Donor advised fund

When a hurricane pummels into the Bahamas, Puerto Rico or the U.S., people like you are quick to send lifesaving help to families who lose everything during these devastating storms. The same is true when an earthquake hits Nepal, a volcano erupts in the Philippines or conflict shatters lives.

Our supporters – like you – know that emergencies can happen at any time period. And when they do, the need for immediate funding is critical. So many of our donors had already planned to help when an emergency happened, and with a few clicks on our donor-advised fund portal, their lifesaving gift was on the way.

We’ve partnered with FreeWill because their DAF tool integrates with your custodian automatically, and saves you the extra step of notifying us about your gift. By using this link, you can:

  • Recommend how you’d like your grant to be allocated
  • Communicate your wishes to Americares
  • Share the details of your DAF grant
  • Make your grant recommendation

Using this tool to grant from your DAF also saves us a lot of time, so thank you! It’s a great way to ensure we have consistent financial support while saving cash for immediate needs.

A donor-advised fund gives you the power to save lives by helping deliver urgently needed medicines and aid to families in crisis. Many of our supporters choose donor-advised funds because while their investment is earning income, a gift from their fund can be used right away.

You can make a meaningful difference in the lives of families affected by poverty or disaster by making a donor-advised fund grant recommendation.

To learn more about this smart way to give, contact Karen Malner by phone at 203-658-9500 or email PlannedGiving@americares.org

hand dropping money into jar graphic

What is a donor-advised fund (DAF)?

A DAF is a personal charitable giving account designed to support the causes and organizations you care about. It’s one of the easiest and most tax-advantageous ways to give to Americares.

How does a donor-advised fund work?

Once you identify a managing organization to work with, expert staff help you invest the funds in the account for tax-free growth with low administrative costs. Your investment grows, like a savings account, and can be passed on creating a legacy of caring for the world’s most vulnerable.

You receive the tax-benefits in the year that you contribute to your fund, and then you decide when and how much you want to grant to your favorite charity. And there are no annual payout requirements like with private foundations.

sprouting plant graphic
family graphic

A donor-advised fund makes it easy to help vulnerable families

Grants from your fund make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and help you achieve your charitable goals.

And giving through a DAF is so easy. You can recommend grants online and support Americares with the money you’ve put into the account. With a few clicks, your gift is on the way.
Give a gift now while you set-up your DAF.

What assets can be contributed to a donor-advised fund?

Donations to a DAF are tax-deductible and valued at their fair market value at the time of the gift.

  • Cash
  • Publicly traded securities
  • Certain restricted controlled or lock-up stock
  • Mutual fund shares
  • Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies
  • Private equity and hedge fund interests
  • Real estate
house graphic
clock graphic

Start-up time, costs and minimum investment

Start your fund immediately with a check, stock or any of the assets listed above. Experience the joy of giving online at a very low cost with minimal paperwork. And build your fund over time, with a minimum initial contribution.

Donor-advised fund tax benefits

If you donate cash, you may be eligible for an income tax deduction of up to 60% of your adjusted gross income.

Donating long-term appreciated securities gives you real potential to reduce taxes and give more to charity. By donating stocks, bonds or real estate directly to a DAF, you often skip paying capital gains and can take an income tax deduction in the amount of the fair market value – up to 30% of your adjusted gross income.

tax folder graphic
gift giving graphic

Beneficiaries

Your DAF can be a beneficiary of your IRA, insurance policy or other estate vehicles, and your favorite charity, like Americares, can be the beneficiary of your DAF account.

    Other benefits

  • Easy to make an online grant recommendation by using our safe and secure DAF portal
  • Low investment fees
  • Simple recordkeeping
person waving hello graphic
  • Flexible
  • Supports your legacy planning
  • You can direct your gift in honor or memory of a loved one
  • You can give anonymously if you choose
another person waving hello graphic

group of people graphic