Author: Todd Eckler, Executive Director of Fiduciary Trust Charitable (Todd also serves as CMO of Fiduciary Trust Company)
Donor-advised funds, thanks to their flexibility, low costs, and tax advantages, provide an attractive vehicle for individuals and families to establish giving strategies in pursuit of their charitable objectives. Fiduciary Trust Charitable offers donor-advised funds with unique benefits.
Charitable giving in the U.S. has grown substantially in recent years. The latest report from Giving USA highlighted that 2016 represented the most generous year on record, as families, estates, foundations, and corporations delivered approximately $380 billion in gifts to charitable causes. As giving has increased, the ways through which people give have also multiplied. One of the more notable vehicles is the donor-advised fund (DAF), which has grown in popularity over the past decade and now accounts for nearly 10% of all U.S. charitable giving.
The enthusiastic adoption of donor-advised funds is likely due to a number of factors, including their flexibility and tax advantages. For many families, they also help instill values across generations. These benefits are reflected in the widespread growth over the past few years. As of year-end 2015, there were more than 269,000 DAF accounts with assets of over $78 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 11% and 12%, respectively. Meanwhile, total grantmaking from donor-advised funds has grown by nearly 17%, which underscores the level of engagement that tends to typify most DAF account holders.
Donor-Advised Fund Overview
For those unfamiliar with this vehicle, a donor-advised fund is sponsored by a public charity, such as Fiduciary Trust Charitable, through which an individual or family (the donor) establishes a fund for charitable gift purposes. The donor receives an immediate income tax deduction for contributions to the fund and can recommend that grants be made from the fund to IRS-qualified charities at any time. Once the donor gifts assets to the fund, the donor no longer has legal control of the assets. The fund can generally be invested in a manner consistent with the donor’s philanthropic goals and investment preferences.
The Benefits of Donor-Advised Funds
Philanthropic initiatives can be accomplished through many different channels, so why choose a donor-advised fund? The following are some key benefits:
Tax Savings
- Immediate income tax deduction for contributions, subject to IRS limits
- No capital gains tax on appreciated securities donated to the DAF if they’ve been held for more than one year
- No tax on income or capital gains on investments in the DAF
Influence and Family Legacy
- The donor can request the DAF to distribute funds to any IRS-qualified public charity
- The donor can designate individuals to request current or future distributions, even beyond the donor’s lifetime
- By designating family members as advisors, the family can come together on a long-term basis to make charitable grant recommendations, instilling values and strengthening family bonds
- Investments can be managed considering donor goals and recommendations to the extent possible, given the sponsoring organization’s overall investment policy
Flexibility and Convenience
- Contributions can be made to the DAF at any time, by anyone
- Grants can be made at any time
- Grants may be anonymous, if the donor desires, or given in the fund name the donor requests
Cost
- Typically significantly lower cost than establishing a private foundation
Fiduciary Trust’s Donor-Advised Fund Program
Fiduciary Trust’s donor-advised fund program through Fiduciary Trust Charitable offers a number of additional benefits, including personal service integrated with your other accounts, expertise including handling complex assets and converting private foundations, a tailored investment approach, and sustainable investment options and practices.
Learn More: What distinguishes our donor-advised fund program through Fiduciary Trust Charitable
