Your Phone Call Will be Answered by an Actual, Live, Local, Person

How many times do you sit on hold, listening to instructions to push 1 for this or 2 for that?  Sometimes there are so many options that when you hear “press zero to speak with a representative” you actually get excited, only to hear, “Wait time is 8 minutes”. I was wondering how long it would take to connect to one of the national operators of donor advised funds.  So I made a call. First I listened to a message, “Thank you for calling”, and was told their calling hours, instructions to visit their website, to press 9 for frequently asked questions, to press 2 if I knew my contacts four digit extension, to press this if I was a professional advisor or to press that for setting up an account, and finally I was told that, “For other inquiries please stay on the line”.  The minutes passed.  I heard more messages while I waited for a person, about an option to do a customer survey, etc., while I intermittently listened to classical music.  Then, “Glory be”, a person joined me on the line. At the Community Foundation your call will be answered by one of us, an actual live, local, person who is interested in you. You won’t be told to press 1 for this or 2 for that.  You don’t need voice mail extensions and you won’t be encouraged to go on our website rather than speak to a person. We enjoy talking with you! This isn’t to say that we don’t embrace technology -- we do.  What works best for you? We have a website full of resources and information for you and your clients, and online options for fundholders to recommend grants and check fund balances.  I love the convenience of email. We can even meet with you in person! Customer service and community service are what we do.  We understand more about our region, the charities in northern Nevada, and your personal giving plans, than nationally based call centers for national platform charitable funds. There is another reason I hope you will get engaged with the Community Foundation of Western Nevada.  Some of the Community Foundation work does not  generate much income in terms of fees, including the 35 scholarship funds we administer, the community convening and initiative work, and our support to local charities with their donor’s planned gifts and endowment building.  The Community Foundation is proud of this work because it helps make Nevada a better place and helps donors give tax efficient, meaningful, and powerful gifts. Every gift relationship with the Community Foundation helps support this work.  Simply by virtue of working with the Community Foundation for your charitable giving, you support our community work. So, please give it a try. I promise  your call will not be answered with lengthy instructions and options, there will be no period of time to wait on hold, no muzak or surveys.  Our phone number is 775-333-5499. One of us will answer your call during business hours Monday through Friday. You will be greeted by a caring and knowledgeable person who is happy to help you.   The Community Foundation of Western Nevada is here to help you Care, Connect, and Engage. Call us to learn more. Chris Askin, President & CEO.  775-762-1932. Connecting people who care with causes that matter.