Mission:
The purpose of the Foundation For The Carolinas is to advance philanthropy by serving donors, increasing charitable giving, and improving communities in the Carolina region.

Purpose of Site:
To provide information and a range of tools to facilitate charitable giving in the Carolinas. In addition to information about the organization, its affiliates, and other resources, the site provides information for the specific audiences of Potential Donors, Existing Donors, Professional Advisors, and Grants & Scholarships seekers.

Background:
Foundation For The Carolinas was established in 1958 as the United Community Foundation to accept and distribute charitable gifts, to make sure donors' wishes are carried out in perpetuity, and to build a permanent nest egg for community needs. By 1963, the group's assets exceeded $100,000, and it opened its own office in 1978. The organization changed its name in the early 1980s to reflect the expansion of its service area to include both North and South Carolina. Foundation For The Carolinas is now one of the top thirty community foundations in the United States with more than $250 million in assets. It has made grants totaling nearly $200 million and manages 1,400 charitable funds.

Home Page:
In addition to links to information for Potential Donors, Existing Donors, Professional Advisors, and Grants & Scholarships seekers, the home page features information About the organization and its Affiliates, as well as News, Resources, and Contact information. The tools available from the home page include Donate Online, My Fund, Planned Giving Design Center, a list of Approved Organizations, and the Philanthropy Marketplace.

Outstanding Feature:
The new Philanthropy Marketplace on the Web site features the latest ideas, innovative projects, and critical needs that require philanthropic support in Carolina communities. The list of about fifteen projects is rotated monthly. For each agency listed, Web users can click on its name to view a complete profile of the project, including a description, the amount needed, geographic area that the nonprofit serves, and its mission and contact information. For example, the Carolina Raptor Center is currently listed on the marketplace and explains the need for a project to improve its nature trail for use by the elderly, children, and people with disabilities. For those who are existing donors to the foundation, they can use Advisor Xpress to make an online contribution to an organization in the marketplace.

Honorable Mention:
The Planned Giving Design Center of the Foundation For The Carolinas was created to provide professional advisors with resources they can use to help clients in matters of charitable gift and estate planning. Attorneys, accountants, financial planners, life underwriters, investment advisors, and real estate professionals can use the site to read about the latest changes in planned giving techniques, view laws and tax rulings that govern the charitable and estate planning profession, and access research mechanisms and draft documents to help in the planning process. The Web site aims to enhance the value of services that professional advisors provide their clients and encourage advisors to incorporate charitable gift planning into their practices.