This spring, grow your family’s philanthropy with the gift of giving: consider establishing a Donor Advised Fund as a way to connect with family members across locales and generations. A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable investment account created with a single tax-deductible donation of cash, stock, or real estate—you can name your fund and give at your own pace, and we manage the rest.

"I always wanted a mini-foundation as a way for my family to intentionally and consistently support the hard work being done to uplift kids and families in our own backyard. A Brooklyn Community Foundation DAF was an instant easy answer to that! A foundation without all the headache. In a few clicks we can make donations to nonprofits we believe in—in Brooklyn or beyond." 

More and more parents and grandparents are including the children in their lives in their family’s philanthropy by creating and growing Donor Advised Funds in their honor, and also having them weigh in on where to make donations. Giving as a family through a Donor Advised Fund has its advantages:

• With a single tax-deductible donation of cash or stock, you can create and name a fund on behalf of your family
• Once your fund is created, you have the freedom to give anywhere—at your own pace 
• You can appoint several family members as advisors to your fund, with the ability to designate grants out
• Your family gains the benefits of working with Brooklyn Community Foundation to support causes you're passionate about

Our donor services team can help you create a DAF from top to bottom, including giving your recipient online access to manage their fund with our user-friendly Donor Advised Fund portal. We’re available to support your giving beyond the creation of your fund as well, and are happy to advise you as you seek to give to organizations in your backyard, or across the country. 

We can’t emphasize enough the power of a Donor Advised Fund as you launch or build on your family’s existing legacy of giving, whether you’re exploring a fund for the family you were raised in, or your found family. Families come in many different shapes and sizes, and so do our funds: from Giving Circles to Memorial and Tribute Funds, to Classic Donor Advised Funds, we have flexible options to help you meet your family’s giving goals. 

With family and friends scattered throughout the country, a shared Donor Advised Fund can offer you the opportunity to join together in giving to support work that embodies your common values. You could even present the fund as a physical gift to your loved ones: send a card and include the URL and login credentials so they can access the fund online.

The donor services team at Brooklyn Community Foundation has the tools to help inspire and engage donors, both those who are new to philanthropy and those with a long history of giving. We strive to create and strengthen meaningful and lasting connections between our Donor Advisors and our community partners, our advisors’ core causes, and our borough. And unlike corporate DAF programs, you can rest assured that the fees on your loved one’s fund are invested back into your community, as our 1% administrative fee fuels racial justice work in Brooklyn through our strategic grantmaking. 

Consider if a Donor Advised Fund is the right tool to help your family and loved ones honor your shared values—connect with our donor services team today to discuss and learn more about the Donor Advised Fund program at Brooklyn Community Foundation.

To learn more about Donor Advised Funds and how they can help you or your clients give with intention, contact our Donor Services team at donorservices@bcfny.org.