The Bodacious Benefits of a Donor Advised Fund

Since 1931, donor advised funds have been offered by local community foundations and more recently have become available through broker-sponsored charitable gift funds. They are something akin to a marriage between a private foundation and a mutual fund.

Donor advised funds allow people to establish separately identified accounts at a charity and then direct how the charity should use that money. Establishing a fund is like investing in a mutual fund, because each donor’s assets are pooled together into a common account owned, maintained and managed by the charity.

One of the main benefits of a donor advised fund is that it allows individuals with philanthropic intent to have their charitable assets professionally managed and distributed to desired causes at a fraction of the cost of a private foundation. But, lower cost is only one of many benefits. Donor advised funds also offer a number of creative financial planning opportunities.

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Chief among these is their tax deductibility. Contributions to a donor advised fund are tax deductible in the year they are made. And, the limit on deductibility is huge. One can donate up to 60% of adjusted gross income (AGI). This creates a meaningful planning opportunity in years where one has a windfall that creates a big bump up in taxable income. Adding to one’s donor advised fund can help mitigate the tax burden of that one-time event.

The tax deductibility of contributions made to a donor advised fund can also be leveraged. This leverage is achieved by contributing highly appreciated assets. The deduction on low-cost-basis property contributed to a fund is determined by its current value, not its cost. So, the donor receives a double benefit: a larger deduction and no capital gain on the property’s appreciation.

Even though the deduction limit on property is lower than cash (30% of AGI), most community foundations and broker-sponsored charitable gift funds offer great flexibility regarding the types of property that can be donated. For example, many charities allow fund holders to donate an interest in a privately held business, the cash value of whole-life insurance policies, artwork, collectibles, automobiles, livestock and even Bitcoin.

Donor advised funds also provide great estate-planning opportunities. Assets contributed permanently leave one’s estate, so they aren’t subject to estate taxes. With the lifetime exclusion currently at over $11 million, this offers families lots of flexibility to use a donor advised fund in their planning. Donors can also use their annual gift tax exclusion to make contributions to their fund. This means that a married couple can each contribute up to $15,000 — for a total of $30,000 — every year. And, since assets in a donor advised fund are allowed to grow tax-free, they can create a lasting legacy.

For families with charitable intent and a desire to pass that value onto future generations, a donor advised fund provides the opportunity for children and grandchildren to be involved in the decision-making process.

As its name implies, a donor advised fund gives the donor the ability to advise the charity on how to use the money in the fund. Involving children in this process teaches them that they can effect change to improve and strengthen their local community, support the arts, raise educational standards, fight disease or provide relief to victims of war or natural disasters. It can also prepare them to take the helm in adulthood. A well-funded donor advised fund often will outlive its benefactor. As a result, the donor’s heirs will be able to direct gifts during their lifetimes as well. So, while contributions made to a donor advised fund provide an immediate benefit in the form of a current year tax deduction, they can also provide long-term gifting opportunities that last for more than one generation.

In terms of comprehensive financial planning there are few strategies that provide the many and varied opportunities that one gets from a donor advised fund. Not many charitable vehicles provide the same funding flexibility regarding the types of assets that can be donated. Fewer offer the donor the ability to be involved in how their contributions are used. And, still fewer provide the context to help teach heirs the value of philanthropy.

As a result, the donor advised fund is a remarkably useful tool to help carry out one’s charitable intent as a component of his or her unique financial planning objectives. In many cases, including a donor advised fund as part of a comprehensive financial plan can provide both leverage and flexibility to help an investor achieve long-term, goals-based investment outcomes.