Donor-Advised Funds

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) allow donors to make a gift, receive an immediate tax benefit, and then recommend grants over time. DAFs are an increasingly popular and easy way to support charitable causes. A donor can set up a DAF account by making a donation to a named charitable giving account under a sponsoring organization (sometimes a public foundation but many times a financial institution like Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, National Philanthropic Trust, etc.). Contributions can range from cash to securities or appreciated assets. As soon as donors have made a DAF contribution, they are eligible for a tax deduction in that calendar year. DAFs are invested in several ways, so the original contribution can continue to grow over time—even as a legacy. Once you are ready, you can grant some or all of the assets from your DAF to your favorite charitable organizations.

How to Give from a DAF

DAF donations are made at the donor’s recommendation in the form of grants to eligible non-profits, such as ElderHelp of San Diego. The sponsoring organization provides ways to recommend nonprofits in their account information, but many nonprofits, like ElderHelp, allow you to make a DAF donation from a website. The DAF sponsor handles recordkeeping, disbursements, and tax information, and the nonprofit receives 100% of the donation.

Supporting ElderHelp with a DAF

You can support ElderHelp today by contacting your Donor Advised Fund manager to recommend us for a grant, or by using the DAF form in the sidebar.