Which Type of Donor-Advised Fund Is Right for You?

A magnifying glass rests on a purple background among several question marks. — (Image credit: Getty Images)

When people first think of donor-advised funds (DAFs), they naturally turn to the national funds — the big-box stores of the donor-advised world. Yet, in 2021, nearly 30% of our new accounts at DonorsTrust rolled over from large, national DAF providers, such as Fidelity Charitable.

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Community foundations and Jewish federations were among the first to offer donor-advised funds in the 1930s. Institutions caught on over the past three decades, and DAFs have been flourishing ever since. As of 2020, there are an estimated 1,000 DAF-sponsor organizations in the United States, according to the National Philanthropic Trust.

With a sharp increase in charitable giving over the past two years, new generations are looking for ways to donate to charity using donor-advised funds, whether it be with a mission-driven fund or donating to charities at the local or national level. Below are some of the most important questions to ask when considering whether a donor-advised fund makes sense for one’s unique charitable goals.

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Answer: DAFs work as an investment account for charitable organizations near and dear to your heart, with the added bonus of immediate tax deductions when you contribute money, securities or other assets. Those funds can then undergo tax-free growth until you decide to put them toward the charity of your choosing. This is particularly beneficial given the state of philanthropic giving in the United States, where some charities are struggling to make ends meet.

Through DAFs, you can help non-profit organizations weather the storm by supplying far-reaching funds that pay out over time and benefit the rainy-day needs of charities. Along with being one of the fastest-growing and most effective ways to give, many DAF-sponsor groups can provide insight and guidance for the type of charities you want to give to.

Answer: There are three different types of sponsor groups a donor can choose from. The first are community foundations, founded by and for people in a particular community. Community foundations vary in size, capacity and reach but are a good option for donors with a variety of interests and financial resources, lending to long-term assets for a particular sector of society in their geographic area.

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Second are national funds, which differ from community funds in a few ways — whereas other sponsors provide DAFs in addition to their existing work, national funds solely operate to service DAFs with a key focus on fundraising and grantmaking. There are two types of national funds: funds affiliated with financial institutions, such as Charles Schwab or Vanguard. These are known as commercial gift funds. And non-commercial organizations, which on the other hand are national funds that work independently, like the National Philanthropic Trust and United Charitable, or those that are faith-based, including the National Christian Foundation or Jewish National Fund.

Last but not least are mission-driven funds. And they are driven by just that — a mission, either related to a particular issue, faith or institution. Unlike community foundations, these groups go beyond an individual community and are organized behind a shared identity or cause that extends outside certain geographical areas. Some of the most common types of mission-driven funds you may be familiar with include hospitals, universities, rotary clubs and topic-driven non-profit organizations.

Answer: If you have a close connection to a certain city or town, or a family that has roots in an area you’d now like to give back to, utilizing a community foundation is the right choice for you. These foundations have a keen understanding of the community’s needs and a history of overcoming obstacles with your donation. The ability to garner that knowledge and vet local non-profits allows you to feel secure in the knowledge that your charitable choices are best serving the community you love.

Additionally, community funds provide contributors not only with DAF opportunities but field-of-interest funds, earmarked funds and scholarship funds among others — meaning your giving can make a major impact just the way you want it to.

Answer: Through the use of single-issue non-profits, mission-driven funds are able to better connect you to your goal of supporting this particular cause, as well as a larger network of contributors that wishes to do the same. Selecting a mission-driven fund means you know that the organization believes in the efforts and issues you do, and has the vetted experience and ability to make a difference.

This expertise and guidance can help you make the smartest giving choices with your money, including tying DAF funding to further giving by the family or donor, or reaching a larger specific goal, such as impact investing or international giving.

Answer: Here are additional key considerations to keep in mind when choosing which sponsor group is best for you:

Some community foundations are better equipped than others. Smaller foundations in more rural areas may have less technological and administrative capabilities, while others have resources where you can manage your DAFs online.
National commercial funds do not always offer individualized support. While they can provide unique grantmaking services, many do not offer expertise on giving in particular area or to a specific issue. Because of this, they do not provide networking opportunities with other like-minded donors that you can get within other groups.
Community foundations can vary in many ways. This can include in investment costs, ability to accept certain assets and DAF minimums. Make sure you check out these details before selecting which community foundation is best for you.
Similarly, national fund resources and capabilities also vary. Each can offer a number of different features and benefits, minimum-fund amounts, a variety of investment options, and different payout rules. If you have a wealth manager or adviser, they may not have access to all DAF sponsors, and can be compensated differently by each.
Want your money to be put to work quickly? Mission-driven-fund providers — also known as single-issue — have the highest payout rates among the various types of providers: 28.8% in 2019 compared to 16.4% for community foundations in 2019 and 24.2% for the national funds. The higher payout rate suggests this type of fund is good for donors keen on putting their charitable dollars into action quickly toward a cause they believe in.

Donor-advised funds are one of the fastest-growing financial tools on the market — and for good reason, as the tool helps givers simplify, secure and grow their charitable dollars. Picking the right partner in your giving comes down to what you value the most.

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Disclaimer

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

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Lawson Bader has served as president and CEO of DonorsTrust since 2015. He has had 20 years' experience leading free-market research and advocacy groups, including the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Mercatus Center. DonorsTrust is a community foundation safeguarding the intent of accountholders who seek to promote charities that address civic concerns, are mostly privately funded, do not increase the size and scope of government, and promote free enterprise and personal responsibility.