Andy and Kim Allard believe strong, supported families are foundational to every community, and their donor advised fund enables them to positively impact families in Bloomington. The couple shares, “We love supporting families and children in our community. We want our giving to be a catalyst for their growth and success by creating opportunities.”
Kim grew up in Ohio and moved throughout the Midwest during her childhood. She attended Ohio University to study elementary education, where she continued to cultivate her passion for teaching. “I have known since I was very young that I would be a teacher when I grew up. The moment my fate was solidified and my teaching ‘career’ began was when I received a double-sided easel-style chalkboard for my fifth birthday. I joyously began my teaching career that very day in my family’s living room. I have taught a variety of grade levels in elementary school, preschool, and within the church.” Kim currently works at Clear Creek Christian School as a 6th-grade teacher.
Andy grew up in Bargersville and studied finance at Indiana University Kelley School of Business. He has been in the banking industry for 32 years and currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the IU Credit Union for the last 16 years.
Andy and Kim met while working at a Greenwood restaurant shortly before starting their careers. The couple married after college and recently celebrated 32 years of marriage with their two daughters, Madeleine and Lydia.
Supporting families has always played an essential role for Andy and Kim, even before their daughters were born. “As a newly married couple, we were leading the youth group at our church and supporting causes for families and children at risk,” Kim shared. “The journey to start our family wasn’t easy, and we explored and considered adoption,” said Kim. “Giving back and serving others, especially children, was one way for us to cope with our fertility struggles.”
Andy also recalled discovering his passion for programs serving families and children. “I remember when I was working at the bank in Indianapolis; we were encouraged as leaders to network in our community and to give back. One day, there was a nonprofit fair, and I went from booth to booth, grabbing brochures and asking questions. When I returned to my office, all the brochures were about youth and family needs. There was one program, Champions for Children, that served new parents and taught them how to care for their children. I distinctly remember when we were new parents how difficult it was. I had an epiphany because I had my family nearby and was blessed with an education and financial security, but I was still at my wit’s end. So that’s when I realized how difficult it must be for families at risk or in need.”
Over the years, Andy and Kim have become deeply connected throughout the community and feel inspired to give back wherever possible. The couple volunteers frequently through their church at Sherwood Oaks and with local charities while serving separately in roles through nonprofit boards, locally and globally. “It is part of our civic responsibility to be purposeful and give back, whether through volunteerism or financial contributions,” Andy said. In the couple’s view, Kim shares, “We feel it is important to give back to the community where we live, which is also the community that invested and helped raise our daughters. Building connections and relationships within our community is important because it provides a constant thread that ties us all back together.”
In 2020, Andy and Kim established the Allard Family Charitable Fund, a non-permanent donor advised fund (DAF) through the Community Foundation, to support programs and philanthropic passions that matter the most to them – children and families.
“It is deeply rooted in our beliefs and a core tenant of our faith,” the couple shared. “We have been blessed with a means to bless others, and serving others is love in action. When you give back, you can see tangible needs met. Providing opportunities for individuals in our community to grow and prosper is important to us.”
The Allards shared that establishing their donor advised fund was easy and efficient. “When I first heard about setting up a fund, it seemed daunting and complicated, but it was easy to set up,” Andy said. The Community Foundation is great about helping you understand how your charitable dollars can be used and deployed.”
The Allard Family Charitable Fund also provides tax benefits for the Allards as they give back. “When the tax laws changed, a cap was placed on tax deductions for charitable giving, but we were exceeding it,” said Andy. “By setting up a DAF, we can easily bundle our giving for tax advantages and handle our grants or distribute whenever we want, almost like a charitable checkbook.”
Kim agreed, adding: “It really is a great way to be efficient with your charitable giving. It does feel like, in a sense, a charitable checkbook. It’s very user-friendly and has no downside – It’s a win-win situation. The ease at which everything is managed at the Community Foundation is amazing. The new fund portal is a game changer; we can put in our request, and it tracks our giving. So, really, the simplicity of having the fund is wonderful.”
“We have seen the impact of our fund through the causes we support,” said Andy. “The vast majority of our giving is centered on kids and families. We are strong supporters of New Hope for Families, and a significant portion of our grants went to their capital campaign, which resulted in two new buildings and provided additional capacity to serve their clients.”
“The Boys & Girls Club is another organization that we partner with,” Kim added. “They are excellent at focusing on the needs of children and providing quality resources for families and kids. Whether it is during the summer or after school, it is the continuity and high-quality experiences that matter to us. It’s putting love into action, and that’s what our fund looks like.”
Partnering with the Community Foundation to establish a fund can turn your charitable dollars into a philanthropic powerhouse. Andy and Kim shared, “When we partnered with our local community foundation to start the donor advised fund, we essentially partnered with our neighbors. There is a level of care and connection here that makes our charitable giving more effective. If you have a cause where your heart lies, the Community Foundation partners with you to make connections and structure your charitable giving more effectively.”