Donor-advised funds are the fastest-growing charitable giving vehicle in the United States because they are one of the easiest and most tax-advantageous ways to give to charity.

A Donor-advised Fund (DAF) is a tool to streamline your charitable giving. A DAF provides you with the flexibility to donate many types of assets into your fund and then recommend grants from the fund to the causes and organizations you care about. By giving through a DAF, you are able to maximize your giving, amplify your impact, and increase tax efficiency.

A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is like a charitable investment account that is maintained by an IRS Section 501(c)(3) entity called a sponsoring organization. You establish a fund or account with a sponsoring organization such as The Minneapolis Foundation or Fidelity Charitable. You then contribute cash, securities, or other assets to that account and are generally eligible to take an immediate tax deduction because the assets are legally controlled by the sponsoring organization. The organization can invest those assets for tax-free growth. You then have the opportunity to recommend the sponsoring organization make grants from your account to an eligible IRS-qualified public charity, such as Avenues for Youth.