Donor Advised Fund
Harness the Giving Power of a Private Foundation
Get More From Your DAF
Ensure you’ve made the most of your donor advised fund — for your family and for Step Up. Download the FREE guide Maximize the Impact of Donor Advised Funds.
View My GuideA donor advised fund, which is like a charitable savings account, gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to Step Up For Students and other qualified charities. You can recommend a grant or recurring grants now to make an immediate impact or use your fund as a tool for future charitable gifts.
You can also create a lasting legacy by naming Step Up For Students the beneficiary of the entire account or a percentage of the fund. With a percentage, you can create a family legacy of giving by naming your loved ones as your successor to continue recommending grants to charitable organizations. Contact your fund administrator for a beneficiary form.
*Step Up For Students does not manage a donor advised fund. Local community foundations may be a helpful resource for donor advised funds.
DAF Basics
Still learning about DAFs? Discover the ease of opening a donor advised fund — plus the advantages you’ll enjoy — with your FREE guide One Stop Giving: The Convenience and Simplicity of Donor Advised Funds.
An Example of How It Works
A couple wants to give back to their hometown by putting their money where it will do the most good. They establish a $25,000 donor advised fund with a community foundation.
The couple receives a federal income tax charitable deduction for the amount of the gift. They also get all the time they need to decide which charities to support.
After researching community needs with the foundation’s staff, the couple recommends a grant for a charity (which they've supported for years), like Step Up. The foundation presents the charity with a check from a fund that the couple named in honor of their granddaughter. The couple is delighted to start this personal legacy of giving.
