Why should I open a donor-advised fund?
Immediate tax benefits
Make contributions to a donor-advised fund and receive an immediate tax benefit. Then recommend grants to nonprofits of your choice over time.
Leverage our unrivaled local expertise
Our grantmaking experts come from highly specialized backgrounds and have years of experience working closely with local nonprofits. Whatever cause you want to support and however you want to make a difference, they can help.
Reduce paperwork
Give to dozens of great nonprofits without the hassle of collecting tax receipts. Suggest grants from your fund online in seconds.
Ready to get started?
Donor-Advised Funds at The Trust
Frequently asked questions
The Trust invented the DAF in 1931 and we’ve been helping donors give easily and effectively with them ever since.
What kinds of gifts can I make to a DAF?
When can I give to a DAF?
What will I be supporting?
What are my investment options?
How can I give with a DAF?
Additional resources
Fees
What kinds of gifts can I make to a DAF?
We accept a variety of assets
You can fund your DAF with cash, a credit card, publicly or closely held stock, property, retirement assets, and even through bequest. Please note that while you can give Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA to our Community Needs Fund or to a permanent fund, they don’t count as charitable distributions when contributed to your DAF (aka, you can’t get the tax write-off).
When can I give to a DAF?
Time your gift on your terms
One of the reasons DAFs are so popular is that they allow the donor to give when it is right for them. Some donors bundle their annual contributions into one gift every few years for tax purposes. Others give when they are rebalancing their stock portfolios or if they’ve had a windfall. You can also fund DAFs in your will, by either funding your own or creating new ones as gifts for your family and friends.
What will I be supporting?
Your fund, your choice
You can suggest grants to organizations working locally, across the country, or internationally—as long as they have an office in the U.S. Once you suggest your grants, our grantmaking experts vet the nonprofits, and handle the payments and paperwork. While your recommendations can’t be binding (under IRS rules, our board has the final say), we take your suggestions very seriously. When you open a donor-advised fund with The Trust, you get access to a community of philanthropic experts who will help you make a difference in your community.
What are my investment options?
Choices for donors
Some donors want their funds to grow over the long term, others value short-term liquidity or socially responsible options. Whatever your investment objectives, we have great options.
How can I give with a DAF?
You can give anytime on our donor portal.
With our easy-to-use online portal, MyGrants, you can suggest grants 24/7. You can also schedule reoccurring gifts.
Additional resources
More information about DAFs
- Read our Donor-Advised Fund Policies and Guidelines
- Download our Donor-Advised Fund One-Pager
Fees
Donor-Advised Fund Fees
Donor-advised funds are assessed an annual administrative fee. It is the greater of:
50 basis points (5/10 of 1%) of the average market value
(Example: Average market value of $300,000 = $1,500)
or
2.5% of grants paid
(Example: Grants of $15,000 = $375).
The fee is based on market value and taken in quarterly installments. If the fee collected by the end of the year is less than 2.5% of grants paid, then the difference will be withdrawn during the first quarter of the following year.
Cash waiting to be distributed in grants, identified as the “Grantmaking Account” on a donor statement, does not earn interest for the fund.
The fee on an individual grant of $500,000 or more is reduced to 1%.
Funds exceeding $50 million may be subject to further discount (depending on the nature of the holdings). The minimum annual fee is $100.
More ways to give
No matter how you want to make an impact, we can help you turn a variety of assets into a force for good. Explore the different funds we offer.
