Donor Advised Funds & Qualified Charitable Distributions

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)

A donor advised fund, or DAF, is an organized way for donors to make charitable gifts. A DAF is often established at tax-exempt organizations such as community foundations that manage charitable giving on your behalf. It allows donors to recommend grants to charitable organizations, receive an immediate tax benefit, and then distribute gifts from the fund to a qualified charity such as the IOCDF.

A simple way to think about a DAF is like a charitable savings account where the donor can contribute to the fund and recommend grants to nonprofit organizations. Fidelity Charitable, Charles Schwab Charitable, and Vanguard Charitable are common organizations that manage and administer DAFs.

As the advisor to your fund, you can recommend a grant be made to the IOCDF. We are a US-based, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 22-2894564.

How Does a DAF Work?

  • You make an irrevocable contribution of cash or other assets (you may choose to be recognized or remain anonymous)
  • You immediately receive the maximum tax deduction that the IRS allows at the time of the contribution (this can be tax-efficient strategy to charitable giving)
  • Your contribution is placed into an account where it can be invested and grow tax-free
  • At any time afterward, you can recommend grants from your account to qualified charities.

Leave a Legacy with your DAF! As you plan your estate, consider naming the IOCDF as a beneficiary to your DAF.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

Are you 70 ½ years or older with an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)? A qualified charitable distribution (QCD), also known as an IRA charitable distribution or IRA rollover, allows you to donate up to $100,000 ($200,000 for married couples) to the IOCDF directly from your taxable IRA instead of taking your required minimum distributions. Donating to a charity like the IOCDF through a QCD has valuable tax incentives - contact your IRA account holder to learn more and get started!

To learn more and discuss your options, contact Kristen Lynch, Senior Development Manager, at klynch@iocdf.org or 617-973-5801 ext. 315. 

<< Ways to Give