Staying on Trend: Why the Donor Advised Fund is a Vehicle You Need to Know

Oct. 26, 2017

“The relatively new donor advised funds are not only here to stay, but the wave of the philanthropic future .... Love it or hate it, the philanthropic revolution is on, and donor advised funds are winning." 

— Los Angeles Times, March 13, 2014

 

Donor advised funds are the fastest-growing philanthropic planning vehicle in today’s wealth management marketplace. Donor advised funds have risen dramatically in popularity over the last several years. Total assets held in these vehicles grew nearly 12 percent in 2015 to reach $78 billion by the beginning of 2016. 

 

Donor advised funds are popular because they allow an individual or family to make a tax-deductible transfer that qualifies as a charitable contribution, and then later recommend gifts to favorite charities from the fund when the time is right. A donor advised fund operates a lot like a checking or savings account just for charity, and it’s established according to the IRS guidelines that create the tax advantages.

 

How can you connect this trend to your work with your clients? Here are three pointers.

 

1. Talk the talk.

Your clients are hearing about donor advised funds. Make sure they are hearing about them from you! Whether your clients support a few charities or many charities each year, a donor advised fund is a useful tool. Furthermore, the tax advantages set the donor advised fund apart from other vehicles. Your clients will expect you to be knowledgeable. 

 

2. Know the options.

Donor advised funds are available through a variety of providers. Community foundations are uniquely positioned to offer donor advised funds with the inherent tax and transactional benefits you and your clients expect, plus the added advantage of deep community knowledge and a well-connected team of experts to enrich your clients' experience with philanthropy. Additionally, by working with us to establish a donor advised fund for your clients, they may be eligible for the Endow Iowa Tax Credit to give more for less.

 

3. Walk the walk.

Consider establishing your own donor advised fund with the Community Foundation. In today's social impact culture, clients want to work with well-rounded professionals who are connected to well-respected community institutions. The team at the Community Foundation would be honored to work with you and your family to meet your own charitable giving objectives. We're always looking for donor stories to share with others, too, so keep that in mind as an option to celebrate our work together. Contact us to learn more.