This page contains resources to help you learn more about Donor Advised Funds and how Community First Foundation can help you establish them.

What is a Donor Advised Fund?

A Donor Advised Fund is a charitable fund created by a donor within a public foundation. The fund allows a donor to “advise” the sponsoring foundation about which charitable organizations should receive grants from the fund. IRS guidelines require that final grant authority rests with the board of directors of the foundation, which carefully considers the donor’s requests.

The donor receives a tax deduction based upon the value of the gift. Donors create donor advised funds because they are easy to set up, allow postponement of the grant decision, allow for growth in the fund balance after the gift is made, are inexpensive and easy to manage, and offer an attractive alternative to private foundations.

Community First Foundations accepts inital contributions to a Donor Advised Fund for as little as $5,000.

Donor Advised Fund Resources

Professional Advisor Guide to Donor Advised Funds (pdf)

A Donor’s Guide to Establishing a Donor Advised Fund (pdf)
Comparison of Donor Advised Funds with Private Foundations (pdf)
Benefits of Donor Advised Funds (pdf)

Donor Profiles

Donor Advised Fund scenarios (pdf brochure)