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Planned Giving: Donor Advised Funds

Donor Advised Funds (DAF) have become a preferred method of managing charitable giving for millions of Americans. A DAF is like a charitable investment account, allowing donors to donate assets and receive a tax deduction immediately while distributing those assets out over time to the charities of their choice.

Overview

  • You can setup a Donor Advised Fund through a variety of institutions such as the National Christian Foundation, a local community foundation, or the charitable arm of your brokerage like Fidelity Charitable or Schwab Charitable.
  • Most DAFs allow you to contribute not just cash, but a variety of assets such as stocks and real estate.
  • You receive an immediate tax deduction for your contributions to your DAF.
  • Your contributions are an irrevocable donation and cannot be returned to you or any other individual. The funds available for making grants to charities. You recommend grants to the charities of your choice and your DAF institution will issue funds to those charities.
  • You can make additional contributions to your DAF at any point.
  • The funds in your DAF can be invested and can continue to grow, offering the potential to make an even bigger impact over time.
  • Control over Donor Advised Funds can be passed to your heirs who can continue to make charitable grants, continuing your legacy of generosity far into the future.
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The information on this website is not intended as financial, legal, or tax advice. For such advice, please consult your accountant, attorney, or financial planner for professional advice and counsel. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.