its expenses from unrestricted contributions that it receives from individuals and businesses.

The UPF inevitably incurs expenses in its fundraising efforts. These include printing costs, costs of developing and maintaining its web site, licensing costs for software used to keep track of donations, costs for fundraising events, and the like.

The UPF only used about 10% of all its revenue to pay for expenses. All the rest has been transferred to the Urbana Park District or is being held to grow on behalf of the park district for later distribution.

The UPF holds assets for the Urbana Park District until the park district requests them or until a time specified in a gift agreement.