Community Real Estate & Personal Property Foundation

The Community Real Estate and Personal Property Foundation (CREPPF) is  part of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region in a special, independent form known as a supporting organization. That means you and your advisors will work with the friendly and knowledgeable CFFVR staff.

CREPPF’s purpose is to review and accept gifts of various types of property and, typically, sell that property to benefit the donor’s charitable preferences. The legal, tax, real estate and financial professionals on our volunteer board review every gift. Their expertise allows us to streamline the transfer process, minimize risks and optimize the value upon sale — and that means more for your favorite charities.

By giving real estate or personal property, you:

• Turn valuable assets into charitable dollars. Business interests, art, antiques, real estate — residential, commercial or undeveloped — can all be tapped to support your charitable goals.
• Support your favorite causes. The proceeds from your gift may be directed to a charitable fund within the Community Foundation, from which your or your family can distribute grants to favorite nonprofit organizations. You also may arrange for some or all of the proceeds to be distributed immediately to charities you select.
• Gain a deduction. Transfers to CREPPF, a 501(c)(3) public charity, are generally deductible for federal and state income, gift, and estate tax purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the relationship between CREPPF and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region?

CREPPF is a separate 501(c)(3) public charity that is affiliated with the Community Foundation, Wisconsin’s second-largest community foundation. Through this relationship, the volunteer CREPPF board brings additional expertise to gifts of complex assets, making such gifts more readily available to all charities and increasing the overall level of giving of non-cash in our community.

Why should I give through the Community Real Estate and Personal Property Foundation rather than directly to my favorite charity?

Not every nonprofit organization has the capacity to handle a gift of real estate, business interests, or other non-cash assets. CREPPF’s professional staff and volunteer board can make your gift happen quickly and inexpensively, realizing the optimal value for your charity of choice. Plus you can divide the proceeds of a single gift among multiple charities or work with the Community Foundation to design a custom charitable giving program for your family.

How do I know if I can use my assets for a charitable gift?

Our staff can help answer your questions and consult with your professional advisors upon request. Following initial discussions and information gathering by staff, members of the CREPPF board will review each potential gift and evaluate its suitability based on our Gift Acceptance Policy.

What fees and costs are associated with a gift through the Community Real Estate and Personal Property Foundation?

Gifts of real estate, business interests, and other non-cash assets generally require significant staff time and effort to evaluate, administer, and liquidate. Our standard fee is 5% for real estate and 2% for business interests, within set minimum and maximum fees (see our Fee Schedule). Fees for other types of gifts will be negotiated based on the complexity of the transfer. We discount our fees by one-half if the sales proceeds are transferred to a charitable fund within the Community Foundation.

Board Members

Philip J. Ramlet – Chair
Executive Director
Fox River Navigational System Authority

Linda Sanderfoot
Broker Associate
Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group

Pam Schneider
Non-Lawyer Professional
von Briesen & Roper, s.c.

Joe Schuessler
General Counsel – Secretary
Pfefferle Management – NAI Pfefferle, Appleton

Markalan Smith
Estate Tax Consultant
Eggst Consulting, LLC

Daniel R. Thome, Vice Chair
Founder and Managing Member
Axiom Advisors, LLC, Appleton

Brian Wallace
Vice President/Private Banking
Nicolet Bank, Appleton

Want to know more? Please email Michelle Lippart Hardwick or call 920.702.7622.