In this episode, host Mary Ann LeRay sits down with Kristen Mihaljevic, Director of Development at the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF), to explore something every supporter of The Filling Station should know about: simple, smart ways to give that don't require writing a check, swiping a credit card, or hiring an attorney.
Kristen brings more than a decade of community foundation experience to the conversation, and she doesn't shy away from a challenge many donors know all too well — the year-end flood of appeals and email solicitations that can leave even the most generous hearts feeling fatigued. Her answer? Giving smarter, not just more. She walks listeners through three practical strategies: gifts of appreciated stock, qualified charitable distributions from retirement accounts (available starting at age 70½), and donor-advised funds through NCCF. Each option can reduce a donor's tax burden while making a bigger impact — and research shows donors who give through assets tend to give more than those who give by check or card. A win-win.
The conversation also celebrates the deep local roots of this partnership. Jones County has its own NCCF affiliate with a local board and an unrestricted endowment — one our local Rotary Club helped establish — that makes grants right here at home. From disaster funding to endowment support, NCCF has walked alongside The Filling Station for years.
As The Filling Station approaches its 10th anniversary, this episode is about more than tax strategies — it's about making sure we're still serving Jones County for the next 50 years. Whether you're planning your giving for this year or thinking about your legacy, this conversation offers a simple place to start.