We interviewed Bill Mitchell, Managing Director, Carmel Realty Company, about partnering with the Community Foundation for Monterey County through the Carmel Realty Foundation, his company’s donor advised fund, to take their giving to the next level.
The Carmel Realty Company (CRC) has a rich history and a reputation for integrity, longevity and excellence. Now in its fourth generation in local real estate, the Mitchell Family, joint owners, have made giving back a key component of their company’s culture.
“We have a strong foundational belief that you share your success and give back to the local community that has given you so much as an individual and as an organization.” – Bill Mitchell, Carmel Realty Company
There are 20 staff and 45 agents involved in the Carmel Realty family of businesses. Everyone gave on their own, but the giving wasn’t formalized. “We wanted to facilitate our employees’ involvement. I had known about the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) for many years through serving on the real estate committee, helping them turn complex gifts into cash for charitable purposes. I understood how they can accommodate personal philanthropic decisions,” Bill noted.
Carmel Realty Foundation
Acting on their commitment to supporting important community causes, they partnered with the CFMC to establish the Carmel Realty Foundation, a company donor advised fund that helps the company reduce its administrative burden and increase and diversify its giving.
“Rather than the expense and burden of a private foundation, we established the Carmel Realty Foundation at the Community Foundation in 2015,” Bill continued. “It allowed us to formalize and simplify what we were already doing. It’s even increased our giving since it has made it so much easier. Our main guideline is to give locally. I think it makes more of an impact if a gift is focused on a local organization, which may have a smaller budget.”
Matching Gifts
The Carmel Realty Company builds on its employees’ generosity through a matching gifts program which the CFMC administers. This helps their giving go further. Employees come with their own suggestions, and they are also informed by the CFMC about other opportunities to give. In 2016 the Carmel Realty Foundation made grants to the Soberanes Fire Fund, in addition to supporting youth, arts, health and other areas.
Giving Time
Besides giving money, many agents devote themselves to the community through board service. Most are long-time residents who serve on multiple boards of directors. Bill has served on the advisory board of the Veteran’s Transition Center, All Saints Day School and Carmel Library Foundation, and is a current CFMC board member, where he serves on the grants committee.
Passing Down Values
Another way Carmel Realty Company is taking their giving to the next level is by passing their philanthropic values to the next generation. They involve the children of all employees in recommending grants. They want to teach them the importance of giving back and how to make decisions around supporting the causes they care about.
Our company has always had a focus on philanthropy. We’re excited to take it to the next level through our partnership with the Community Foundation.” – Vicki and Bill Mitchell, co-owners, Carmel Realty Company
Companies who may wish to simplify their giving for greater impact can call (831) 375.9712 or learn more at www.cfmco.org/companyfunds.
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Community Impact|Donor Advised Fund|Donors|Grants|Philanthropy
