National Center for Family Philanthropy

Donor-Advised Fund Impact Story: Helping Geographically Dispersed Family Foundations Give Locally

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

With three generations of family leadership spread across four states and two continents, the O.P. and W.E. Edwards Foundation faces a common challenge — keeping its far-flung board members engaged connected to its grant making… Read More

Donor-Advised Fund Impact Story: Giving Internationally through Two DAFs

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

Sasha Rabsey is the founder, director, and a philanthropic advisor with the HOW Fund, a donor advised fund she established more than a decade ago through the Tides Foundation in San Francisco. Through this fund, Rabsey supports grassroots leaders who recognize the strength, courage, and capacity of women and girls globally, and who address a constellation of their needs through direct-service projects… Read More

Donor-Advised Fund Impact Story: Continuing a Legacy, Connecting to Community

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

It was a death in the family that inspired Gary and Sue Schwartzman to think about donor-advised funds for the first time. “When my father in law S.J. Schwartzman passed away and left these two funds in our charge, it connected us to his legacy. He wished for his generosity and family name to live on,” says Sue Schwartzman… Read More

Donor-Advised Fund Impact Story: Ending Poverty through Multiple Giving Vehicles

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

Anne Guerrant is a former pro tennis player, and a founder of the Women’s Tennis Association with Billie Jean King and other women’s rights pioneers. Today, she is a global philanthropist with both a family foundation and donor-advised fund dedicated to lifting women and their families out of poverty… Read More

Do you have examples of donor-advised fund case studies and success stories?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett

There are many and varied reasons donors and families choose donor-advised funds as a primary giving vehicle. Here are a selection of real-life success stories highlighting some of the many reasons the DAF structure is so popular… Read More

What other data, trends, and analysis exist on the establishment and use of donor-advised funds in the U.S.?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett

Donor-advised funds are one of the fastest growing philanthropic vehicles. Here are the latest numbers, along with links to a variety of other data sources and analysis on the use and effectiveness of this important tool for giving… Read More

How do donor-advised funds compare with private foundations and other family giving vehicles?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett

When setting up a philanthropic vehicle, families often wonder whether to give directly to charitable organizations (check-book giving), or to set up a more formal planned giving vehicle, such as a donor-advised fund (DAF), private foundation, or charitable trust… Read More

What questions should donors ask potential sponsor organizations when considering setting up a donor-advised fund?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett, Tony Macklin

Before opening a DAF, donors need to be clear on the services, fees, and restrictions of a fund, as they vary widely among sponsor organizations… Read More

What questions should a donor, couple, or family ask their advisors before setting up a donor-advised fund?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett

Before opening a DAF, donor families should talk with their trusted professional advisors about the benefits and tax implications. Professional advisors might include the family CPA or attorney, financial or estate-planning advisors, heads of family offices, or professional philanthropic advisors… Read More

What questions should an individual donor, couple or family ask themselves before opening a donor-advised fund?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett

Before opening a DAF, families should reflect on and talk about their values and goals for their philanthropy—individually, and as a family—and their specific needs for what the vehicle should deliver… Read More

Table of Contents

Getting Started: Understanding Donor Advised Funds

Introduction
______________________

What are DAFs?
______________________

Success Stories
______________________

When to Start?
______________________

DAF Uses and Benefits
______________________
DAF Limitations

Finding a Host: Understanding Sponsor Organizations

Types of Sponsors
______________________

Services Offered
______________________
Questions to Ask Sponsors

Making the Right Choice: Questions for Donors and Their Advisors

Questions to Ask Yourselves
______________________

Questions to Ask Your Advisors
______________________
DAFs vs. Other Vehicles

Learning More: Data, Stories, and Additional Resources
Additional Data and Trends
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Donor-Advised Fund Impact Story: Helping Geographically Dispersed Family Foundations Give Locally

National Center for Family Philanthropy

Donor-Advised Fund Impact Story: Helping Geographically Dispersed Family Foundations Give Locally

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

Donor-Advised Fund Impact Story: Giving Internationally through Two DAFs

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

Donor-Advised Fund Impact Story: Continuing a Legacy, Connecting to Community

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

Donor-Advised Fund Impact Story: Ending Poverty through Multiple Giving Vehicles

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

Do you have examples of donor-advised fund case studies and success stories?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett

What other data, trends, and analysis exist on the establishment and use of donor-advised funds in the U.S.?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett

How do donor-advised funds compare with private foundations and other family giving vehicles?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett

What questions should donors ask potential sponsor organizations when considering setting up a donor-advised fund?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett, Tony Macklin

What questions should a donor, couple, or family ask their advisors before setting up a donor-advised fund?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett

What questions should an individual donor, couple or family ask themselves before opening a donor-advised fund?

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Audrey Jacobs, Elaine Gast Fawcett

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