What is a donor-advised fund?

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a type of giving program that allows you to combine the
most favorable tax benefits with the flexibility to easily support your favorite charities. An
increasingly popular charitable vehicle, DAFs are an excellent way to both simplify your
charitable giving and facilitate your strategic philanthropic goals.

This section is for people who already have an established
Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

If you already have a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) please visit the following prompts to
find your fund and proceed to the giving section of your site.

If your DAF is set up through The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Inc. or
the Community Foundation of Western MA, please visit the drop down menu for
either of those selections to make your donation to UCP of Western MA.

If you would like to establish a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) ,
Here’s how it works?

1. Establish your DAF by making an irrevocable, tax-deductible donation to a
   public charity that sponsors a DAF program
2. Advise the investment allocation of the donated assets (any investment growth
   is tax-free)
3. Recommend grants to qualified public charities of your choice

What are the main advantages of a donor-advised fund?

• Simplicity – The DAF sponsor handles all record-keeping, disbursements, and tax
  receipts.
• Flexibility – Timing of your tax deduction can be separate from your charitable decision
  making.
• Tax-efficiency – Contributions are tax-deductible and any investment growth in the
  DAF is tax-free. It is also easy to donate long term appreciated securities, eliminating
  capital gains taxes and allowing you to support multiple charities from one block of
  stock.
• Family legacy – A DAF is a powerful way to build or continue a tradition of family
  philanthropy.
• No start-up costs – There is no cost to establish a donor-advised fund. However, there
  are often minimum initial charitable contributions to establish the DAF (typically $5,000
  or more).**
• No transaction fees – Once approved, 100% of your recommended grant goes to your
  qualified public charity of choice.
• Privacy if desired – Donors may choose to remain anonymous to the grant recipient.

* Call your broker or financial agent to learn more.