Is a Donor-Advised Fund Right for You?
People use donor-advised funds for all kinds of reasons. Usually, they have one thing in common: they want to make their giving simpler and more intentional.
Here are a few examples.
You want to simplify your giving.
Mary supports several nonprofits but doesn't want to keep up with receipts, records, and paperwork from each one.
She opens a donor-advised fund and makes her charitable contributions through the Community Foundation. When she's ready to give, she recommends grants to the organizations she cares about.
Her giving stays organized, and we handle the administration.
You want to make giving a family tradition.
David and Lisa want their children—and eventually their grandchildren—to be part of the family's giving.
They create a family donor-advised fund and involve their children in conversations about which causes and organizations to support.
Their fund becomes more than a way to give. It becomes a family tradition.
You have a year when it makes sense to give more.
Robert is selling his business and wants to set aside some of the proceeds for charity.
He contributes to a donor-advised fund during the year of the sale and can recommend grants to nonprofits over time.
He can plan for charitable giving now without having to decide immediately where every dollar will go.
You're preparing for retirement.
Joe knows his financial picture will change when he retires, but he wants to continue supporting the organizations that matter to him.
Before retirement, he contributes to a donor-advised fund. Later, he can continue recommending grants from the fund even when he's no longer making the same level of annual charitable contributions.
His giving can continue even as his income changes.
Your reason may be completely different.
Maybe you've inherited appreciated stock. Maybe you'd like to move an existing donor-advised fund to a local organization. Maybe you're thinking about your family's legacy. Or maybe you simply want an easier way to give.
You don't need to have it all figured out before you call us. Tell us what you'd like your giving to accomplish. We'll help you understand whether a donor-advised fund might be a good fit.