Donor Advised Funds

DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS (DAF) are funds in which you retain the right to make grant recommendations to charities of your choice. You can make distributions from both income and principal.

How Does It Work?

With a minimum gift of $5,000 to the Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, you can establish a DAF. You are entitled to an immediate income tax deduction in the year in which you create the fund and for later contributions to the fund.

You simply recommend distributions to any qualified public charities in the Jewish or general community. You are entitled to appoint successor advisors to make recommendations for distributions from the fund.

As an alternative to a private foundation, your DAF can include:

• Check writing
• Professional investment services
• Fiduciary services to ensure compliance with your charitable intent
• Online access to your fund via DonorSphere, Federation’s online resource for fund management

What are the Benefits?

• You can make contributions or recommend distributions from your fund at any time with no annual distribution requirement.
• You receive an immediate charitable income tax deduction for gifts to the fund.
• A fund created after the end of a good business year or from an unexpected windfall allows you to bank those surplus funds and spread gifts to your recommended charities over a period of years.
• You avoid capital gains tax on contributions of appreciated assets.
• Income and growth within the fund are tax-free.
• In contrast to a private foundation, the fund does not have to file tax returns or pay an excise tax on investment income.

Have a Donor Advised Fund and want the Federation to manage it?

To learn about the benefits of moving your DAF to the Jewish Federation, please contact Foundation staff: Patti Dziekan (pdziekan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5221) or Eric Probola (eprobola@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5216).